The wonder and awe through which children see the world is set before us as an example of the “kingdom-dweller.”  Jesus continues his teaching on children and faith in Mark’s Gospel verse 15, “…whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”

The innate spiritual openness and total dependence of children is the disposition to which God calls all people. Children, often more so than adults, recognize almost immediately the true joy of Christianity as they hear the stories of the Gospel and are introduced to a relationship with the living God.

For this reason, the Church has always initiated children. Children not baptized in infancy, that is before the use of reason, wishing to become a member of the Roman Catholic Church, with the permission of their parents, enter into the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults adapted for children as outlined in Part II, #1.

The Christian community supports the child and their family in this process. The child:

• Participates in the pre-catechumenate.
• Is chosen for entrance into the catechumenate in the Rite of Acceptance.
• Participates in the catechumenate for a suitable period of time (often more than one year)
• Participates in the Rite of Election celebrated in the Cathedral on the First Sunday of Lent.
• Observes Lent as a time of purification and enlightenment.
• Participates in the Scrutinies and the Presentations.
• Receives the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil.
• Observes the season of Easter as a time of post-baptismal catechesis

For more information regarding the Christian initiation of Children, please contact Ms. Carol A. Augustine at Caugustine@archbalt.org or call 410-547-5403.