Introducing Daughter to Catholicism

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MrsGT

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I’m new here but I’ve been reading posts for a while and have found them really interesting and uplifting.

After much consideration I feel a need to join the church. My husband is Catholic but has been away from the church for many years. I will be attending RCIA in autumn and I am trying to learn as much as I can.

We have been attending mass regularly, along with my daughter who is 9. My question is this - how do I introduce the faith to her without pressure or putting her off? She has been raised mainly atheist (my fault!) and has very very little knowledge of Jesus, God, the church, prayer etc. I know the best thing to do is to lead by example - prayer, mass, deeds, but my concern is that given her age, she will have to come to the decision on her own. However, if she doesn’t have any information to make the decision for herself, then I doubt she will follow me.

I understand that this will be a difficult time for her given that it’s new but I would love nothing more for her to be baptised and participate in the sacraments when it is her time.

Any advice that you may have would be greatfully received!

(We’re Based in Scotland if that makes any difference!)
 
I’d begin by discussing your conversion with her to the extent she can understand it.

Is your husband returning to the Church?

Did you marry in the Church? If not you will need to and getting her involved there may be good for her.
 
Thanks for your reply - I will discuss this with her.

Yes - he intends on returning fully - we were not married in the church as I was atheist at the time and he was not participating, so to speak!
 
Another option is the LEGO set, “Father Leopold Celebrates Mass”. It’s made using LEGO bricks, but the set itself is actually made by hand (the people who make it purchase individual bricks, print three of them - the sacramentary, lectionary, and Father Leopold’s clerical collar - and put the set together). They can be somewhat hard to find as they’re often sold out, but it’s a great option, I think.
 
I would start by bringing her to Mass and teaching her in small incremental steps. A lot of this will not make sense at all if she doesn’t have the basics of who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. I would also enroll her in the RCIA-like program your parish uses for children coming into the church.

As far as letting her decide? Would you let her decide whether or not to take medication prescribed by her doctor if she was sick? Would you let her decide to eat cake everyday for dinner? You & her father are her parents, you get to decide what is best for her.
 
You might like to supplement with religious education classes at home. I do this even though my kid has been going to church since she was tiny. I use the Faith and Life series, which goes from Grade 1 to Grade 8. If your daughter is 9, she would probably be ready for the Grade 4 book, “Jesus Our Guide”. This would be an especially appropriate place to start because it is literally a walk through the Bible. The whole book focuses on salvation history, from the Fall to the resurrection of Jesus.

Your local Catholic bookstore would likely have this series, or if they don’t, you might be able to order it online. I find it best to get both the text and the activity book. (You probably don’t need the teacher’s book; much of it describes activities that are more suited for a group religion class. I was given most of the books so I only had the teacher’s book for one text and I have never used it.)
 
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Tell her about Fatima and watch a movie about it. It worked for me! 😀
 
The CCC Saints & Heroes series has a lovely video about it, called “The Day the Sun Danced: The True Story of Fatima”.
 
I completely agree with the decision part - however, my husband is not her father so I don’t have 100% say in her upbringing. However if she is involved and makes a conscious decision to be baptised etc then he wouldn’t be able to object.
 
That does throw a little twist into the matter. I would still introduce Catholicism to her in small pieces and bring her to Mass. For now I would hold off on the saints. If she doesn’t have the very basics, none of it will make sense to her.
 
Side curiosity: what’s the father’s religion?

Me, not having children and not intending to anytime soon, I can’t offer much advice for you. But as you learn more about the Catholic faith, you’ll be able to better answer questions. So if your daughter has a question, maybe instead giving off the cuff (not saying you are), really dig into things.

I know every now and then when I’ve wanted to note somethiby in a topic here, but dive in a little first, I end up learning myself.
 
He’s not any religion - which I’m not sure if that is a help or a hinderance!

That’s a really good idea - I do find it hard to answer questions sometimes because I don’t have all the answers but making into a opportunity for us both to learn makes sense!
 
You need to introduce her to the basic aspects of the faith (God, Christ, the Church, salvation, etc.). Providing a good example is important but not sufficient, since as you say, she must make the decision herself (this is not just a matter of her father being unable to object, she cannot be received into the Church at her age unless she chooses to be).

Thankfully, she’s still young enough that she’ll probably listen to what you tell her.
 
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