Christian Initiation for Children of Catechetical Age
The sacraments of Christian initiation—baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist—lay the foundations of every Christian life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1212 ).
As with adults, the initiation of children proceeds in several stages: pre-catechumenate, catechumenate, purification and enlightenment, and mystagogy. These stages are marked by different liturgical rites: acceptance into the order of catechumens, rite of election, the penitential rites or scrutinies, and the celebration of the sacraments of initiation.
Pre-catechumenate
Children who have not been baptized as infants and have reached the age of reason, 7 years or older, and who are interested in being initiated (by receiving the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist) are welcomed into the pre-catechumenate as inquirers.
A child who is an inquirer needs the consent of one parent or from someone who lawfully holds a parent's place (Canon 97 § 1).
The parish is expected to respond appropriately by inviting interested parishioners to share their experience of the faith with the child inquirers. This process can be informal or formal, as suits the child inquirer. It is a period of initial evangelization and welcome, when families and children can explore the faith and ask questions.
The child inquirer does not yet make a formal commitment.
While children follow the same journey of faith as adults, distinctions and differences based on age and developmental stages exist. Children cannot yet be treated as adults because, at this stage of their lives, they are dependent on their parents or guardians and are still strongly influenced by their companions and their social surroundings.
Parents/guardians or other family members must be included in the full process of initiation of children. Without the cooperation and support of parents/guardians or family, initiation of children through the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist cannot achieve its full potential for a lifelong growth in faith.
Likewise, the community of faith into which the children are being initiated has a responsibility to support, sustain, and encourage the children and their families by prayer and modeling a Christian life.
A child of catechumenal age should be given one or more godparents who fulfill the same role for all the sacraments of initiation. Therefore, to the extent possible, a child's baptismal godparent(s) should be the same person(s) for the child's confirmation.
In the initiation of children, parents/guardians have the role of sponsor. In the archdiocese, if parents/guardians cannot for various reasons be sponsors, sponsors or sponsoring families from the parish may take on this responsibility . Sponsors -- whether parents or other persons -- who accompany child candidates seeking admission as catechumens, accompany them through the catechumenate, and present them at the liturgical rites. These rites are the rites of acceptance or welcoming; scrutinies and penitential rites; and rites of election or continuing conversion.
When a child inquirer is ready to make a formal commitment, a parochial minister meets with the child. The parochial minister can be the pastor, associate pastor, deacon, the OCIA coordinator or a member of the OCIA team. The meeting is intended to bring to light issues that should help prevent misunderstandings and disappointments later.
The parochial minister should look for the following indicators to determine if the child inquirer is ready to enter the catechumenate:
The first faith [experiences] conceived during the period of seeking (precatechumenate)
The child inquirer's initial conversion and a desire to change his or her life and enter a relationship with God in Christ
A habit of calling on God and of prayer
A sense of belonging to the community of the faithful
Readiness and willingness to go through the entire process of Christian Initiation. A child and/or parents who are reluctant to participate in the steps and stages of the entire initiation process should not be allowed or forced to enter into the catechumenate.
Once the child meets the above criteria he/she participates in the Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens.
Rite of Acceptance into the Order of CatechumensAll sacraments are parish-centered; therefore, preparation for the sacraments must be parish-centered. In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Catholic elementary schools are only permitted to prepare baptized Catholic children for first communion and reconciliation. Students who have never been baptized who express an interest in becoming Catholic are referred to the OCIA parish team.
Catholic high schools do not provide sacramental preparation. For many students, the Catholic school is their only experience of Church. Building a bridge between school and parish communities is essential to nurturing the faith of young people beyond their school days.
The catechumenate starts with the rite of acceptance into the order of catechumens, which is a public liturgical celebration where the child is welcomed as a catechumen. It marks the child's formal entrance into the preparation process (OCIA, no. 48-68)
A register of those who have entered the catechumenate is to be kept in the parish archive. In addition to the information required by OCIA, the date and place of birth of the catechumens are inscribed in the register. In anticipation of the sacraments of initiation, catechumens enroll their names in the Book of the Elect, which is kept in the archives of the parish. In the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the enrollment of names takes place at the parish before the rite of election at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. The rite of Eeection usually takes place on the First Sunday of Lent. In the fall, the Office for Divine Worship informs parishes on the date and time.
The length of time appropriate for preparing each catechumen for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and the Eucharist can vary; the goal is to enable the child catechumen's conversion and faith to mature. Therefore, parishes are discouraged from establishing fixed schedules for “completion" of the catechumenate for children. However, if a time is fixed, the period of the catechumenate should begin from at least the Easter before Lent in one year and extend until Easter of the following year.
