Seeking religious ed advice

[Talevita]

I teach second graders at or local parish, it’s the first confession/communion class. Our religious education classes just ended a few weeks ago and tonight we had the post class teacher meeting. We had somewhere around 150 kids last year, grades k-8. Now I come here seeking advice for next year. The biggest problem we’ve had for several years is getting the kids to attend mass - there are three masses offered on the weekends (one Saturday, two Sunday). This was the second year attending mass was in our class policy but it barely made a difference, if any. Most of the teachers and our priest notice when kids don’t show up to church, especially after they receive their first communion and don’t show up again.

The closest thing we came up with tonight is a mandatory sign-in after masses but there was a thought that would make our priest and teachers “mean people”, and perhaps it would turn parents away from our parish. So I wonder if there is something special your parish does for student attendance? Any response would be appreciated by all of us teachers, thanks for your help.

 

[triumphguy]

Our diocese abandoned teaching sacraments in the schools, and went to parish based programs that the parents must attend.

While the number of kids receiving first communion dropped by 2/3 more that received attend mass regularly.

 

[Seira]

Most of the teachers and our priest notice when kids don’t show up to church, especially after they receive their first communion and don’t show up again.

What’s the point of getting you’re kid’s first communion if they didn’t attend before & won’t show up again?

 

[stephe1987]

I like the idea of the parish-based programs.

I think it’s unfair in many cases to make it a class assignment to attend Mass because these kids are 7/8 years old. They have no control over whether or not they get to Mass because they’re young children. Don’t punish them for their parents’ lack of participation.

Maybe the number of kids attending will drop, but kids need to know their faith before they can take Communion. I also think kids should have to pass a test, at least before they get Confirmed, to make sure they actually know their faith and have been paying attention. It can be a simple Pass/Fail test with ~75% being the minimum passing grade.

I also like the idea of having parents attend classes with their children. From what I hear, a good number of adult Catholics have been poorly formed in their faith, or were taught by the “conscience” generation of nuns/priests who value feelings over formation. I mean, you can “feel” something is right, but if your conscience hasn’t been properly formed you cannot know that for sure. The parents attending hopefully will know everything being taught to their children, but they may also learn something new. Maybe parishes can require this for the next generation or two, in an attempt to “clean up” the poor catechesis over the past 2-3 generations that has occurred in many areas. The younger kids (1st Communion) would need a parent because they’re too young to go on their own, but the older kids’ (Confirmation) parents could also benefit; many people know what the church teaches but they do not know why it teaches what it does, or anything about the new studies that back up what the church says on the more controversial teachings such as abortion and cohabitation/sex before marriage. This is after all, 2012, not 1980 and we know a lot more now than we used to. So much “good advice” that goes against Church teaching has harmed society.

 

[tarboy]

Are the parents coming to mass without their children, or are the parents just not attending weekly mass?

The key is to focus on the parents rather than the children. Remind them that it’s mandatory to attend and explain they need to instill the habit in their child.

I teach second graders at or local parish, it’s the first confession/communion class. Our religious education classes just ended a few weeks ago and tonight we had the post class teacher meeting. We had somewhere around 150 kids last year, grades k-8. Now I come here seeking advice for next year. The biggest problem we’ve had for several years is getting the kids to attend mass - there are three masses offered on the weekends (one Saturday, two Sunday). This was the second year attending mass was in our class policy but it barely made a difference, if any. Most of the teachers and our priest notice when kids don’t show up to church, especially after they receive their first communion and don’t show up again.

The closest thing we came up with tonight is a mandatory sign-in after masses but there was a thought that would make our priest and teachers “mean people”, and perhaps it would turn parents away from our parish. So I wonder if there is something special your parish does for student attendance? Any response would be appreciated by all of us teachers, thanks for your help.

 

[dconklin]

150 kids in a religious ed program sounds so nice. I am the Asst DRE at a parish where we had 150 children receive their 1st Holy Communion this past weekend.

We need to remember that the parish’s job is to assist the parents in raising their children in the Church. Our biggest focus needs to be on the parents. Many families only want their kids to receive the sacraments so they can get married in the Church someday. Obviously, many of these parents need more than just the Mass. There are so many excuses they can come up with for not going to Mass. Forcing it will not make it any better.

Do the very best with the children that you possibly can and pray that the parents’ hearts will be turned. We have had a number of families return to regular Mass attendance because of all of the other wonderful things our parish does.

 

[1ke]

I teach second graders at or local parish, it’s the first confession/communion class. Our religious education classes just ended a few weeks ago and tonight we had the post class teacher meeting. We had somewhere around 150 kids last year, grades k-8. Now I come here seeking advice for next year. The biggest problem we’ve had for several years is getting the kids to attend mass - there are three masses offered on the weekends (one Saturday, two Sunday). This was the second year attending mass was in our class policy but it barely made a difference, if any. Most of the teachers and our priest notice when kids don’t show up to church, especially after they receive their first communion and don’t show up again.

