Why don't we have sunday school?

[ccmcmg]

My dad judiciously applied the Invisible to Other Parishioners So My Children Appear Perfect Knee Grip at the slightest fidget.

And if that didn’t work, the back of the neck was next…

On subject, I would enjoy a Bible Study before or after Mass; however, during the school year, my parish has one on Thursday mornings that I plan to attend.

Blessings,
Christina

 

[SAVINGRACE]

What makes you believe that Catholics do not have religious education?

Children who have reached the age of reason are obligated to attend Mass.

I didn’t realise we offered Religious Education during Mass? I have never heard of that before. That is the crux of my question.

Many parents do not pay attention or focus during Mass because they are too busy disciplining or entertaining their children. Conversely, the children (3-7yo) find it difficult to sit still and not talk for an hour and many do not understand the Gospel also.

I realise it is up to the parents to raise disciplined children but not all parents have perfectly behaved children during Mass. Is there a possibility of the children being taken away to RE during Mass as they do in some Protestant churches (Sunday School)?

 

[1ke]

I didn’t realise we offered Religious Education during Mass? I have never heard of that before. That is the crux of my question.

Sunday school = religious education

Some Catholic churches that are large offer multiple times for religious education. For example my old parish offered religious education at 9 am and at 11 am. The parish also had a 9 am Mass and an 11 am Mass. Parents could make their own choices about young children, pre K - 1. Grades 2 and up would go to RE at 9 and Mass at 11. There were also choices for RE during the week.

My current parish is very small. We have one time for RE, Wednesdays, and one Mass on Sunday. Children are expected to be in Mass.

Many parents do not pay attention or focus during Mass because they are too busy disciplining or entertaining their children.

RE is not babysitting.

My old parish did have babysitting for babies and toddlers. My new parish does not, because it is very small.

Conversely, the children (3-7yo) find it difficult to sit still and not talk for an hour and many do not understand the Gospel also.

Many parents swap off if there are multiple masses or take them to the nursery if there is one. In my current parish, people attend with their children and if the child is crying or needs to be taken out, they do so.

Again, RE <> babysitting

Is there a possibility of the children being taken away to RE during Mass as they do in some Protestant churches (Sunday School)?

Sure, if the parish wants to do that and has the resources to support it and still allow the adults teaching RE to attend Mass.

Keep in mind, the adults teaching in a protestant SS often do not attend the Sunday worship service at all. They do SS only on those weeks.

And, when I was a Protestant, my church did not have SS during services. There was an 8 a.m. early service, 9:15-10:15 SS for children and adults, and a 10:30 late service. SS was between the two services. And, we had babysitting at the 10:30 a…m. service for infants and toddlers, manned by the high school kids who would not attend services that day if they were scheduled to sit in the nursery.

Catholic volunteers have a Mass obligation. So, for example, in our parish that only has one Mass it is not practical to have RE during Mass. But in my old parish we had multiple RE classes-- but again, kids and teachers went to one RE class and THEN attended Mass. It is not a substitute for Mass.

Plus, for those under 7, they really aren’t the main ones RE is targeted at. Certainly there may be some PreK and K programs if the parish is large, but our RE starts with first grade and those children should be in Mass learning prayers and preparing for 2nd grade and First Communion.

 

[andrewstx]

Sunday School is usually held before main service, and it’s for all ages, from nursery up to seniors. We have Bible study from workbooks, discussion, prayer, and fellowship.

Sunday School teacher are usually elders or deacons, or women of strong, visible faith.

During church, some (not all) churches offer Children’s Church, where the littles from about age 4 and up gather to sing fun Christian songs, practice Bible trivia and other Christian themed games and activities, and watch a video once a month. (at least, this is how our church does it)

Kids are also welcome in the sanctuary during main service, if they/parents prefer.

Nursery is open for ages birth to 3 or so, usually, and it’s available for Sunday School and main service.

But not all churches are run the same, so ymmv.

Do S Baptists still have Royal Ambassadors and training union? Probably giving away my age.

Around here they all have AWANA clubs now.

 

[mcrts]

Here, we have catechism class from 7 to 15. It’s required for all parents to send their kids to these classes so that they can receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. (Of course, parents can also follow a home catechism program, but in my church most of the kids go to catechism class.)

As a child, I didn’t like children’s mass. Perhaps I felt that the beauty of the liturgy was lost in trying to keep kids entertained. I preferred “proper” mass, or the normal form of mass, even if it was long.

