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catharina
Guest
YEP. Extremely important.
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JohnMPhilomena
Guest
Baptism is extremely important. It is like the mark of lamb’s blood over the doorway during passover.
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allejo
Guest
1945 and 2003 are very different times.
The tradition has been lost. For those that have not left the Church, if they participate at all it is to attend Church on Christmas Eve and Easter.
It is my fault she is not Baptized. I wasn’t sure I wanted her to be Catholic when she was born. As time moved on I changed mind. I attended a class Mass with her and I missed the community the Church offers but my procrastinating nature won out. I really thought she could have been Baptized at any point really. I had know idea an 8 year old was considered an adult. I thought you weren’t considered an adult until after Conformation which for me was about age 11.
I’d happily take the Pre-Baptismal course as I would have before age 7. If she didn’t attend Catholic school since age 5 I would understand the need for CCD or RCIC. It seems odd to be told extra classes are needed for her to become Catholic when she been in Catholic school for so long. I’d really like for her to have the memories of partcipating along with her classmates who have received the same education.
I understand rules but this seems like what your Marine uncle might have referred to as chickensh**. There is the spirit of the rule and then there is blindly following rule just to follow the rule.
To everyone who offered thoughts on the laws and rules of the Church, thank you.
To those who stressed how much this is my fault your not telling me anything I didn’t know. However, most you never really touched on the why my daughter needs extra religious education when I have entrusted a Catholic school with helping me educate her for the last 3.5 years.
This forum has served it’s purpose.
C
catharina
Guest
Yet my Marine Corps uncle did not think it chickensh–. He bundled up and got me to the church. If you have been far away from the Church, then you too need to catch up. That’s the way it goes. If you’re bringing you daughter to Mass every Sunday, that’s a great start - but it’s only a beginning. Just swallow your pride and get started. You’re way overdue in this part of parenting required of Catholic parents. Required - not suggested!
The point is that since your daughter is considered an adult, she needs to have the necessary Faith preparation to make her own decision about becoming a Catholic. You can no longer make this promise of Faith for her.
Those children who were baptized under the age of seven were baptized Catholic according to the promise of Faith of the parent(s).
The special preparation is more than just information about a sacrament. It’s preparation to make a lifetime decision to live as a Catholic. The Catholic parents of very young children can make that decision on behalf of the child. But once a child reaches the age of reason the parents don’t get to make the decision any longer.
Most religious education programs for children, whether Catholic school or otherwise, are geared for helping Catholics learn more about the Faith they already are part of. In your child’s case, she is not yet a part of the Church. She may have the same head knowledge as do all the other children in her Catholic school.
But this is not just about head knowledge. The special classes are about the formation of her mind, body, and soul so she can actually make a decision to be Catholic.
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catharina
Guest
Yes. Thanks.
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RyanBlack
Guest
I could not disagree more. What is the basis of your claim that it is never the responsibility of the Church to ask why the child of a Catholic parent has not been baptized? The Church is the mystical body of Christ–it is a community. I believe that it is perfectly appropriate for a priest to remind parents of their responsbility to have their children baptized and nurtured in the faith. Not only is it appropriate, but as the spiritual father of a local community of believers, it is his responsibility. The possiblity that a parent might tell the priest that he should mind his own business is not a good reason for a priest not to have such a conversation.
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turtle18
Guest
I think you should look on this as a blessing. Your child is going to participate in the Easter Vigil which is the Church’s biggest celebration of the year. AND because of the instruction she has received in Catholic school, she is far more likely to understand and appreciate what is going on. She is old enough now to understand her Baptism, and as such can Confirm her Baptism.
She can still attend her peers First Communion ceremony, it just won’t be her First Communion.
She can still attend her peers First Communion ceremony, it just won’t be her First Communion.
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Cathryn
Guest
Please make an appointment with your Pastor. Let him know your concerns and ask him your questions. He can explain what needs to be done.
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catharina
Guest
Since the poster related that ‘like others,’ he was uninvolved for some time, attending Church now and then (he implied) although he did attend attend ONE “class” Mass with his child and began to feel more warmly toward the faith. I doubt that the parish (e.g., the PASTOR) considers this family to be a Catholic family. Why would anyone believe that? If the family is uninvolved, disinterested and not actually members of the parish (a parish that happens to have a school) why would the pastor be involved with them?
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Phemie
Guest
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teachccd
Guest
Two things that I see in this thread. Number one is the many who say that it was your fault and that you should just put up with whatever is required. Number two is you who thinks that extra religious education is a detriment to your child’s well being. I, too, was a parent who didn’t come around so I can fully understand that not everyone is in the same place. Pointing fingers as to why that happened is futile at this point. The fact is there are certain guidlines that one must follow to proceed with the sacraments. I hardly imagine that these were set in place to drive people away or to make life difficult.
Your bone of contention is that your daughter is already educated in the faith and that she can “teach the class” with her 3.5 years of training. But, as a religious educator, I know that sacramental prep. classes (ie.RCIA) are just that. When the other children were baptized their parents and godparents were required to take classes. Now granted that those classes were not extensive they still needed the class. It then becomes the requirement of every parent to continue extending the faith to their children either through homestudy, CCD, or Catholic School.
The big difference here is not that your daughter happens to be older but that she will be receiving the Sacrament of baptism at a time when she can understand what is taking place. These classes prepare her to participate in this sacrament in a way that general religion classes don’t. And that is why the Church finds it necessary to instruct those who understand in a way that will foster an appreciation for the sacrament.
