What? No sacraments in school?

[TripleM]

I send my son to a Catholic grade school. He does receive an excellent education and this is important but my MAIN reason for sending him to this school is because I want him to learn about our faith. My son and I attend church every Sunday and I try to incorporate our faith into every day life. I don’t leave my son’s spiritual enrichment to the school…I understand that the lesson must begin at home…but I do expect that the teachings at his school will enhance my efforts at home in this area.

My son is in second grade this year. I assumed (wrongly so) that my son would receive preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation and first communion in school. I was recently informed that each child is expected to receive preparation and make the sacraments at their own parish. I was shocked, to say the least. When did this start? Is this common?

I am very disappointed that my son will not receive preparation for the sacrament at school. I am disappointed that he will not share this experience with members of his spiritual community (school). When I attended catholic school, I made every sacrament with my classmates. I truly felt as though I belonged to a spiritual community…a spiritual family…and it meant so much to me (even as a child) that I made my sacraments with my friends and classmates…

Of course, I will follow through with all of this and take my son for a meeting with catechists from our parish…but I am just very disappointed and sad at this turn of events. If catholic schools are supposed to offer spiritual growth, why, oh why, aren’t sacraments part of their education and spiritual development? Does anybody know???

Thank you…

 

[Catholic90]

When my kids went to elementary school, it was our parish school. They received instruction from US, the parents, as did the RE kids. All kids received together (parish school and public school kids). No sacramental preparation was done in school (sure, they talked about it in religion classes and such, but the actual going through the book and doing the actual prep work was up to the parents). This was followed by a day long retreat for all the kids where many people, including the priest and RE director talked, had activities, etc.

Confirmation is done the same way. It is done outside of regular school (Sunday afternoons) and included ALL parish kids.

I like it this way. It keeps the “us” versus “them” mentality to a minimum.

 

[baltobetsy]

It’s the way things have been done for some time now, and our member, Puzzleannie, who is a parish director of religious education, will surely come along soon and tell you more details.

I, too, remember receiving the Sacraments for the first time with my classmates (in the 60’s), but by the time my DD was ready, in the 80’s, it was done in parishes.

Betsy

 

[Cristiano]

It is the same thing in my diocese. Sacramental preparation is different from overall religious education. Sometime children from different parishes attend the same Catholic school but different Churches on Sunday. It is the norm that the sacraments are received in your own parish. I think that the requirement is not unreasonable.

If you want your children to receive the sacraments with the schoolmates, you have to be in the same parish , go to school together and attend together the extra classes during the week. With that scenario they will still be preparing together.

I might be too pushy for a serious religious education, but I think that the children that go to Catholic school should also be asked to attend the Sunday classes. In my parish my son if one of the few (if not the only one) that attends Catholic school during the week and then Family Faith Formation on Sundays. He chose to do that without being asked, and he wants to be in the class that I teach. So every year I sign up to teach class for his grade.

 

[puzzleannie]

I send my son to a Catholic grade school. He does receive anMy son is in second grade this year. I assumed (wrongly so) that my son would receive preparation for the sacraments of reconciliation and first communion in school. I was recently informed that each child is expected to receive preparation and make the sacraments at their own parish. I was shocked, to say the least. When did this start? Is this common?

I am
Thank you…

this is the preferred way, that the child prepare for and celebrate the sacraments in the parish, not in the school, and receive first communion at the Sunday Mass, not at a special separate “school Mass”. There are still some Catholic schools (ours included) who do it “the old way” but the bishops’ guidelines are clear. This is because Eucharist is a sacrament of initiation, and the child is being fully initiated into the life of the Church, and the ordinary way Catholics participate in the life of the Church is in the Parish.

Catholic school education is not sacramental preparation per se, neither is CCD. Sacramental preparation, including special programs for candidates, parents and sponsors, is separate from both school and CCD.

 

[Seatuck]

Preparation for sacraments is still done at the local Catholic school here. Parents are expected to be involved at home of course. This is outrageous. I guess let the buyer beware.What is the difference between these “catholic” schools and public schools then?

I have no problem with the liturgy being done at an individuals own parish in the case of regional schools. There is no reason why the education shouldn’t be done at the Catholic school.

