"Growing in Faith" Special Sacramental Preparation for Children and Youth
General Statement:
The special Sacramental Preparation Program is specially adapted for children and youth. This process follows the RCIA pattern of liturgically marked periods in the conversion process closely in order to prepare children to receive the sacraments of initiation. However it differs from the RCIA in catechetical method and approach at Saint John Neumann Catholic Church by involving parents and siblings in the learning process via a family formatted presentation of scriptural and doctrinal teaching.
Children participating in the special Sacramental Preparation Program must be seven years of age or over whose parents have expressed the desire to fully initiate them into the Catholic faith. They fall in one of three general categories:
Catechetical sessions with specially trained catechists prepare the children for the reception of the sacraments. Following their reception of the sacraments, participants are then expected to continue their faith formation through traditional class instruction and involvement in the communal and liturgical life of the parish.