Anonymous wrote: I expect to do it like my parents did, expect them to go through confirmation. After that they are adults in the eyes of God.

Anonymous wrote:This thread is giving me flashbacks to my high school years. Rule in our house (6 kids) was that you had to be able to produce a bulletin from mass at some point during the weekend if you didn't want to go with the family on Sunday morning. Before going out on Saturday nights, my sister and I would swing by the church to grab a bulletin from the Sat 5pm mass. They were usually available before mass---torture when I actually had to wait until after mass to grab one. Ha! Still a practicing Catholic so I don't think my upbringing was too oppressive. Rolling my eyes at the "missing mass is a mortal sin" post. Not going to sweat those details----I live my life in service to others (personally and professionally)---I think God will cut me some slack if I have to miss mass every now and then.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least through high school and when they are home.
If they aren't standing next to me at church, how will I be able to look over and think - did he just grow this week!
College is a don't ask don't tell for me.

I think they can also skip family mass if they are going with friends. (I know it was dorky, but during my college years my PVI friends and I went to the George mason church on Sunday nights. It was new and pretty at the time, and a central location to catch up)

We do skip occasionally to do stuff as a family, if . But I will not skip for sports.

There really isn't an excuse to miss Mass. There are a ton of Catholic Churches with various Sat. vigil and Sun. morn Mass times.
Hec, the GMU's campus has a 10pm Sun Mass. No excuses, no hangover excuses, no kidding yourself you can't spend an hour at Church (which is for your own good anyway).

Get a life.

Anonymous wrote:OP here, my kids are in middle school.

Also, re: missing Mass being a mortal sin, I don't remember that in the Bible aside from "Keep holy the Sabbath day," which can be done in a number of ways.

Christ did say "take this, this is my body," but He didn't specify when and how often. While I'm very happy being a practicing Catholic, I also realize that many things we do are man made, and that it doesn't make me a bad Catholic/Christian to see that.

Thank you for all the input!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At least through high school and when they are home.
If they aren't standing next to me at church, how will I be able to look over and think - did he just grow this week!
College is a don't ask don't tell for me.

I think they can also skip family mass if they are going with friends. (I know it was dorky, but during my college years my PVI friends and I went to the George mason church on Sunday nights. It was new and pretty at the time, and a central location to catch up)

We do skip occasionally to do stuff as a family, if . But I will not skip for sports.

There really isn't an excuse to miss Mass. There are a ton of Catholic Churches with various Sat. vigil and Sun. morn Mass times.
Hec, the GMU's campus has a 10pm Sun Mass. No excuses, no hangover excuses, no kidding yourself you can't spend an hour at Church (which is for your own good anyway).

Anonymous wrote:OP here, my kids are in middle school.

Also, re: missing Mass being a mortal sin, I don't remember that in the Bible aside from "Keep holy the Sabbath day," which can be done in a number of ways.

Christ did say "take this, this is my body," but He didn't specify when and how often. While I'm very happy being a practicing Catholic, I also realize that many things we do are man made, and that it doesn't make me a bad Catholic/Christian to see that.

Thank you for all the input!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would think at least through middle school. After that, I will likely do what my parents did. They gave my sister and me the choice of either going to mass or doing something else each Sunday to learn more about either Catholicism, another religion, or another form of spirituality. If we could articulate a spiritual basis for a service project, that could count too. In the end, I have returned to being a practicing Catholic, but I have participated in activities from a wide range of religions, and have the utmost respect for their believers.

I really like this approach. Great way to keep spirituality a part of their lives, while also giving them some autonomy that teens crave. Interesting that you returned to the fold. I don't have teens yet myself, but I wonder if this is ultimately more successful than simply making teens go.

But what if they were to die during that time with the stain of mortal sin on their souls? Wouldn't you feel somewhat responsible for giving them a pass on attending mass?

Anonymous wrote:At least through high school and when they are home.
If they aren't standing next to me at church, how will I be able to look over and think - did he just grow this week!
College is a don't ask don't tell for me.

I think they can also skip family mass if they are going with friends. (I know it was dorky, but during my college years my PVI friends and I went to the George mason church on Sunday nights. It was new and pretty at the time, and a central location to catch up)

We do skip occasionally to do stuff as a family, if . But I will not skip for sports.

Anonymous wrote:Fuori Della chiesa non si salvera