 

[puzzleannie]

Preparation for sacraments is still done at the local Catholic school here. Parents are expected to be involved at home of course. This is outrageous. I guess let the buyer beware.What is the difference between these “catholic” schools and public schools then?

the purpose for sending our children to Catholic schools is primarily for their education, in the same academic subjects they get at public school, and that is the primary job of the Catholic school. The difference is that the life and activities of the school are embued with the Catholic spirit and life in Christ, rather than in the secular, culture-of-death values that permeate public school systems.

Immediate preparation for the sacraments is the duty of the parents, as is all training in the basics of the belief and practice of the Faith. It is the duty of the Parish to assist parents in this task, which they promised to undertake at their child’s baptism.

The child learns to live the faith in the family, and learns to worship and participate in the life of the Church in the Parish, as do all Catholics.

even “in the old days” children in Catholic schools participated in sacramental preparation meetings outside school hours with their parents and sponsors. Because (at least where I and my children grew up) parochial school life was all but indistinguishable from parish life, the dividing lines between education and sacramental prep were somewhat blurred, but nonetheless, that is the way it is done.

 

[stbruno]

I have never heard of that. In our diocese, the children make their sacraments while in Catholic school at the parish of which it is a part of.

Some of our parish schools are consolidated, so the children will then be prepared together, but make the sacrament of reconciliation and the Holy Eucharist at their home parish. It may not be with the larger group of kids but they still will be among some classmates.

And for Confirmation, all the kids make it together. And their Confirmation records are then sent back to the parish where they were baptized to be added to the parish register.

I don’t understand why it is so different at your Catholic school.

 

[Cristiano]

Preparation for sacraments is still done at the local Catholic school here. Parents are expected to be involved at home of course. This is outrageous. I guess let the buyer beware.What is the difference between these “catholic” schools and public schools then?

I have no problem with the liturgy being done at an individuals own parish in the case of regional schools. There is no reason why the education shouldn’t be done at the Catholic school.

The difference is that in Catholic schools the students pray every day, and the teachers work on forming the students lives in the image of Christ’s own life. Try to do that in a public school!

Parent must be the first and the foremost teachers in the religious education of the children. The job should not be delegated to the parish or the school. The parish and the school are just the appropriate places to support the family and its growth.

 

[netmilsmom]

The difference is that in Catholic schools the students pray every day, and the teachers work on forming the students lives in the image of Christ’s own life. Try to do that in a public school!

Parent must be the first and the foremost teachers in the religious education of the children. The job should not be delegated to the parish or the school. The parish and the school are just the appropriate places to support the family and its growth.

I’m sorry, but I disagree to a point.
Yes, we should all be the teachers first and formost.
Okay, so what if my catechesis was so poor that I CAN’T teach it.

If I am paying the big bucks (around here it’s 2 to 5 thousand a year), I am paying for someone to teach the entire Catholic education.

Come on! If children got the sacramental education in Catholic schools 20 years ago, these people are just slacking off now.

If I am paying for a Catholic education, yes the atmosphere is wonderful but geez oh pete, they can’t take an hour of the day to teach the Sacraments??? Isn’t that part of the new buzz words “Religious Formation”. So what ARE they teaching? I’m not paying the big bucks for God made the flowers and God made the trees that they can get for free at the local Protestant Sunday School. Living to walk in the footsteps of Christ is great for the years between the sacraments. How about teaching the kids how to be Catholic? That’s been neglected for 40 years.

This should NOT be acceptable. When in the world did it become too much of a bother to teach the CCC in a CATHOLIC school.

Oh thank you Lord for my ability to homeschool. Blessed are WE!!!

 

[maryalene]

I’ve never heard of this before. When I first received the sacraments (in the 80s), we were prepared at school and then received First Communion at a separate Sunday afternoon Mass.

DD is in 2nd grade and will have First Reconciliation during school hours and First Communion at a regular Sunday Mass. We have the option of which Mass to attend although they are limiting the number of First Communicants to six per Mass so guests don’t overwhelm the church. However, most preparation will be done during school hours. There also is a one day mini-retreat for practice and reflection that is done with the religious ed students.

I would be upset if I were the OP too.

 

[Cristiano]

I’m sorry, but I disagree to a point.
Yes, we should all be the teachers first and formost.
Okay, so what if my catechesis was so poor that I CAN’T teach it.

You do your best, and then the parish and school will fill in the gaps.

