I’m hoping all you very intelligent and knowledgeable readers (hint, hint) can provide me with a little help.
I’m looking for good suggestions for books teaching First Communion and First Confession for both children and adults. What have you all seen and/or used that you thought was good? And conversely, what did you see that you didn’t like? Please be as specific as to title and publisher as you can.
I’d prefer answers in the comments to prevent duplication of effort, but if you don’t want to register to comment, then .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) would be fine.
Dom—we’ve added this (http://www.holyfamilyrockland.org/catechism.htm) to our curriculum. It’s my humble opinion that kids aren’t getting—in ANY of the mainstream publishers’ books—a clearly defined understanding of creation, sin and redemption. We ask parents and 2nd graders to attend six special Masses, during which some of this is taught, and ask parents to do these lessons with their children online, submitting the question sheet to their CCD teachers.
It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s working here. It’s rather broadly taken from the St. Joseph 1st Communion Catechism.
Father, did you write that up yourself? Would you object to my using it as well?
Not to be a wise guy directed at you but at the situation in our church I did hear of a great book and process to teach First communion and First confession for children: It is the Catechism and well formed parents modeling a love for the Eucharist and Confession on a weekly and even a daily basis!!!!! It is definitely not oursourcing the education of our children only to turn them off to the Church completely in a matter of 10 years.
Thank God for people like you Dom and Fr. Clark who are actually involving parents. Not just one little here is the process for the day meeting with parents but teaching parents as well as the children. It is time for a new evangelization up here in the bluest of blue states.
Well, Albert, that’s part of what I want to do. I want to get some of these books into the hands of parents so that they can teach their own children. I’m afraid the Catechism itself is a little too “thick and rich” for most parents, and some simpler fare might be better to start out with.
Speaking of which, Melanie had a great idea the other day for holding a series of seminars for parents on “Catholic parenting.” They would include practical information of raising Catholic kids, but also resources such as books and tapes and information on prayer and spirituality along with having good Catholic families sharing what they do.
Kudos to Father Clark ( and you too, Dom ) for involving the parents in their kids’ Rel. Ed. As a former DRE , i truly hope this diocese will soon get the idea that the present model of “drop off CCD’ is a complete failure and we will go to a family catechesis model.
As for materials, call me “old fashioned” but I still prefer the good old Baltimore Catechism (now called the New Saint Joseph Catechism) for teaching the basics of our faith. It does a superb job of explaining creation, redemption, heaven, hell, purgatory, and all we should know about Catholicism – without all the gushy “just be a good person” baloney you get in even the “Bishop aproved” texts available today. I still use it with my fifth grader.
Thanks, I agree the Baltimore Catechism is good, but I’m looking for something that gives more depth and is more specifically on First Communion and Confession.
Dom—like I said, I began with the Baltimore/St. Joseph “First Communion” Catechism, and adapted it—updated some of the terminology, added my own pictures, added and deleted here and there. I’d be happy if you’d like to use it—with blessings! One of the things about it is the interface between parents and kids at the computer with HOLY stuff, rather than the rot that kids deal with all the time online.
Let me know if you use it!
For adult RCIA:
“Catholic Christianity” , by Peter Kreeft, Ignatius Press.
Down to earth language. Probably adaptable for kids. We used some parts w/ 6th graders.
The Apostolate’s Family Catechism,/i> by Rev. Lawrence G. Logvasik, S.V.D
Two volume edition.
Softcover ISBN # 0-932406-29-7
Also mandatory: the accompanying Students and Parents Guides for the appropriate age level. (That would be Grade School for Dom’s purposes.)
It doesn’t get any better. (With all due respect for Father Clark!)
Incorporating the <i>Catechism, several Papal documents, and optional videos by guys like Cardinal Arinze, it’s perfect for both home schoolers, Religion teachers, and CCD folk.
Kelly—where do I get my hands on Father Logvasik’s book and materials? No Google reference, no Amazon reference found. HELP!
Hi Father Clark!
I just entered the ISBN number in Google and it led me to a number of folks selling used editions so I got ‘em cheap.
The materials are offered by the Apostolate for the Family (http://www.familyland.org) in Bloomingdale, Ohio.
Telephone: 740-765-5500
Phoning worked best for me as far as getting the Teacher’s and Student’s guides (couldn’t get ‘em used, drat!). If you get the voice mail, they’re really good at returning calls.
I hope this helps!
Kelly <———noticing her formatting seemed to go a bit awry in her last post…