Christian Initiation of Children

The following are some resources that may be helpful to parishes in the Christian initiation of children of catechetical age:

Six Proven Ways to Improve Your Children’s RCIA. Team RCIA. A free 14-page guide available for free download at www.teamrcia.com/handouts/free-guide/

Friends on the Way:  Children’s Catechumenate Resource (Dismissal and Catechetical Sessions).   Janet Miller.  Team RCIA.  PDF files for each liturgical year available for download. 

God is Calling:  Together Time for Families – Boxed Set.  Judith Dunlap and Mary Cummins Wlodarski.  Franciscan Media.  This series offers three sets of illustrated storybooks written on two different age levels, one for young children, ages 7 to 10, and other for older children, ages 11 to 14.

Living the Good News. Morehouse Education Resources. A lectionary-based catechesis resource, published three seasons of the church year.

Journey of Faith. Francine M. O’Connor. Liguori MO: Liguori. These handouts explore Catholic belief and practice from a child’s perspective, involving participants in Scripture and the parish community.  The entire program consists of four packets of handouts (one packet for each stage, a total of 44 handouts).

The Church Speaks about Sacraments with Children: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance. Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 1990. This volume brings together the major Vatican and U.S. documents that govern the Christian initiation of children.

De Villers, Sylvia. Lectionary-Based Catechesis for Children. New York: Paulist Press,1994.

Figgess, Sandra. Christian Initiation of Older Children. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1990. Don’t be misled by the title. This book provides catechetical material best used with children between the ages of seven and twelve, at the oldest.

O’Connor, Francine M. Handbook for Today’s Catholic Children. Liguori MO: Liguori, 2002. Although this little book was compiled with Catholic children and their parents in mind, you might find it helpful during the initiation process. It’s best suited to middle grades.

Senseman, Rita Burns. A Child’s Journey: The Christian Initiation of Children. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998. Good, practical approach to initiation of children, including information on celebrating the rites and on discernment interviews. (Available for purchase through Team RCIA.)