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The Catholic Church delights in the spiritual life present in our youngest seekers and is attentive to
their particular faith journeys. Children of catechetical age (usually age 7 and above) come to the Catholic Church through the RCIA process, adapted for their developmental needs and family life.
Because of the significant role the parent(s)/guardian(s) play in the life of the child, inclusion of the whole family in the formation process is encouraged, as well as connecting the children with peers with whom they can share their faith.
For assistance in ministering to children and their families, please check out the resources below. Feel free to contact Sheri Kemp if you have questions or need additional support or training recommendations.
Comprehensive Training Programs:
Children’s RCIA with Rita Senseman
First – check out Children’s Initiation on the TeamRCIA website.
Second – consider taking the course by Rita Senseman
Sr. Sandy DeMasi Videos
This training was offered in the diocese January 2018 and is available in four segments:
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RCIA as Adapted for Children of Catechetical Age (36:55 minutes) Process vs. Programs (42:47 minutes) Catechesis & KIDZ (1:03:37 minutes) How to Plan a Session (22:00 minutes) |
Sr. Sandy promotes using the liturgical year as the “curriculum”. Check out her chart to see how Catholic doctrine is naturally presented by studying and reflecting on the Sunday Scriptures.
Sharing Faith with Children, Teens and Families:
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Engaging Young People in God Talk! Bob McCarty provides practical suggestions for leading others in talking about their faith. The title is deceiving! There are strategies to be learned for catechists of all ages – including parents! Webinar recording includes activity sheets for use during the webinar and handouts. |
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Pop-up Catechesis Series with Joe Paprocki A series of 7 – 10-minute videos designed for parents and useful for catechists to show how we share and live our Catholic faith in the domestic church. Share an occasional video with the parents to help them grow in their comfort expressing their faith and living it at home. |
Books for Ministry Leaders:
A Child’s Journey: The Christian Initiation of Children (Rita Burns Senseman) – A practical workbook that outlines the purpose of initiation ministry and provides pointers for implementing a family and parish centered program at your church.
Guide to Adapting the RCIA for Children (Rita Burns Senseman) – This new resource recognizes and acknowledges that children of varying ages and states of faith formation undergo a variety of paths to Christian initiation. Using the rite itself, this book will help RCIA coordinators, catechists, and directors of religious education prepare children and their families to celebrate the rites of the Church and the sacraments of initiation.
Children and Youth in the Catechumenate (Anne Y. Koester) – What does conversion look like for children and youth? How do we teach that conversion is a way of life that requires daily commitment? By using the liturgy of the church and the liturgy of life, Koester demonstrates the four integral dimensions of Christian discipleship that form young believers for mission.
Living the Sacraments (Joe Paprocki) – This book presents the sacraments as a spiritual path. By inviting readers to delve into the mystery of God’s self-revelation, by teaching the essence of each, and by inviting readers to reflect the divine image of God, Paprocki shows us that the sacraments allow us to experience God’s presence in Church rites and through ordinary, tangible experiences. Helpful for catechists to expand their understanding and encounter of the sacraments of our faith.
Lectionary Based Resources:
Celebrating the Lectionary – A lectionary-based resource for breaking open the Word each Sunday that can be used for Dismissal, Children’s Liturgy, or the beginning of a gathered session; available for various age levels
Pflaum Gospel Weeklies – A Lectionary/Catechism-based catechetical program that can be used in faith formation and children’s initiation programs for breaking open the Word; available for various age levels, pre-K through 8th grade. Available in a bilingual edition.
Friends on the Way – A downloadable program to use for dismissals and catechetical sessions with children available through TeamRCIA.
Apprentices in Faith – Online resources to use liturgically, updated annually. For adults and youth. From RCL Benziger.
Programs for the Unbaptized (Catechumens):
Journey of Faith for Teens and Journey of Faith for Children – A leaflet styled program that walks children and youth in age appropriate ways through the theology, practice and traditions of the Catholic Church with separate leaflets available for the different periods of initiation Also available in Spanish.
Our Catholic Heritage – a perfect “entry-level text” for young people who are being initiated into the life of the church. Comes in two levels: ages 9 – 11 and 11 – 14. Bilingual available. From RCL-Benziger.
Programs for the Baptized, Uncatechized:
Bridges to Faith – a bilingual, supplemental resource for baptized children ages 8 to 11 who need to be brought up to speed in the Catholic faith so that they can confidently join their peers and participate fully in their faith community. From Loyola Press.
Nuestra fe católica – Grades 4–6 designed for those already baptized. Helps students with limited catechetical formation develop their faith through age appropriate, easy-to-understand lessons on essential Catholic beliefs. From Sadlier Religion.
Una sola fe, un solo Señor – Grades 7–Adult. One Comprehensive Book for Faith Development for those who are already baptized but have limited catechesis, for those preparing for the Sacraments of Christian Initiation, and as a review or resource for catechists and other adults. From Sadlier Religion.