If I am paying the big bucks (around here it’s 2 to 5 thousand a year), I am paying for someone to teach the entire Catholic education.

The big buck are not only for the religious education. Even seminarians are not taught the entire Catholic education! The teachers have to work on a mix of Christology, sacramental theology, ecclesiology, scriptures, moral theology, etc. They have to cover a wide spectrum and skip some details that must be covered during the preparation for the individual sacraments.

Come on! If children got the sacramental education in Catholic schools 20 years ago, these people are just slacking off now.

If I am paying for a Catholic education, yes the atmosphere is wonderful but geez oh pete, they can’t take an hour of the day to teach the Sacraments??? Isn’t that part of the new buzz words “Religious Formation”. So what ARE they teaching? I’m not paying the big bucks for God made the flowers and God made the trees that they can get for free at the local Protestant Sunday School. Living to walk in the footsteps of Christ is great for the years between the sacraments. How about teaching the kids how to be Catholic? That’s been neglected for 40 years.

This should NOT be acceptable. When in the world did it become too much of a bother to teach the CCC in a CATHOLIC school.

Oh thank you Lord for my ability to homeschool. Blessed are WE!!!

That is your opinion of the schools that you know! My take is that it seems to me that in this country people assume that just because the pay for something the delegate the whole task to someone else. I rather have my son with a broader understanding of his Church. I doubt that a person can be fully aware of the sacraments if he is not knowledgeable of the other aspects of our faith. I am afraid that under those conditions sacramental theology becomes more of a “trivial pursuit” knowledge than a part of systematic theology.

 

[TripleM]

Thank you for your replies.

I’m beginning to understand that this is just the way things are. I understand the points made about WHY the sacraments aren’t taught in school…I also knew someone was going to say that its the parents job to instruct their children in the faith…I knew this one was coming but I think this is unfair. I can and do try to instill our Catholic faith at home but I send my son to a Catholic school so that my efforts at home are supplemented and reiniforced. If faith weren’t a critical component of my life, I would not send my son to Catholic schools or even be concerned about the fact that they are not preparing him for sacraments.

I have to say that I disagree with all of this and I am very disappointed.

Sacraments are the foundation of our faith. Period. The public school system where I live offers an excellent education but I want more than that for my son. I want him to be immersed in our faith both at home and at school. Faith should be an integral part of his life and this is why I send him to a Catholic school.

Why should catholic schools say that they offer religious instruction and guidance when they fail to prepare our children to receive the sacraments? This is no different than a law school that teaches the law but fails to prepare its students for the bar exam or a medical school that fails to teach basic anatomy. Sacraments are the foundation and cornerstone of our faith. For catholic schools to neglect this critical aspect of their spitiual development is a cop out, in my opinion.

I had no idea that catholic schools had abdicated their responsiblity in this area. I am deeply disappointed.

 

[puzzleannie]

Why should catholic schools say that they offer religious instruction and guidance when they fail to prepare our children to receive the sacraments? .

the point has been made that religious instruction is not synonymous with sacramental preparation. RE goes far beyond sacramental prep, and is part of every facet of Catholic education in a good, orthodox Catholic school. RE is all through the school years and hopefully lifelong learning.

Sacramental prep is a specific “program” to meet a specific need and a particular time in the candidate’s life. and is in the judgement of the bishops properly carried out in the parish setting, not in the school. if your Catholic school admin is being obedient to the bishop, surely that is a good and desireable thing. Even if your child were in a Catholic school (like ours) where he will be prepared for 1st communion and celebrate the sacrament with his classmates, rather than in a parish setting, you and he will still participate in a sacramental preparation program of some kind OUTSIDE of school hours and RE program.

 

[TripleM]

Thank you puzzleannie…

I would be happy to participate in extra activities outside of school in order to prepare my son for the most holy sacraments of reconciliation and communion. I welcome whatever programs or activities there are in this area because I want my son to be prepared and knowledgeable about the importance of these sacraments in his life. I just wish that my school (or archdioces…whatever the case may be) placed the same value and importance on this educational and spiritual need as I do. I just don’t understand how it can be neglected like this. I’m just so surprised by all of this. (and saddened too)

 

[Cristiano]

Sacraments are the foundation and cornerstone of our faith. For catholic schools to neglect this critical aspect of their spitiual development is a cop out, in my opinion.