The closest thing we came up with tonight is a mandatory sign-in after masses but there was a thought that would make our priest and teachers “mean people”, and perhaps it would turn parents away from our parish. So I wonder if there is something special your parish does for student attendance? Any response would be appreciated by all of us teachers, thanks for your help.

I know you and the teachers mean well, but stay away from any sort of idea that smells of taking attendance at mass. There are a lot of reasons this is a bad idea, and nothing in Church teaching or canon law supports this. You cannot make anything of this nature “mandatory”.

You can continue to teach and educate both the children and the parents. You can create opportunitites for participation in Mass-- FHC kids and parents bringing up gifts, being greeters, or something where they have to be there. You can have meetings, you can reserve seating and set the expectation that FHC class will sit together at Mass on X week and receive a special blessing.

You leave the rest to God.

 

[1ke]

I also think kids should have to pass a test, at least before they get Confirmed, to make sure they actually know their faith and have been paying attention. It can be a simple Pass/Fail test with ~75% being the minimum passing grade.

Thankfully, the Church’s teaching on the free gift of sacramental grace is not compatible with such an idea. This is not at ALL what the sacrament of confirmation is about.

 

[PatriceA]

The closest thing we came up with tonight is a mandatory sign-in after masses but there was a thought that would make our priest and teachers “mean people”, and perhaps it would turn parents away from our parish. So I wonder if there is something special your parish does for student attendance? Any response would be appreciated by all of us teachers, thanks for your help.

Such a bad idea, as 1ke explained. I know I would personally have a problem with a mandatory sign in after mass as we didn’t attend our parish mass every weekend. We did attend mass, but we visited other parishes in our diocese quite frequently. Just because we weren’t visible in our parish pews every weekend didn’t mean we were skipping mass.

If you know for certain you have some children in your class that are not attending mass on a regular basis, why not just approach those families as one Catholic to another Catholic? Speak to them privately, but you can’t force them into mandatory mass attendance.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I teach second graders at or local parish, it’s the first confession/communion class. Our religious education classes just ended a few weeks ago and tonight we had the post class teacher meeting. We had somewhere around 150 kids last year, grades k-8. Now I come here seeking advice for next year. The biggest problem we’ve had for several years is getting the kids to attend mass - there are three masses offered on the weekends (one Saturday, two Sunday). This was the second year attending mass was in our class policy but it barely made a difference, if any. Most of the teachers and our priest notice when kids don’t show up to church, especially after they receive their first communion and don’t show up again.

The closest thing we came up with tonight is a mandatory sign-in after masses but there was a thought that would make our priest and teachers “mean people”, and perhaps it would turn parents away from our parish. So I wonder if there is something special your parish does for student attendance? Any response would be appreciated by all of us teachers, thanks for your help.

Have several after-First-Communion get togethers after the most popular Mass on Sunday. Offer refreshments, and ask the parents for suggestions on making the program better. Have the priest come and talk to the parents briefly, crack a few jokes and reinforce how important it is to bring their children to Mass on a weekly basis. Do a raffle give-away of a few rosaries. Make the parents feel special and included, and make them WANT to be there because they are the stewards of their childrens’ spirituality.

 

[mellowcalico]

Such a bad idea, as 1ke explained. I know I would personally have a problem with a mandatory sign in after mass as we didn’t attend our parish mass every weekend. We did attend mass, but we visited other parishes in our diocese quite frequently. Just because we weren’t visible in our parish pews every weekend didn’t mean we were skipping mass.

If you know for certain you have some children in your class that are not attending mass on a regular basis, why not just approach those families as one Catholic to another Catholic? Speak to them privately, but you can’t force them into mandatory mass attendance.

I was going to say the same thing. My daughter and I don’t always go to our Church for Mass… a lot of times we go to my mom’s and visit her at the same time. I would be pretty annoyed if I was required to sign her in and out of Mass and skip visiting my mom (it’s a four hour drive round trip, so I usually spend the night on Saturday and leave on Sunday).

I wish I could offer good advice, but like the OP, I am at a loss for ideas. I hope there is a good solution soon.

 

[etmom]

While the kids attend 1st communion prep classes in our parish, the parents are required to attend a seperate catechisis at the same time. There are 5 or 6 sessions. The parents class covers theology, Eucharist, and Father beat it into our heads that you MUST continue to bring your child to Mass!! This was my 4th child receiving 1st communion and we are at Mass several times per week, but I realize it was aimed at about half of the class. He said this over and over. Hopefully, it works.