Welcome to our faith community!
Throughout the years, this amazing parish has experienced exceptional growth. I encourage you to explore our campus and visit our Adoration Chapel, peaceful grotto, excellent school, and our Thrift Store. The beauty of our Catholic faith is depicted in various ways when entering our magnificent church, with its story-telling stained glass windows and artwork.-Fr. Carlos B. Velazquez
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?
Children whoIs 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.