I had no idea that catholic schools had abdicated their responsiblity in this area. I am deeply disappointed.

The sacrifice of Christ ,one person of the trinity, both man and God is the foundation of my faith. The sacraments are signs that confer graces on me. Is a person going to hell if he never received communion but lived a moral life all of his life with the intent of pleasing God? Does a person go to heaven if he receives communion and does not live accordingly to the teachings of the Church? The sacraments without the rest of our theology become meaningless rituals. They are integral part of our faith and they must be embedded in our religious education. Isolating them makes the relationship only between the individual and God, not between us and God. That can become a protestant attitude.

 

[Jennifer_J]

the point has been made that religious instruction is not synonymous with sacramental preparation. RE goes far beyond sacramental prep, and is part of every facet of Catholic education in a good, orthodox Catholic school. RE is all through the school years and hopefully lifelong learning.

Sacramental prep is a specific “program” to meet a specific need and a particular time in the candidate’s life. and is in the judgement of the bishops properly carried out in the parish setting, not in the school. if your Catholic school admin is being obedient to the bishop, surely that is a good and desireable thing. Even if your child were in a Catholic school (like ours) where he will be prepared for 1st communion and celebrate the sacrament with his classmates, rather than in a parish setting, you and he will still participate in a sacramental preparation program of some kind OUTSIDE of school hours and RE program.

I agree with puzzleannie here. 2 of my children are currently in Catholic school and get daily religion lessons (along with just being Catholic all the time, lol) all year long. When it comes time for Sacramental prep, these classes are for the parents and child together–we do retreats and special learning days plus at-home learning. This is directed by the Parish’s Faith Formation team (Priest, DRE, etc), not by the school, because not EVERYONE preparing for the Sacraments in the Parish attends the Catholic school. Again, the Catholic school is offering basic Catholic religious teachings and the Parish Faith Formation team takes care of Sacramental prep. If your school is abdicating their responsiblity by NOT teaching ANY Catholic religion during the school day–THEN you have an issue. But the school is not responsible for Sacramental prep.

God bless,
Jennifer
mom to 1 ds and 4 dd’s, blessing #6 due in July

 

[jmcrae]

In our Diocese, the reason for doing Religious Education at the Catholic school and Sacramental Preparation at home and in the parish is to try to repair the confusion that so many people have today, who think that Religious Education is the same thing as Sacramental Preparation, and who therefore think that their kids are “done” when they have completed the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Religious Education goes from kindergarten to Grade 12, but Sacramental Preparation only happens three times; once for First Confession; once for First Holy Communion; and once for Confirmation - and then the kids are never seen or heard from again; they miss half of their Religious Education, because their parents assume that because Sacramental Preparation is finished, that there’s nothing more for their children to learn.

By having Religious Education and Sacramental Preparation separated, so that they happen in two different places, it’s easier for people to “get” that they are two different things, and that the kids are supposed to be doing both.

It also prevent teachers and school administrators from hijacking the Religion class to use it as a Sacramental Preparation class, thus losing a year of Religious Education while the kids are doing their Sacramental Preparation.

 

[netmilsmom]

The big buck are not only for the religious education. Even seminarians are not taught the entire Catholic education! The teachers have to work on a mix of Christology, sacramental theology, ecclesiology, scriptures, moral theology, etc. They have to cover a wide spectrum and skip some details that must be covered during the preparation for the individual sacraments.

You are saying that all of this is covered in second and eighth grades so much that Sacraments cannot be covered? Ridiculous!
Our CCD program does all that you speak of in an hour a week AND covers Sacraments. Maybe if our CATHOLIC "religious formation’ programs would concentrate on making our kids Catholic, we wouldn’t be losing them to the Pentacostal church up the street.

That is your opinion of the schools that you know!

And the schools across the country are keeping our kids Catholic into adulthood, right? The Church is growing by leaps and bounds in every Diocese, right?
Come on. Keep it Catholic for two years of school and we may grow again.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

And the schools across the country are keeping our kids Catholic into adulthood, right? The Church is growing by leaps and bounds in every Diocese, right?
Come on. Keep it Catholic for two years of school and we may grow again.

It is not the job of the school to keep our kids Catholic. It is the parents job to do so.

After all, education is the parents’ responsibility.