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We have two sons that go to RCIA on Tuesdays
after school. They and other classmates just
don't seem to get what they should out of it.
Since it is after school and they already
have been sitting all day, I don't think the
attention span is there.
Do you know if CCD can be taught at home
or if there is an online CCD course that
parents can do with their children?
Thank you.
Carla
{
Can CCD can be taught at home
and is there an online CCD course parents can do with their kids? }
Paul
replied:
Dear Carla,
What you're saying is understandable.
School takes up so much of a child's
day, religious education classes
are often seen as extra or
superfluous by the children, and
unfortunately they are often taught
by adults who do not know their own
faith. Hence, for many children it
is not always an enriching experience.
Some parishes, of course, are better
with regard to this than others.
To answer you directly, many CCD program directors will allow parents
to teach their children at home.
Contact your parish's (DRE) Director of Religious Education
or your pastor about this
possibility.
They should be able to accommodate
you.
Paul
Mike
replied:
Hi, Carla —
Just my two cents on your question.
The Church teaches that the parents,
not the Church through CCD, are the
primary educators of the children. From the Catechism:
1653 The fruitfulness of conjugal
love extends to the fruits of
the moral, spiritual, and supernatural
life that parents hand on to their
children by education. Parents
are the principal and first educators
of their children.
In this sense,
the fundamental task of marriage
and family is to be at the service
of life. (cf. Familiaris Consortio 28)
Even if you have problems finding
a CCD program you can teach out of
the house, the best CCD program is the example you and your husband
lead:
by what you say and what you do, and
at the proper age, includes a good Catholic Apologetics component.
(This immunizes them from future misunderstandings by non-Catholics about our faith.)
I'm willing to guess that if you ask the ordinary lay Catholic in the pew, what Catholic apologetics is, they wouldn't have the vaguest idea or would think we are apologizing for being Catholic : (
All your actions should reflect
the teachings of the Church. A CCD program lived out, by example, is
the best program but requires you
also know what the Church teaches and why. I believe it's important
for any child to know:
if the Church
requires anything from them, it is
for their own good.
In the same way,
if the Church prohibits anything, it is for their own good.
We are not the Church of No,
we are the Church of Divine Logic
and Love.
If you need some help there is a program that has been endorsed by bothScott Hahn and Karl Keating of Catholic Answers, which to me is impressive. You may want to check it out:
Mike
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