Children's Catechumenate
(505) 296-0411

Sr. Grace De Paoli, FdCC - Director
dreannunciation@aol.com

Alisan Napier - Secretary
anapier@annunciationparishabq.org

Our journey of Faith is not an isolated, individual experience. We make a public profession of Faith. We journey together as members of a community. As one body, we live the mysteries of Faith throughout the liturgical cycles and seasons. We express our Faith in signs, symbols, and sacraments. We are formed and renewed by the rich heritage of the Church's tradition, rituals and symbolic language. We learn who we are and we become who we are: we are formed into the Body of Christ, the Church, as we worship and serve together.

Goal

To prepare un-catechized children and their families for the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist through a process of Religious Education, Liturgical Celebrations and "Breaking Open" of the Word.

Sources

• "Children's Catechumenate" by Philip J. McBrien
• "Celebrate the Sunday Readings" by David Brehm
• "A Child's Journey" by Rita Burns Senseman
• "Children's Catechumenate" Rev. Thomas L. Long
  & Emily F. Filippi M.R.E.

Objectives

• To involve these children with their peers in religious education and / or school religion program.
• To celebrate in the context of Sunday liturgy the rites proper to the Initiation process.
• To gather the children and their parents each week for Catechesis and sharing on the Sunday Scripture Readings.

Requirements

• Registered Parishioner
• Regular Sunday Mass Participation
• Complete Registration From for RCIC and ERE or MSA
• Participate in the weekly Religious Educatoin Sessions
• Provide a wallet size photo
• Godparent's Baptism, First Eucharist and Confirmation Certificates

Events

• Rites of Acceptance, Enrollment and Initiation
• Small group sharing for children and parents together and in separate groups
• Retreat for Children, Parents & Godparents
• Celebration of the Sacraments of Initation at Easter Vigil

Process

• Catechesis: The formation and guidance that help children know and follow the Christian way of Life, through participation in the weekly Religious Education Sessions and weekly sharing of the Sunday Scripture Readings.
• Liturgy: Experience of the Faith Community's worship, including the celebration of the Rites of Initiation.
• Prayer: Speaking and listening to God in moments of actual prayer and experiencing his love and presence in the ordinary circumstances of daily life, that is (spirit of prayer)
• Service: The action that flows from genuine prayer and the attitude of missionary spirit formed by Scriptures.