Sacramental Preparation not Catechism

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anrmenchaca47

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I’m wondering if anyone can explain to me why “Sacramental Preparation” is being used to describe Catechism when it comes to teaching children the faith? TO ME it just seems that using “Sacramental Preparation for Children”is just being used just for that…the Sacraments…now stay with me here I’m NOT saying anything negative, just figured why teach ONLY the Sacraments when there is wealth of rich history regarding the doctrine and dogma of our faith teaches. I don’t know…maybe I’m making a big deal out of nothing…just my thoughts. I hope this makes sense to those reading it. Maybe I’m not ready to be a Catechist just yet.
 
In my opinion it is because families feel the only time their children need any type of religious education outside the home are the times they are forced to attend either for first communion or confirmation. Parents do not see the value of bringing their children to RE or YG to be taught the faith as they do not view it as important as so many other things in their lives like sports, cheer, dance or other children’s activities. Then they wonder why their kids leave the church when they are old enough to make their own decisions.

I can’t tell you how many parents I’ve spoken to who really don’t care about what their kids learn, just as long as they get that certificate that states they have been confirmed. I’ve had parents ask me why the kids are required to attend Mass every week.

Our DRE and I (I’m the DYM) work every hard to get interesting & appropriate programs for all the kids in the parish to learn the faith. We constantly brainstorm ideas of how to keep kids engaged as well as parents engaged.

So I guess the answer to your question is the rest of it is available in many parishes, but way underutilized.
 
Around here Catechism would be used to describe the constant faith formation that goes on. Sacramental prep exists on top of Catechism and Faith Formation classes. Does that make sense? They learn a lot more, but they do need to be specifically prepared for their first Reconciliation and Communion.
 
This varies from parish to parish. Ours offers Faith Formation for pre-k through the end of high school. There are additional Sacramental Prep classes leading up to first reconciliation, first communion, and confirmation.
 
Sacramental preparation is a part of religious education, but it is not all of it.

Sacramental preparation happens prior to baptism (for parents if an infant), first reconciliation, first communion, confirmation, and marriage. And of course there is sacramental prep in seminary for holy orders. Proximate preparation for the sacraments includes instruction and spiritual readiness.

Religious education takes place formally during school age, and should continue into adulthood. It is not limited to “sacraments”. It covers all aspects of the faith.

So I’m not really sure what you are talking about.
 
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I went to Catholic schools and for me Catechism was what I was taught every school day for 13 years. For a relatively short period before our first confessions, Holy Communion and Confirmation, we received Sacramental Preparation. Those who did not go to Catholic Schools received their Sacramental Preparation at church on Sunday afternoons - and they were called Catechism classes.

In 2000, the Holy See published the Catechism of the Catholic Church - a book for which the hardback version will set you back hundreds of dollars (even from Amazon). It’s hardly surprising that the word went out of fashion.
 
jimXroberts said:
In 2000, the Holy See published the Catechism of the Catholic Church - a book for which the hardback version will set you back hundreds of dollars (even from Amazon). It’s hardly surprising that the word went out of fashion.
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Amazon actually lists them for about $35; the paperback, which is much more prevalent among just about everyone I know, laity and clergy alike, can be obtained for less than $20 - perhaps even free or for a donation from your parish.

https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Ca...fix=catechism+of+the+catholic+church+h&sr=8-4
 
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The catechumenate is the period of formation almost immediately preceding baptism. Catechesis is the term for the teaching done then, and a catechism is a compilation of everything being taught in preparation for Initiation, for Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

Sacramental Preparation is catechesis, and all catechesis is preparation for the Sacraments. There are other elements that can be taught, like Church history, but in catchism classes, those should be taught with an eye to how we live our lives, not just how others lived their lives in the past.
 
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