As a general rule, preparing catechumens for the sacraments of initiation takes place in a parochial setting or its equivalent, from the very beginning of the catechumenate, so that after their initiation and mystagogy (period of continuing reflection and growth in the faith after confirmation) the children will not find themselves isolated from the ordinary life of the Christian people.
Purification and Enlightenment
Even though the OCIA team may be initiating minors, the formation of the catechumens has to be comprehensive. The child catechumens should continually purify their motivation for baptism, live an upright life, and be ready to witness to their conversion to Christ, as they seek to grow in their knowledge of and assent to what the Church believes and teaches. Accordingly, the period of the catechumenate for children:
Is rooted in sacred Scripture, the truths of Catholic doctrine, and the moral life
Includes the study of catechetical texts, such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and other texts approved by the local ordinary,
Follows the liturgical year and finds support in the Church's liturgy
Involves the catechumens in the liturgy of the Word, preferably on Sundays and other holy days of obligation, with the parish community if possible
Note: Child catechumens who have not been baptized may not proclaim the Word of God or serve at the altar during the liturgy; however, child catechumens who are baptized non-Catholic Christians may do so at weddings or funerals of a family member, Furthermore, catechumens who have not been baptized into Christ's paschal mystery cannot participate in the eucharistic prayer; therefore, they are dismissed after the homily and before the Creed to reflect on the Word of God that has just been proclaimed.
Rite of Election
The rite of election, described in the OCIA (nn. 119–137), marks the decisive step in which the Church, in God's name, publicly recognizes the disposition and readiness of the catechumens to receive the sacraments of Christian Initiation. This rite expresses God's choice and the responsibility of the ecclesial community to support them with prayer and as a living testimony.
The rite of election is normally celebrated on (or near) the First Sunday of Lent, in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the rite of Election's date and time is announced through the Office for Divine Worship.
The elect, as well as those who assist them and participate in the celebration of the Easter Vigil with them, are encouraged to keep and extend the paschal fast of Good Friday, as determined by CIC canon 1251, throughout the day of Holy Saturday until the end of the Vigil itself, insofar as they are able (see Sacrosanctum Concilium 110, and OCIA 185.1). This was the norm during the early Church.
Celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation
The elect celebrate and receive all three sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, and the Eucharist) at the same Mass, normally at the Easter Vigil. Although it can be celebrated on any Sunday during Easter time or any Sunday that is determined appropriate. For the order of the liturgy see the OCIA, no. 206-243.
Mystagogy
After receiving the sacraments of initiation, the newly initiated children ("neophytes") enter into a period of mystagogia. The aim is to initiate them into the mystery of Jesus Christ by moving from the visible to the invisible, from the sign to the reality signified, from the sacraments to the mysteries. The purpose of this period is to have prayerful reflection of the sacraments of initiation and enable the neophytes to discern how they will live their new lives in the Church, as fully initiated Catholics. This is not the time to engage in more catechesis but to plan a time of reflection on the sacraments received and focus on the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The readings of the Easter season outline the process for the disciples, who had to discern how to carry on their lives after the ascension of Christ. The neophytes need help discerning their lives as Catholics and how to maintain their relationship with the risen Christ. The goal is not just to sacramentalize but to form missionary disciples of Jesus Christ.
This period is essential to the continued growth of the neophyte and takes place during the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost. If the celebration of the sacraments of initiation takes place at another time of the year, the period of mystagogy takes place for six weeks after the reception of the sacraments of initiation.
Following the neophytes' mystagogical period, they are incorporated and welcomed into already established parish catechetical groups. The unofficial period of postbaptismal catechesis should extend to the first anniversary of the neophytes' initiation. Catechists need to be ready to receive these neophytes with gentleness and patience, realizing that they may require definitions and explanations that may be familiar to other children. Neophytes, however, often have much to teach their peers as they speak readily of their spiritual journeys and their conversion of heart.
Additional resources:
The Office for Divine Worship is responsible for implementing and promoting the order of Christian Iiitiation. The Office also issues norms for the preparation of baptized but uncatechized adults for confirmation and the Eucharist, and for the reception of validly baptized Christians into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
The Office of Religious Education is responsible for issuing norms concerning the qualifications for and training of catechists.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, follows the guidance of the USCCB for approved catechetical texts for the formation of catechumens and candidates for reception into full communion
For the registry of the sacraments, please refer to the Handbook for Sacramental Records.
6-21-2021, 11-25-2025