 

[Miss_Felicity]

As a child growing up Protestant one of the main churches I attended; Sunday School was before service, there was an adult sunday school as well (in a different room of course). Even when we visited other churches and when we eventually did most of our worship somewhere else my mother was never fond of handing me over to someone for an hour and a half. Mom said that was too much time with strangers, roughly 2 hours a week, from toddler to roughly 8 - 10 that amount of time adds up. My mother did help teach vacation bible school one year and felt woefully under qualified so she declined to return. There was training for VBS and SS teachers though and I think conceptually it was important but Mass is so different than my church experiences growing up that it would be difficult to have something similar I would think.

 

[on_the_hill]

I’ve been to some (RC) churches where children leave during the homily for…what, I don’t know. I guess some sort of children’s sermon, a 20 minute Sunday school?

 

[TheDoctor]

I didn’t realise we offered Religious Education during Mass? I have never heard of that before. That is the crux of my question.

Many parents do not pay attention or focus during Mass because they are too busy disciplining or entertaining their children. Conversely, the children (3-7yo) find it difficult to sit still and not talk for an hour and many do not understand the Gospel also.

I realise it is up to the parents to raise disciplined children but not all parents have perfectly behaved children during Mass. Is there a possibility of the children being taken away to RE during Mass as they do in some Protestant churches (Sunday School)?

It depends on the age of the children and the number of staff. When our parish had more Priests (sigh) we would do a “CCD” Mass in the school gym so the parents could attend Mass while the little ones (3-6) could go to the CCD.

One of the reasons btw that we moved away from having any CCD on Sunday is that when we started to add 7 year old and up CCD classes, many parents were dropping the kids off and going to Mass but were then not taking the children who were in CCD to Mass later in the day. Our Pastor figured, rightly, that it was more important for the children to attend Mass than for Mom and Dad to have a convenient CCD day.

 

[TheDoctor]

I can only speak for my experience when my daughter was young: she quickly learned that receiving a lightly applied “Vulcan Death Grip” was far less desirable than simply paying attention.

Mark - you are not confusing the “Vulcan Nerve Pinch” with the “Vulcan Death Grip” are you?

I personally used the “Italian-I-Can-Make-Another-One-That-Looks-Just-Like-You-Stare”.

 

[garn9173]

My parish is simply too big to have RE on Sunday morning, it’s scattered throughout the week across mulitple nights for various grade levels.

 

[PatriceA]

I didn’t realise we offered Religious Education during Mass? I have never heard of that before. That is the crux of my question.

Many parents do not pay attention or focus during Mass because they are too busy disciplining or entertaining their children. Conversely, the children (3-7yo) find it difficult to sit still and not talk for an hour and many do not understand the Gospel also.

I realise it is up to the parents to raise disciplined children but not all parents have perfectly behaved children during Mass. Is there a possibility of the children being taken away to RE during Mass as they do in some Protestant churches (Sunday School)?

Some parishes due offer what you are suggesting. Its called Children’s Liturgy of the Word. At my parish, its offered at the 11:30 am Sunday mass. The children are gathered after the start of Mass and then returned before the petitions. Usually the age range is pre-kindergarten (age 4) to 4th grade (age 10 or so).

 

[Phemie]

I’ve been to some (RC) churches where children leave during the homily for…what, I don’t know. I guess some sort of children’s sermon, a 20 minute Sunday school?

That’s not Sunday School, that’s a Children’s Liturgy of the Word. That’s when the children are taken out and read the readings from the Children’s Lectionary. Usually, only two readings and the Psalm, a reflection or ‘what did you hear’ type of questions, the Prayers of the Faithful and then they return to their parents for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

At least that’s what our bishops want it to be. In practice in my present parish, they get read a “Bible Story” that may have nothing to do with the readings of the day, then they colour some handout. Totally goes against the CCCB’s document “Celebrating the Liturgy of the Word with Children”.

 

[ccmcmg]

Mark - you are not confusing the “Vulcan Nerve Pinch” with the “Vulcan Death Grip” are you?

I personally used the “Italian-I-Can-Make-Another-One-That-Looks-Just-Like-You-Stare”.

ROFLMAO! That’s pretty good. However, I’m adopted, so they couldn’t exactly do that.

Christina

 

[on_the_hill]

Whether CCD or Sunday school, regrettably our parish’s CCD program is disorganized and ineffective to the point that my wife and I will probably pull our kids out of it and homeschool for CCD.

