CHILD MINISTRY

As the song says, “children are our future.” The future of the Catholic Church is being formed today in the pews and classrooms of our parish. It is important to note that it is in that order, first in the pews then in the classrooms. Being Catholic is not primarily an academic exercise, but rather a lived expression of faith in a God who is exceedingly generous in his blessings. The most important thing we do as a Church is gather for our weekend Mass. It is our defining activity and makes us who we are.

Bringing a child to religious education when they are not being brought to Mass puts the cart before the horse. Our religious education program seeks to help children understand and enter into the life of the Church. While we seek to communicate the what and why of our Catholic faith it is ultimately the regular practice of our faith that is our goal. It is one’s relationship with God that is the key and for Catholics that develops primarily at Mass. After all, our Mass is the weekly encounter with God, present to us in the Eucharist. 

The programs that follow in the Child Ministry section of this catalog intend to help children to understand the rituals of the Church and to explore the teaching of the Church about God and the ways that God is present to us. They depend on a practical experience of the life of the Church to make sense. If you have to make a choice between enrolling your child in religious education and going to Mass, go to Mass. When the children have a connection to a sense of the presence of God then they will want to know more about God and then the natural desire of children to know about the things in their lives will be engaged.

Raising children in the Church is no easy task. As parents it is our responsibility to teach our children how to be human beings and how to be Christians. The religious education program here at Holy Apostles is here to assist you in your responsibility.

Peace, 
Michael J. Crain  

Michael J. Crain  
Director  
Child, Ault and Family Ministry

Click to open the
2008-2009 Christian Formation Catalog
in a new window. (pdf, 400kb)

Archbishop Dolan's letter on Policies for Safe Environment
(pdf, 84kb)