Should Adult Sunday School be Encouraged?

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Mike_Mullaney

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I would like to suggest to my parish to hold Sunday School for adults immediately before or after Sunday Mass. The class could come from, for example, the Didache Series, such as Understanding The Scriptures, by Scott Hahn. I have been told by some Catholic lay people that the Catholic Church discourages such classes on Sunday since there are several Masses in the parish on that day. Is there a Catholic Church doctrine that states that Sunday School for adult Catholics is inappropriate? Should Sunday School for Catholic adults be encouraged? If it is appropriate, is there any parish who has been successful with classes on Sunday? I think Sunday School for Catholic adults fills a great need for fellowship and education. Would you go if you were invited at your parish? Thanks.
 
We have what is called “community catechesis” after mass once monthly…we’re divided by age groups; kids go one direction, parents and other grown-ups the other.
 
Mike_Mullaney said:
I would like to suggest to my parish to hold Sunday School for adults immediately before or after Sunday Mass. The class could come from, for example, the Didache Series, such as Understanding The Scriptures, by Scott Hahn. I have been told by some Catholic lay people that the Catholic Church discourages such classes on Sunday since there are several Masses in the parish on that day. Is there a Catholic Church doctrine that states that Sunday School for adult Catholics is inappropriate? Should Sunday School for Catholic adults be encouraged? If it is appropriate, is there any parish who has been successful with classes on Sunday? I think Sunday School for Catholic adults fills a great need for fellowship and education. Would you go if you were invited at your parish? Thanks.
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I wish you good luck. I have been trying to do this at my parish for years. We have our CCE classes on Sundays between the two most attended Masses. My “plan” was to have class for adults, especially the parents of kids in Sacramental prep, so they could review the same basic material the kids were learning. We have so many uncatechized adults. Our problem was volunteers. The only ones who were interested and capable were already teaching CCE. We also have lots of Spanish-only parents and almost no Spanish speaking RE leaders/teachers or even Virtus-trained volunteers. The latter was deemed necessary since it would be at the same time as CCE.

And yes, I would go (or volunteer to lead a group :)).
 
Mike_Mullaney said:
I would like to suggest to my parish to hold Sunday School for adults immediately before or after Sunday Mass. The class could come from, for example, the Didache Series, such as Understanding The Scriptures, by Scott Hahn. I have been told by some Catholic lay people that the Catholic Church discourages such classes on Sunday since there are several Masses in the parish on that day. Is there a Catholic Church doctrine that states that Sunday School for adult Catholics is inappropriate? Should Sunday School for Catholic adults be encouraged? If it is appropriate, is there any parish who has been successful with classes on Sunday? I think Sunday School for Catholic adults fills a great need for fellowship and education. Would you go if you were invited at your parish? Thanks.
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Sounds like a great idea! You can never learn enough 🙂
 
We are suppose to be starting a Religious Educational Class for Adults very soon. I believe, too, they will be held on Sundays which I am very excited about! I believe you can never learn too much! My best to you and your wishes for an Adult Religious Educational Class. I do hope one day soon you will receive one on Sundays.
God Bless,
Angel Face
 
I would love for something like this to work, but I doubt it would. People at our parish seem to think that the advertised times are like suggested retail price. One quarter of the people have never seen the procession and about the same number bail at the words “The mass has ended.” Only a small number of people are there for the end of the recessional song.

I feel that most who stray from the faith never had a good idea of what the Church really believes or what it teaches. If only they knew, but I wonder how the message could be disseminated. People simply are not going to be at the church any longer than is necessary.
 
:bible1::yyeess: One always needs to learn as much as they can about the Bible. There’s people that are just “pew sitters” and people like you that want to give to others.👍
I think that you should go for it!
May God Bless
newbear
 
no there is no church law that says a parish cannot choose to offer catechism classes, bible studies or any other program of interest to adults in the parish on Sunday before or after Mass.

That being said, depending on your area, attendance might not be very good. Here for instance the tradition of Sunday as family day is quite strong (a good thing) and it is very hard to get people here even for something mandatory like a Confirmation parent meeting, let alone a voluntary class.

Many parishes, including ours do have Sunday classes. We have a Confirmation class for adults, and since it is a systematic exploration of the CCC it is open to all adults of the parish, and each year we do have a few participants who have already been confirmed but are interested in a formal CCC class. We also have RCIA on Sunday morning for adult, teens and children, (all these are in both English and Spanish) and a lectionary-based CCD class for children who cannot come on Saturday to regular CCD. There are also a couple of other offerings Sunday morning, including a men’s group, and some of the bible groups meet on Sunday at various times.

But in total, participation out of a parish of 3000 is only about 50 taking all of these together. If this parish wanted something on Sunday, people would come.

We have advertised and invited many, many times any program you can think of, on Sunday or any other day of the week, and response is nil. This parish can have whatever it wants, but they have to want it.

I will also point out that resources in many parishes, in terms of room, resources and people are stretched to the limit on Sunday and it is also the hardest time to find volunteers to staff these programs. If you feel it is the way to go in your parish, be among the first to volunteer.
 
Is there a Catholic Church doctrine that states that Sunday School for adult Catholics is inappropriate?

Sunday School was originally invented by Protestants. Did you know that?

It was to help teach the children of the UNchurched. Children of churchmembers were expected to be instructed in faith by their parents.

Is there any real reason why adult Christian education has to be on Sunday morning?

And it’s not necessary to have everything that goes on in the local parish to be defined by a directive from Rome.
 
If the average Priest were to give a proper sermon, the whole topic would be unnecessary.
 
Cluny said:
Is there a Catholic Church doctrine that states that Sunday School for adult Catholics is inappropriate?

Sunday School was originally invented by Protestants. Did you know that?

It was to help teach the children of the UNchurched. Children of churchmembers were expected to be instructed in faith by their parents.
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True - And it was on Sunday because that was the only day the children didn’t have to work in the mills.

The correct days and times for religious education are the times and places that people can/will attend. Clearly you can’t schedule classes in a fashion that your parking lot won’t work for Mass. Other than that, the choice is pragmatic, not doctrinal.
 
A.Pelliccio said:
If the average Priest were to give a proper sermon, the whole topic would be unnecessary.
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I understand what you’re saying.

However, remember that the average congregation is, as James Joyce wrote, “Here comes everybody.” There’s going to be a broad spectrum of knowledge and spirituality and faith in this bunch of everybody, to say nothing about ages.

It’s quite difficult to preach a sermon to such a a diverse group where everybody can take it home with them. Few priests have such a gift.

This is an advantage to adult education: there can be different classes based on spiritual interests and levels of knowledge.
 
I would say talk to the priest about it. Get him on board fully and enthusiastically. He could give some sermons that directly deal with catachesis and kind of peak interest that way then invite the adults during the announcements to learn more at the next class. Also ask if he could teach. I know they are really busy, but I think it says something to the parishioners when he teaches directly.

My priest does quite a bit of catechesis in his sermons and they are very well recieved. He is there every other week, but when he prays the mass, the church is packed. I would absolutely go to hear him speak any time I could outside of mass. I know not all priests are as gifted as him when it comes to speaking, but I think most could pull it off quite easily.
 
This is the sort of thing the ALPHA program was designed for, though it is particularly directed to people who have almost no background in Christianity. I believe there are Catholic versions. In any case, it might be worthwhile to look at what the ALPHA people have to say about finding good times for classes that adults will come to - they have been doing it for a while and are quite successful. No need to reinvent the wheel!
 
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