What is this??? I am so glad you asked! This is the process through which children, grade 2 and upwards, who are unbaptized OR are baptized but have had no religious education can begin preparation for celebrating the Sacraments. Do you have a child needing to prepare? Have you been away from church for a while? Formal sessions run Sept. thru May, with family work to be completed over the summer months.
| Date | Lessson / Activity |
| September 23 | Classes resume Introduction - Year 1, and Welcome Back - Year 2 |
| September 30 | Class |
| October 7 | No Classes / Fall Break |
| October 14 | Class |
| October 21 | Class |
| October 28 | Class |
| November 4 | Class |
| November 11 | No Class / Unique boutique |
| November 18 | Class |
| November 25 | No Class / Thanksgiving Weekend |
| December 2 | Class / Second Sunday of Advent |
| December 9 | Class / Third Sunday of Advent |
| December 16 | No Class / Interviews with 2nd Year Families Required |
| Break | |
| January 13 | Classes Resume |
| January 20 | No Class / MLK Holiday |
| January 27 | Class |
| February 3 | Class |
| February 10 | Class |
| February 17 | No Class / President’s Day Holiday |
| February 24 | Class |
| March 2 | Class |
| March 4 | Celebration of First Reconciliation for 2nd. Year Families 6:30pm in the Church |
| March 9 | No Class / Spring Break |
| March 16 | Class / Palm Sunday |
| March ?? | Rehearsal for the Initiation Mass |
| March 20, 21, 22 | Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday / Initiations on Holy Saturday |
| March 23 | No Class / First Sunday of Easter |
| March 30 | Class / First Year Candidates, dismissed / Neophytes and families to meet after Mass |
| April 6 | Class (First Year Candidates) |
| April 13 | Final for the catechetical year Class (First year Candidates) |
Children who are unbaptized or who are baptized and uncatechized are viable candidates for the Children’s Catechumenate process. (Recognized at St. Andrew Parish as the CIC)
This is a two (2) year process which will begin in the Fall in correlation with the regular Religious Education formation schedule and will continue as an on-going process to initiation. As example, if a candidate begins the fall of ’07, that candidate will be eligible for initiation in the Spring of ’09.
Catechumenate sessions will take place on Sunday mornings in conjunction with 8:30 Mass. After the homily, the candidates will be invited forward, receive a blessing and be sent forth with their faith leaders to study and pray the Gospel and to explore the doctrinal aspects of the scripture readings for the week. When Mass concludes, the parents of the Candidates may join the group for community prayer, sharing of the class session and receive material to support and reinforce the message. This will also be an opportunity to begin a community building experience for this group of families. The scheduling in partnership with Liturgy reinforces the centrality of the Mass / Eucharist in our lives.
Children will also be expected to attend and participate with their peers in community classes and activities and begin to connect with the life of the parish.
Depending on the age/grade/numbers of participants who configure this group, the breakdown of small groups will be considered and addressed.
Parents will be encouraged to take advantage of the adult formation opportunities. Participation in the Emmaus program is required for all parents. It is vital to the life-long faith commitment for the parents of these candidates to experience a transforming process of their own in order to assist the young person in continued participation in the life of the parish.
Parents join their children at the conclusion of Mass. Dismissal from the class approximately 10:00AM
For more information, please contact Paulette Colin.