Through forming a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, elementary school-age children build a strong foundation for lifelong discipleship.
It is essential that parish and school programs for elementary school-age children create a nurturing community for households to grow in faith, providing opportunities for conversion and formation not only for the child but for the entire household.
As children mature, ongoing catechesis is needed to help them observe, explore, interpret, and judge their experiences; ascribe Christian meaning to their lives; and act according to the norms of faith and love. The truths of our faith should be presented at every age to allow for an ever-deepening understanding and growth in lived faith.
Experiential learning includes recognition that the entire faith community is an important part of children's experiences: households, parishes, schools, and the faith community all have essential roles in the catechesis of the young.
