Catechesis | Roman Catholic Diocese of Westminster

Ask us a question and the Catechetical Support Team will provide you with an answer.

Current topics are displayed below.

Children's Liturgy [show more questions]

We have children from age 4-11 coming to our Liturgy of the Word with Children and we want to break the group into pre-First Communion and post-First Communion. Are there any resources to help us?

The diocesan website now includes materials for the Liturgy of the Word with Children for every Sunday of the year – one for older children and one for younger children. Check the link: http://www.rcdow.org.uk/evangelisation/default_view.asp?library_ref=29&type=1&resource=358.

Initiation of Older Children [show more questions]

We have older children – children over the age of 7 – who are asking for baptism. Are there any resources available to help?

More and more older children (referred to as “children of catechetical age” in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) are coming forward asking for baptism. We are hoping to provide some materials to help prepare these children for the sacraments on the diocesan website soon. In the meantime, here are some resources you might like to refer to:

Issues in the Christian Initiation of Children: Catechesis & Liturgy, K. Brown & F.C. Sokol, LTP, 1989
Lectionary-based Catechesis for Children, Sylvia deVillers, Paulist Press, 1994
The Christian Initiation of Children: Hope for the Future, Robert Duggan & Maureen Kelly, Paulist Press, 1991
Readings in the Christian Initiation of Children, ed. Victoria Tufano, Liturgy Training Publications, 1994
Children & Christian Initiation, Kathy Coffey, Living the Good News Inc. 1998
A Child’s Journey: The Christian Initiation of Children, Rita Burns Senseman, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1998
Christian Initiation of Older Children, Sandra Figgess, St Paul’s, 1995
The Church Speaks about Sacraments with Children, Mark Searle (ed.) LTP, 1990
Children’s Catechumenate: A Catechists Guide, Philip McBrien, Resource Publication
Children’s Catechumenate, (Catechist Manual & 3 level workbooks) Thomas Long & Emily Filippi, Brown-Roa

Parish Religious Education [show more questions]

My child has not been offered a place in our local Catholic primary school. How can I teach my child about our Catholic faith?

Check with your parish to see if there is a Parish R.E. programme available for children who are not attending Catholic schools. If there is no programme:

Bring your child to the Liturgy of the Word for Children which most parishes offer at the family Mass
Ask your parish priest if a Parish R.E. programme could be set up in the parish. You might consider offering your help.