Christian Initiation of Children (CIC)
Traditionally, children are baptized as infants in the  Catholic Church. When a child reaches the age of reason, seven years old, they begin their preparation to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion. Usually, during their high school years, they begin preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Children receive these sacraments gradually as they grow and mature with the support of their parents, godparents and faith community.
 
For children not baptized as infants and who have reached the age of reason, the Catholic Church has reinstated the centuries old tradition of the RCIA and has adapted it to children to help them nurture a personal faith. Children, along with their parents, attend class on Sunday at 10:00am followed by the 11:15am Mass. The first year is the Period of Inquiry. The second year, the children enter the  Period of the Catechumenate. The second year of  formation ends at the Easter Vigil where the child receives the Sacraments of Initiation—Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion.

Who is Christian Initiation of Children for?

• have not been baptized as infants, who have attained the use of reason (age 7-17) and are of catechetical age
• are baptized Christian seeking to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church.

Is this "sacramental catch up"?

No. This is a common misconception for children rather than being understood as the process adapted from RCIA. Sacraments are best understood as encounters with Christ by those responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Sacraments are not meant to be “celebrations of graduation,” but celebrate the various points in one’s life of faith. Sacraments have become a kind of reward for completion of a program, rather than a celebration of the faith of an individual and the community. In the Church there are different ways by which people receive the Sacraments of Initiation;  no one form is better than the other, they are just different. According to Canon Law (CCL # 852, #866), children who are of catechetical age, must receive all three sacraments of initiation at baptism, just as prescribed for adults.

For additional information on Christian Initiation of Children, please contact the Faith Formation office at 830-625-4531 ext. 201.