As a teacher of the faith, I cannot understand why any parent would not want their child to receive as much religious education as is offered. Even to imply that such education is “a waste of time” is to assume that your daughter is proficient in all of our 2000 years of Christian teachings. It has been my experience that so many parents want to push their kids through so that they can “do” the next sacrament. Parents rant and rave when they hear that First Communion takes two years or that our Confirmation program is two years. I hear them say what you express here: “Can’t we just do this and get it over with?”
You need to talk with your pastor and be open to the notion that further education might be in the interest of your daughter’s spiritual well being. And children learn from their parents. They absorb what they see and hear. You can have your daughter sit for hours in a religion class but if you come off with the notion that it’s a waste of time then that is what she will get.
It would be more beneficial if your daughter saw your fervency and conviction in the faith than all the Catholic schools or CCD classes offered. If she sees you support the Church then she will. If you badmouth the Church then that is the education that she is getting. Forget the rest… God Bless… teachccd
Your bone of contention is that your daughter is already educated in the faith and that she can “teach the class” with her 3.5 years of training. But, as a religious educator, I know that sacramental prep. classes (ie.RCIA) are just that. When the other children were baptized their parents and godparents were required to take classes. Now granted that those classes were not extensive they still needed the class. It then becomes the requirement of every parent to continue extending the faith to their children either through homestudy, CCD, or Catholic School.
The big difference here is not that your daughter happens to be older but that she will be receiving the Sacrament of baptism at a time when she can understand what is taking place. These classes prepare her to participate in this sacrament in a way that general religion classes don’t. And that is why the Church finds it necessary to instruct those who understand in a way that will foster an appreciation for the sacrament.
As a teacher of the faith, I cannot understand why any parent would not want their child to receive as much religious education as is offered. Even to imply that such education is “a waste of time” is to assume that your daughter is proficient in all of our 2000 years of Christian teachings. It has been my experience that so many parents want to push their kids through so that they can “do” the next sacrament. Parents rant and rave when they hear that First Communion takes two years or that our Confirmation program is two years. I hear them say what you express here: “Can’t we just do this and get it over with?”
You need to talk with your pastor and be open to the notion that further education might be in the interest of your daughter’s spiritual well being. And children learn from their parents. They absorb what they see and hear. You can have your daughter sit for hours in a religion class but if you come off with the notion that it’s a waste of time then that is what she will get.
It would be more beneficial if your daughter saw your fervency and conviction in the faith than all the Catholic schools or CCD classes offered. If she sees you support the Church then she will. If you badmouth the Church then that is the education that she is getting. Forget the rest… God Bless… teachccd
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catharina
Guest
Perfect post. Many thanks!Two things that I see in this thread. Number one is the many who say that it was your fault and that you should just put up with whatever is required. Number two is you who thinks that extra religious education is a detriment to your child’s well being. I, too, was a parent who didn’t come around so I can fully understand that not everyone is in the same place. Pointing fingers as to why that happened is futile at this point. The fact is there are certain guidlines that one must follow to proceed with the sacraments. I hardly imagine that these were set in place to drive people away or to make life difficult.
Your bone of contention is that your daughter is already educated in the faith and that she can “teach the class” with her 3.5 years of training. But, as a religious educator, I know that sacramental prep. classes (ie.RCIA) are just that. When the other children were baptized their parents and godparents were required to take classes. Now granted that those classes were not extensive they still needed the class. It then becomes the requirement of every parent to continue extending the faith to their children either through homestudy, CCD, or Catholic School.
The big difference here is not that your daughter happens to be older but that she will be receiving the Sacrament of baptism at a time when she can understand what is taking place. These classes prepare her to participate in this sacrament in a way that general religion classes don’t. And that is why the Church finds it necessary to instruct those who understand in a way that will foster an appreciation for the sacrament.
As a teacher of the faith, I cannot understand why any parent would not want their child to receive as much religious education as is offered. Even to imply that such education is “a waste of time” is to assume that your daughter is proficient in all of our 2000 years of Christian teachings. It has been my experience that so many parents want to push their kids through so that they can “do” the next sacrament. Parents rant and rave when they hear that First Communion takes two years or that our Confirmation program is two years. I hear them say what you express here: “Can’t we just do this and get it over with?”
You need to talk with your pastor and be open to the notion that further education might be in the interest of your daughter’s spiritual well being. And children learn from their parents. They absorb what they see and hear. You can have your daughter sit for hours in a religion class but if you come off with the notion that it’s a waste of time then that is what she will get.
It would be more beneficial if your daughter saw your fervency and conviction in the faith than all the Catholic schools or CCD classes offered. If she sees you support the Church then she will. If you badmouth the Church then that is the education that she is getting. Forget the rest… God Bless… teachccd
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RyanBlack
Guest
I wasn’t speaking so much about the particulars of this case, but of your claim that it is never the place of the Church to ask why a child born to Catholic parents is not being brought to the Church for baptism.
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catharina
Guest
I haven’t a clue if the parish considers this to be a Catholic family. Do you?
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RyanBlack
Guest
No, I don’t, but as I said before, I wasn’t speaking so much about the particulars of this case. I was disagreeing that it is never the place of the Church to ask Catholic parents why they do not bring a child to be baptized.
C
catharina
Guest
Yet in THIS case, we don’t know if the parish
believes this to be a Catholic family. The family
is paying “extra tuition” for their non-Catholic child.
V
Vico
Guest
Are you asking allejo?
C
catharina
Guest
I was - but he’s gone.
Maybe he’ll come back.
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turtle18
Guest
I went to Catholic school for eight years and I never once remember them teaching about RCIA or the Easter Vigil for that matter. They assume you are on a particular course and stick to that path when teaching. I only understood the importance of the Easter Vigil and RCIA from being involved with my parish as an adult, not in the Catholic elementary school education I received. There are plenty of kids who are in Catholic schools who have to go through RCIA because it is a different path and process.
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