Why doesn't the Catholic Church offer Sunday School?

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Just curious why the Catholic Church does not offer Sunday school to adults and young people before Mass on Sundays? Don’t you think if they did it would help to attract Protestants to the Church? One complaint I hear from protestants regarding the Catholic Church is they do not offer Sunday School and the homilies are not very good or very biblical.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
 
I’m not sure what you mean exactly by “Sunday school” but perhaps you are referring to what we call CCD. In our parish we would not be able to provide CCD prior to church to all of the children who attend. There are too many. We need several days/evenings to fit in all the classes we run.

Our homilies almost always reflect the Gospel message for that day. Perhaps it is because the focus of the Catholic Mass is the Eucharist and not biblical teaching that they are a bit confused. And just as there are good protestant preachers and bad, there are good Catholic homilists and poor ones.

A good Catholic Bible study class would fill that bill.

Yours,
David
 
It is a difference in terms. At your Parish, it will be called:

for kids -
CCD
PRE
PSR
RE

For adults:

Adult Faith Formation
Small Group
Study Group
Cathechetics

Or a dozen different OTHER names.

Call your Parish Office, ask to speak to the Director of Religious Ed, they will give you the rundown of what is available for all ages.
 
In our parish we offer Sunday school and the kids from the school are invited to participate. The only one I know that is subject to Catholic school and to mandatory Sunday participation is my son.

BTW: I teach his class.😃
 
Catholic Sunday School teacher signing in! My wife and I teach the 7-8th grade, and my dad who is the only permanent deacon in our parish teaches the adult class. Our classes meet from 9-10 am before the 10:30 mass (only one mass here on Sunday)

even at my small parish (200 families) you’ll hear it called CCD, RE, or Sunday School.

and a reminder- catechesis starts at home!
 
But the OP is asking about ADULT catechesis, not formation for school-age children. I like the idea of Sunday afternoon faith formation for adults (when else would we really take the time?). My parish offers classes for adults on Wednesday evening (topics vary) and also allows parishioners to “audit” RCIA classes, I believe.
 
tassitus said:
But the OP is asking about ADULT catechesis, not formation for school-age children. I like the idea of Sunday afternoon faith formation for adults (when else would we really take the time?). My parish offers classes for adults on Wednesday evening (topics vary) and also allows parishioners to “audit” RCIA classes, I believe.
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We have Sunday school for adults taught by a Deacon and we also have adult formation classes taught at night at the Diocesan level through different parishes.
 
I’ve attended many Protestant services where the Minister delivered an excellent homily. And I was inspired. But I’ve also heard many poor Protestant homilys from the preacher. And those times, I got nothing out of the Church service.

Likewise, I’ve heard many great inspiring Catholic homilies from Priests & Deacons, also many poor ones. But I wasn’t there to hear his homily. I’m there to worship & receive Communion. The priest delivering a great homily is just a bonus, not the main attraction.
 
tassitus said:
But the OP is asking about ADULT catechesis, not formation for school-age children. I like the idea of Sunday afternoon faith formation for adults (when else would we really take the time?). My parish offers classes for adults on Wednesday evening (topics vary) and also allows parishioners to “audit” RCIA classes, I believe.
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First of all the OP asked about adults AND young people.

We offer Sunday school up to grade 11 at the present time. We have adult Religious Ed but not on Sunday. We have been exploring ways to expand that. As a rural parish, it is hard to get people in on weekday evenings.

One idea that has been suggested is to have adult classes at the same time as the kids are in CCE. Right now the issue is resources. We have run out of classroom space and teach three classes in the hall already. Also, the teachers who would be most effective to teach adults are also the best CCE teachers.

But it is not that we don’t recognize the problem. Rather, we haven’t found the perfect solution yet.
 
tassitus said:
But the OP is asking about ADULT catechesis, not formation for school-age children. I like the idea of Sunday afternoon faith formation for adults (when else would we really take the time?). My parish offers classes for adults on Wednesday evening (topics vary) and also allows parishioners to “audit” RCIA classes, I believe.
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Yes, and the Adult Faith Formation (or some other name) classes go on at the same time on Sunday morning as CCD in many many places.

There are also classes/groups that meet on other days/evenings.

Sometimes the names are things like “Mary and Martha Circle” and it is a class for women that meets on Tuesdays. “Theology on Tap” and it is a young adult group that meets on Thrusday evenings.

This is the reason to talk to the Parish Office or DRE to find out when and where the adult classes are.
 
Kaily said:
Just curious why the Catholic Church does not offer Sunday school to adults and young people before Mass on Sundays? Don’t you think if they did it would help to attract Protestants to the Church? One complaint I hear from protestants regarding the Catholic Church is they do not offer Sunday School and the homilies are not very good or very biblical.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
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virtually every Catholic parish offers religious education under some format for children, youth and adults
If you are attending a Catholic Church who does not, please ask why, and where you can go to obtain these services. Sunday morning is not the most advantangeous time for every parish, for many reasons–parking not the least.

In addition to weekly religious education classes for children grades Pre-K through 12, we have bible studies for middle school, high school, young adults, and adults; adult faith formation–this year choices include Basic Faith formation (catechism), theology of the body, apologetics, and contemporary moral issues. We also have of course sacramental preparation for candidates, parents and sponsors for baptism, confirmation, first communion, marriage preparation, and classes for those engaging in various ministries. We also have catechist formation (teacher training) covering the basics plus special topics like sacraments, OT, NT and so forth.

Then there is Disciples in Mission, weekly meetings in small group for discussion and reflection on the Sunday scripture readings, which also prepares participants for door to door evangelization.

all our programs are offered in both English and Spanish
 
Kaily said:
Just curious why the Catholic Church does not offer Sunday school to adults and young people before Mass on Sundays? Don’t you think if they did it would help to attract Protestants to the Church? One complaint I hear from protestants regarding the Catholic Church is they do not offer Sunday School and the homilies are not very good or very biblical.

Any thoughts?

Thanks
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Usually our CCD classes are held during the week so that those children that are old enough can attend Mass with their families. There are nurseries often for those who are at a difficult age to sit through the Mass, although often parents choose to bring those children to Mass with them, also, in order to gradually prepare and teach them. Actually, babes in arms are at an age that they usually do very well in church.
 
We have few thousands students in our parish - young and young adult and adult classes. The classes hold throughout the weekdays and weekends.
 
There was a program offered through Washington DC, on Family Catechetics.

Different than CCD, in that the entire family attends classes and workshops together.

I was interested in getting it into my parish, but ended up moving into the music ministry and had to change my priorities.

Jim
 
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