I actually just wrote to our pastor a couple weeks ago because I noticed that he was splitting up the sacraments of initiation for people who were entering the Church as adults and suggested that this wasn't allowed. Beyond that, as we now have two children entering sacramental preparation (one for First Communion and one for Confirmatio…
I actually just wrote to our pastor a couple weeks ago because I noticed that he was splitting up the sacraments of initiation for people who were entering the Church as adults and suggested that this wasn't allowed. Beyond that, as we now have two children entering sacramental preparation (one for First Communion and one for Confirmation), what bothers me is that — as was my experience with marriage preparation — it's "programming". I think all too often the parish/diocese purchases a "program" for sacramental preparation and it has the effect of making them feel like they are doing something ("we have a program!"), when it's not actually personal or sensitive to what each person needs to grow in faith. Our parish now makes children wait an extra year to receive First Communion and our 8 year old, who is deeply formed in the faith, must go through 6 months of classes with videos of "Olivia the owl" that are — in my estimation — absolute garbage. Sorry, I guess this touched a nerve.
I remember when I was a kid and participation trophies were the rage. The adults thought they were great, the kids threw them away. I expect something similar is going to happen with all these attempts to make learning fun by adding special characters and technology while removing actual substance.
I'm sorry your daughter will have to wait another year to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.
I actually just wrote to our pastor a couple weeks ago because I noticed that he was splitting up the sacraments of initiation for people who were entering the Church as adults and suggested that this wasn't allowed. Beyond that, as we now have two children entering sacramental preparation (one for First Communion and one for Confirmation), what bothers me is that — as was my experience with marriage preparation — it's "programming". I think all too often the parish/diocese purchases a "program" for sacramental preparation and it has the effect of making them feel like they are doing something ("we have a program!"), when it's not actually personal or sensitive to what each person needs to grow in faith. Our parish now makes children wait an extra year to receive First Communion and our 8 year old, who is deeply formed in the faith, must go through 6 months of classes with videos of "Olivia the owl" that are — in my estimation — absolute garbage. Sorry, I guess this touched a nerve.
Olivia the owl?
I remember when I was a kid and participation trophies were the rage. The adults thought they were great, the kids threw them away. I expect something similar is going to happen with all these attempts to make learning fun by adding special characters and technology while removing actual substance.
I'm sorry your daughter will have to wait another year to receive Our Lord in the Eucharist.