
Well, kids need to receive the sacrament of confirmation in 8th or 9th grade (depending on when the bishop comes to your parish). I don't know if your child is "required" to attend CCD between grades 3 and 7, but it is certainly required in 8th grade to prepare for confirmation. You will want your child to grow in her faith after first communion, and if she is in a non-Catholic school. CCD is a good way to do that, along with the parish youth group. If all of these commitments don't sound enriching to you, but just sound like a "hassle," perhaps you don't really want to raise your daughter Catholic? I mean this kindly -- I feel that I am giving my kids a treasure, but if you think of it as a burden, she probably will, too.
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I agree. OP, if you are eager to hear that after First Communion, "that's it" for your obligations, then the Catholic Church is probably not for you. |
OP=I did say I was a bad catholic mom-though my kids got ccf ps- so back off- I lived in Spain where all of this was natural (99% Catholic)- I went to church with my friends and attended catholic school. So- I'm not sure when the milestones where except for communion which I remember.. I decided not to send my kids to catholic schools SO FAR since our local seems to get mixed reviews- and bullying is a concern. I haven't heard that from other places. So I have to supplement with sunday school/CCF whatever. I did put my kids in CCF PS and I took them out- one of the teachers was just horrible. Not a one time thing- don't trust this person to watch over kids (coming early I see 4 or 5 of them running in the halls until she arrives to discover this and acts like it's the first time- I saw this 3 times the before she became my child's CCF teacher and then after 3 months said my dd was not part of the class when her grandparents took her instead of me who she KNOWS from PS). |
In our church 1st and 2nd grade CCD are required for First Communion. 7th and 8th grade are required for Confirmation. Sure a lot of kids disappear between grades 3-6 but what can you do. Sure they can still get the sacraments if that's all the family is in it for, but ultimately they lose out on the training and ability to grow in their faith during those years.
If the end goal is solely to get to First Communion just because, why bother? Give it time and see if the desire comes in time. It's much more meaningful when it's truly celebrated as a sacrament the child truly understands and is accepting willingly. |
I agree. OP, if you are a "bad Catholic" there is nothing wrong with that, but why go through the motions if it just feels like a hassle? I lived in Spain for years, too. I know that Catholicism is omnipresent there, culturally speaking. I don't see what that has to do with this conversation, though. |
She wants to know what's the bare minimum she needs to do to allow her chlid to legally (within the church) be considered "Catholic"
OP -- you need to get the kid through Confirmation. That usually involves CCD or religious instruction classes through to 8th or 9th grade, as a PP stated. I suppose if you dropped out for a while but then signed your kid up again in 6th grade or so, no one would say too much about it though, as long as you appeared sincere in your desire to have your child be back in CCD. |
get the kids their first communion and then confirmed. they can decide later in life if they want to be devout or not. |
OP here- I just asked a question on mechanics- I guess I should have asked not to be judgmental- no wonder so many people are scared away from religion. AT LEAST I AM TRYING- and I do think it was helpful to raise me- do I pray every night>? no- but do I pray every week? yes- and I go to church when I can- but not every week, our priest knows me- I went there for pregnancy prayer and he saw me at my hospital, baptisms of both children, death of sibling (my church took over in what to do).. They all know me by sight..
Isn't the easiest thing just not to bother!? with this type A place- a sat or sun school just takes away from some other competitive item. Those who discourage me to even bother fort my DD are discouraging my DD- who I am trying to expose her to what i believe in but not as active at least church going, If I truly was so far away from caring about my religion- I wouldn't bother! Love the throw rocks attitude of DCUM catholics- not good enough so don't bother- that;'ll shrivel up the remaining catholics. |
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Here's a novel idea: call the church and speak to a priest! |
Oh wow. I am a big defender of my faith, but you are exactly what gives Catholics a bad name. Maybe OP's children aren't in Catholic schools because they are not nearly as good as independent private schools. Typically they are not even nearly as good as public schools. That's what I learned very quickly. Also, it is none of your business if OP goes to mass weekly or daily. People who go to mass daily typically have nothing else to do in their lives, or they have very serious problems. Lastly, the whole concept of mortal sin is a complete joke in the year 2011. Your post is nasty, unnecessarily judgmental, and completely backwards and embarrassing to Catholics. I know many priests who would never say the the things your wrote above. |
I'm the PP who has always defended my faith. These posters are nuts. In fact, I'm wondering if they are all the same one or two posters. I certainly hope so. Just ignore them. Call another parish and ask all the questions you need to ask. Say you just moved here from abroad. Then go from there. I hope this thread hasn't completely turned you off Catholicism. Oh, and find a Jesuit church - in the city is better than in the suburbs. Good luck! |
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You're welcome. I don't think that this particular thread is going to help you very much since it seems to be dominated by crazy people. Why don't you call around to your local parishes and ask them about the procedures for communion? Just tell them you're new to the neighborhood - in fact, that you've recently moved here from abroad. Listen carefully. Some parishes are more progressive and welcoming than others. Good luck to you. Some of the people on this thread do not represent any Catholics I've ever known. |
OP, I'm supportive of you and your attempts to raise your kids Catholic. But when you say that CCF (CCD?) Classes are a pain because they get in the way of soccer and Brownies and such...? I can see where that might be really off putting to people who aren't even that devoutly Catholic or any other religion.
I mean, yes, going to church weekly AND also sending your child to a once a week class to be instructed in their faith DOES take up time, but presumably if you want to be religious, you understand that you need to spend some time doing it. You could just as well say, Brownies gets in the way of CCD class, right? At any rate, I don't think there's much substitute for the CCD class. If you want your child to be Catholic, they do have to go to CCD, I'm pretty sure. |