First Communion (Lack of) Prep

[blackforest]

My son is due to receive his First Communion soon. In order to accommodate a special set of circumstances, I’ve been preparing him at home using the parish curriculum, homeschool curriculum, and agreement with my parish.

My mom, who lives in another city, recently witnessed some second graders receiving their First Communion. In front of the parish, they were asked them some very basic questions that they were unable to answer. Why is today special? What happens at Holy Communion? Can you name another important sacrament? (Crickets chirped here, despite the children having already gone to their first Confession). Can you name any of the sacraments?

To be fair, maybe the children were just shy, although a few of them did stab at guesses. I’ve seen children receive this sacrament at my own parish. But my parish is huge, and the kids aren’t quizzed.

I’ve used the curriculum, (Finding God), to humor my parish. While it makes mention of the sacraments, Rosary, prayers to know, church seasons, etc., it doesn’t call for memorization and mostly talks down to children. (Harsh - sorry). My homeschool curriculum (CHC - Preparing to Receive Jesus), is pretty solid.

Could my own parish’s RE program be leaving children clueless about the basics? I have one more child who will receive First Communion in a couple of years and am wondering if I should homeschool him through it, as well. I’m not the only homeschooler taking this approach and am happy that my parish provides this option.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I wonder if the children knew they were going to be tested in front of the entire congregation. I wonder who thought that was a good idea. What a very sad experience for them to have had on what should have been a joyful day.

I work with adults in RCIA. When they reach the day they are being baptized or received into the Church, they tend to be overwhelmed by the experience. I think they would freeze up if the pastor suddenly started testing their knowledge.

 

[JoyToTheWhirled]

I wonder if the children knew they were going to be tested in front of the entire congregation. I wonder who thought that was a good idea. What a very sad experience for them to have had on what should have been a joyful day.

I work with adults in RCIA. When they reach the day they are being baptized or received into the Church, they tend to be overwhelmed by the experience. I think they would freeze up if the pastor suddenly started testing their knowledge.

This, a hundred times. If you had asked me my date of birth and my husband’s name at that moment I would have probably fainted from the pressure.

 

[1ke]

I have one more child who will receive First Communion in a couple of years and am wondering if I should homeschool him through it, as well. I’m not the only homeschooler taking this approach and am happy that my parish provides this option.

Parents are always the primary educator of their children in the faith. The parish program is there to help, not to replace what parents teach their children.

Yes, you should absolutely take the reigns of your child’s religious education whether you choose to teach them entirely at home or you send them to the parish program as well as teaching them at home.

 

[Clementine14]

I wonder if the children knew they were going to be tested in front of the entire congregation. I wonder who thought that was a good idea. What a very sad experience for them to have had on what should have been a joyful day.

Yes. I would have been terrified to speak up in front of the entire congregation as a child, even if I was sure I knew the answer. I wouldn’t assume anything about the kids’ preparation or knowledge based on this. It doesn’t mean that they were ill-prepared, it just means they didn’t want to answer questions in front of hundreds of strangers.

 

[pianistclare]

I’ve seen the other side of this coin. IN my former parish where I was the DRE I was ashamed that the priest didn’t say ONE SINGLE word to the children. He talked over their heads, told an unfunny joke and didn’t say anything to them.
Was sad. Glad he didn’t ask them questions though.

 

[CilladeRoma]

In my parish, the children have an “interview” with Father, their parent or guardian and the Faith Formation coordinator, prior to the celebration of the Sacrament. I would not like this quizzing at Mass at all.