Diocesan Policies
and Guidelines
Sacraments
of Initiation for Children Policy (Promulgated
1996*)
1. Each parish
sets up a Sacraments of Initiation Team (the Team) that has as its
first concern the coordinating of a family-based process that begins
before Baptism and cares for the child and family until after he/she
is fully initiated.
2. The focus of this process is to:
- Enable
parents to provide an environment within their homes that promotes
the growth of faith within all members of the family;
- Lead them
into celebrating the faith-life of the parish community. Resources,
training and support are important elements of this process.
3. The parish
provides experiences of belonging to the community and opportunities
for catechesis, not just immediately before and after the reception
of the sacraments, but during the period from Baptism until the
completion of initiation.
4. The parish
community provides extra support for the children and the families
of children who are unable to participate, for whatever reason,
in the parish initiation process.
5. The parish
community takes special care to support children with disabilities
and their families.
6. The Parish
seeks out and encourages all parents and their children to become
fully initiated and active members of the Church community. The
normal way children are initiated into the parish community is
through the parish process of initiation.
7. Once enrolled
in the process, parents may present their child as a candidate
for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and first Communion
at the appropriate times. Parents request sacraments from the
Church for their children.
8. Parents
have the right to present their children for the sacraments of
initiation. The Church seeks to aid parents by:
- Providing
them with opportunities to grow in their own understanding of
the meaning and implications of these sacraments;
- Helping
them discern the readiness of their children to receive each
sacrament.
9. If at any
time in the process a pastoral decision is made to defer reception
of a sacrament, the family and the child remain in the process
and receive support, encouragement and regular invitations to
complete the process of Initiation from the Team and the parish.
10. In accordance
with the continuing teaching of the Church, the order of sacraments
is Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
11. Ideally
the completion of sacramental initiation is celebrated during
the Easter season - that is from the Easter Vigil to Pentecost
Sunday.
12. The Bishop
is involved unless he delegates.
13. Ideally,
the completion of sacramental initiation occurs when the child
is at the age of discretion.
14. The implementation
of this family-based process for sacramental initiation requires
the active involvement of the community, parents and teachers.
*Adapted 2003
Belonging to the Body of Christ - a helpful resource to prepare children forthe Sacraments of Initiation.
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