Home school prep for sacraments

  • Thread starter Thread starter Grammyland
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
G

Grammyland

Guest
I have a twenty year old granddaughter baptized Catholic who would like to receive her First Eucharist. May I home school her prepratory classes? Where would I order materials? She has two younger sisters who I believe will follow in her footsteps if we can get this started. I also have an 8year old grandson who has not yet been baptized.He is eager to learn everything about the church. He was glued to the television when we were waiting for the announcement of our new pope and he had a million questions. He prays and we speak of God all the time. He wants to be baptized. His dad is catholic (currently non-practicing) his mother is non-catholic but she has no objection to him being baptized. He would attend Mass with me and perhaps he will inspire his dad to return to the church.Can he be home schooled? I hate to miss these opportunities while they are interested and eager. I am experienced in teaching CCD classes and I would so love to do this with my grandchildren.
 
Grammyland said:
I have a twenty year old granddaughter baptized Catholic who would like to receive her First Eucharist. May I home school her prepratory classes? Where would I order materials? She has two younger sisters who I believe will follow in her footsteps if we can get this started. I also have an 8year old grandson who has not yet been baptized.He is eager to learn everything about the church. He was glued to the television when we were waiting for the announcement of our new pope and he had a million questions. He prays and we speak of God all the time. He wants to be baptized. His dad is catholic (currently non-practicing) his mother is non-catholic but she has no objection to him being baptized. He would attend Mass with me and perhaps he will inspire his dad to return to the church.Can he be home schooled? I hate to miss these opportunities while they are interested and eager. I am experienced in teaching CCD classes and I would so love to do this with my grandchildren.
Click to expand...
These are all questions for your pastor.
 
Based on the ages of the people you mentioned, including your non-baptized grandson, RCIA is going to be the way to go. Your granddaughter needs to prepare for both First Communion and Confirmation. Your grandson would prepare for all three sacraments of initiation.

Check with your parish to see what the next steps are. Perhaps you can serve as your granddaughter’s sponsor and continue to support her in that way.
 
First off REJOYCE!! At this great opportunity to spread the Faith!

Secondly, it depends on your diocesan policy regarding homeschooling. The 20 year old is considered an adult and would have to go through RCIA to be brought into full communion with the church (aka. receiving The Eucharist and The sacrament of confirmation)

I would encourage to younger ones to go to CCD classes. In our parish the CCD classes are also involved in our youth groups. If you have a parish with a vibrant youth group I would not deny the younger ones the chance to meet new friends and experience the larger Catholic Community at your parish. The learning is only one part of the equation!

If you cannot enroll them until the fall you can still start your grandchildren by giving them some preliminary instruction in the faith. The catechism is always a good resource and several of the Catholic Publishers also put out textbooks and catechisms for use in instructing children.

Hope that Helps

PAX
 
You could catechize them yourself, but only under very rare, and very serious circumstances. It’s important to keep in mind that conversion, and sacramental preparation is a very serious thing and that its way more important to properly instruct these loved ones of the truths of Christ then it is to just simply get them to be catholics. RCIA is an ancient tradition and it requires an extensive amount of knowledge to properly instruct someone.

RCIA takes several months and it requires a commitment, that without that commitment to being a disciple of Christ, one could easily fall away and all the efforts would be futile. Not saying your loved ones would fall away but if it is really what they want, and not just a knee jerk type reaction to the moving power of the new pope Francis’ election. It’s far more important to be an informed, devoted Catholic then it is to get more semi serious catholics to become members. Slow and steady wins the race, easy come easy go. Pray for them. Share all your knowledge with them. Encourage them to attend RCIA.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top