 

[markomalley]

Mark - you are not confusing the “Vulcan Nerve Pinch” with the “Vulcan Death Grip” are you?

We always called it the Vulcan Death Grip.

The incredible amount of pain that can be caused by compressing that nerve makes one feel like one will die.

I personally used the “Italian-I-Can-Make-Another-One-That-Looks-Just-Like-You-Stare”.

Sadly, the Lord did not equip me with the laser beams. He reserved that for my lovely better half.

 

[LilyM]

Mark - you are not confusing the “Vulcan Nerve Pinch” with the “Vulcan Death Grip” are you?

I personally used the “Italian-I-Can-Make-Another-One-That-Looks-Just-Like-You-Stare”.

I got the ‘I-might-not-be-Italian-but-I-can-still-make-your-life-miserable-if-you-act-up-plus-I-have-four-other-kids-already-so-no one-will-miss-one-of-you’ stare from Dad plus a pinch which, my mother being a doctor, was delivered with truly anatomical precision and a ‘who-me? I-would-never-pinch-a-child’ innocent look from Mum that pretty much made any protest futile

 

[PacoG]

Is there a reason for this tradition? Who started it? Have Catholics ever had Sunday School? Would it be appropriate for Catholic children to attend Sunday School whilst their parents attend Mass? If not, why not?

My personal view is that the little ones 3-7 don’t much understand the sermon and get bored and get grumpy and cry from sitting in one place for too long. I do understand that the Eucharist is vital. Just wondering if there is any way of striking a balance.

1. Most parishes have something called CCD. That is the equivalent of Sunday School. It’s purpose is way different. CCD serves to train and educate in the faith, prepare them for the sacraments and to be good adult Catholics.
2. Children benefit from attending Mass with their families. It doesn’t matter if they don’t understand the HOMILY and what is going on. They learn how to be good Catholics from the behaviors their parents model for them.
3. I don’t know if you are full cognizant of the theology of the Mass. When you attend the Mass, you partake of the graces of the Mass whether you are cognizant of them or not. Attending Mass benefits the souls of the children. As fallen creatures, we–including children-- are all in need of the graces of the Mass.
4. Catholic families have always attended Mass together. One of the reasons Catholic cultures are known for their strong, unified families is because they attend Mass together. Note that a lot of modern problems have come over from Protestant cultures. We really shouldn’t adopt their customs.

In the words of many a Catholic evangelist (Fr. Peyton, Bishop Sheen): “The family that prays together, stays together.” The most important and perfect prayer is the Mass.

 

[PacoG]

I got the ‘I-might-not-be-Italian-but-I-can-still-make-your-life-miserable-if-you-act-up-plus-I-have-four-other-kids-already-so-no one-will-miss-one-of-you’ stare from Dad plus a pinch which, my mother being a doctor, was delivered with truly anatomical precision and a ‘who-me? I-would-never-pinch-a-child’ innocent look from Mum that pretty much made any protest futile

Old school Mexican-American mothers use the famous pinch-and-turn move. (I can’t speak for the other Latino nationalities and their discipline-at- Mass policies but the pinch-and-turn really can quiet down a misbehaving child.)

They can’t use the famous* chancla* (house slipper–Google it) at Mass because they are dressed up (although I they could carry it in their giant everything-but-the-kitchen-sink purses).

 

[CB_Catholic]

You don’t need to actually pinch–just grab the hair at the nape of the neck between your thumb and forefinger. Don’t need to pull it. The minute the child tries to escape, he will feel the consequences, and it will be of his own doing.

A very good attention-getter, and it can be quite subtle.

 

[familyof4]

I was beaten to the punch, the formal “sunday school” would be Children’s Liturgy of the Word. I’ve only seen it in very large parishes. Some parishes also have cry rooms for moms or dads to be able to take their kids to and sit and listen to mass without having to worry if their baby or toddler was being fussy. We don’t have either at our parish, but the sound is piped into the narthex, and we always have people out there where they can allow their fidgety little ones to walk around and they can still listen and participate in the mass.

Our formal catechism classes for kids from 1st grade through confirmation (around 9th grade I think, my kids are in parochial school, so they don’t attend CFF classes) are on Sundays, along with our RCIA classes. The place is hopping from 7am until around 7pm on Sundays, maybe later if there are any meetings scheduled!