Catechism
Christian initiation
Catechism is for primary and lower secondary school children preparing to receive the sacraments of Confession, First Communion and Confirmation.
There are six years in all. The first three prepare the children for First Communion, and parents are involved too, joining some of the catechism sessions along the way.
Year 1 begins with children aged 7 (second year of primary school): this is when they are introduced to the basics of the Christian faith. At the end of the year they renew their baptismal promises.
The next two years have more specific programmes: Year 2, for children aged 8 (third year of primary school), prepares them for the sacrament of Confession; Year 3, at age 9 (fourth year of primary school), prepares them for the Eucharist (First Communion).
Once this stage is complete, the usual sessions pause for a year: Year 4 (children aged 10) is the year of the community. Outings are organised around the area to discover the different groups and services in the parish and the diocese (volunteering, charity work, groups and so on), alternating with the occasional catechism session. Parents are welcome but not required to take part.
The last two years lead up to the sacrament of Confirmation: Year 5, for children aged 11, follows the story of salvation; Year 6, for children aged 12 (second year of lower secondary school), prepares them for Confirmation itself.
Parents have a few separate meetings of their own.
