[ccasanova]

I have 4 four kids ages 6,5,4, and 2. For many different reasons, our family has not been regularly to mass on Sundays, mainly moving a few times, dh's schedule, and my fear of having my babies sit for an hour and not making noise. I have remained spiritual during these last few years, and kept praying, and reading a childrens bible to my kids to get them to start learning about their faith. It was a christian bible but not specifically catholic. I really want them to learn a lot more though, and want to start taking them to church. DH is not all that into going. He grew up not practicing too much, so it's not that important to him. Here is my dilemma.<br><br>
I don't know if I should take them to catholic mass, (they are all baptized catholic) or take them to a non denominational christian church. What I want is for my children to be interested in going. Enjoy going, and enjoy learning about their faith. The catholic churches around here don't have any special services for kids, so my kids all tell me they are BORED when they go.<br><br>
Would you think it's ok to attend a christian church for the childrens classes? From what I've heard, many christian churches have classes for the kids while the adults worship so that this way the kids are enjoying themselves. I dont' know much about differences in their teachings, but I don't think the kids classes would be teaching things I'm against, since they are still christian and we believe basically the same things. I would teach my kids though that we do believe in the Virgin Mary and saints.<br><br>
My other thing is that my oldest will be of age to start preparing for first communion. It would look wierd for us to be preparing to do communion and attend a different church, huh?<br><br>
So should I make us stick with catholic mass that the kids don't find fun, or for now go to a christian church? I don't know specifics such as if we need to register with the christian church, if kids classes are free or not, etc. I even thought about teaching them here at home, but I know that they would have more fun around other kids.<br><br>
What should I do? What would you do? TIA!

 

[secondseconds]

Personally, I would work on teaching them how to make it through mass. Even if you have to take 2 at a time, switching weekends. I wouldn't feel comfortable with my kids going to any other church. Mass doesn't have to be fun for them, they just have to be able to make it through the hour without going crazy, until they are old enough to understand what's going on. I don't think taking them anywhere else would help that.

 

[Benji'sMom]

We have taken our kids to Christian churches because they like the music of the praise and worship, rather than the quiet time at Mass. But I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old - they weren't at the age for Christian Sunday school at the time. I wouldn't personally send my kids to a Sunday school because I don't want them to learn the ins and outs of the non-Catholic beliefs. For now they enjoy the singing and that's fine but that's as far as it will go. I don't want my kids to come home from Sunday school and lecture me about being "saved" or whatever else.

 

[CharlieBrown]

I am a quite open-minded and liberal Catholic who won't do it. "Christian" is whatever(you never really know) and Catholic is Catholic. I just started to take my 3.5 yo to Mass with me. DH doesn't attend or encourage it.

 

[anotherKatrina]

I would just go to Mass. Find a parish near you that you like the most and just jump in. Teach the kids what happens during the liturgy...your bigger ones are old enough for simple explanations...there are books out there that do this...and sit right smack in the front row. Of course Mass is boring when all you can see is the backside of the person in front of you! Bring along something to color on in case they need it. The best way to learn to attend properly is just to go and do it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Don't mind if they make a little noise...God gave you the babies and they belong in church as much as the grownups! (I'm not big on sending kids away...can you tell? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue"> )<br><br>
Maybe, if you feel inspired, you might find other parents interested enough in starting up CloW for your kids to grow into.<br><br>
Blessings,<br>
K

 

[ccasanova]

thanks for the suggestions, what is CloW?

 

[MamaWindmill]

I think the question you should ask yourself is whether you want your children to be raised Catholic or not. You really can't take them to another church and then throw in the Virgin Mary and the saints - Catholicism is much more complex than that, and is not the same thing as Protestant faiths. If you want them to be Catholic, you will need to introduce them to Catholicism, and that simply can't be done by going to a church of a different denomination. If you're interested in a more Protestant-style or non-denominational Christian experience, then by all means, seek out a different faith, but if you are a Catholic wanting to raise Catholics, there is no way to switch out churches and still call it Catholic.

 

[secondseconds]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>MamaWindmill</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7901813"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I think the question you should ask yourself is whether you want your children to be raised Catholic or not. You really can't take them to another church and then throw in the Virgin Mary and the saints - Catholicism is much more complex than that, and is not the same thing as Protestant faiths. If you want them to be Catholic, you will need to introduce them to Catholicism, and that simply can't be done by going to a church of a different denomination. If you're interested in a more Protestant-style or non-denominational Christian experience, then by all means, seek out a different faith, but if you are a Catholic wanting to raise Catholics, there is no way to switch out churches and still call it Catholic.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bow2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bow2">

 

[Cullens_Girl]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>anotherKatrina</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7898953"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would just go to Mass. Find a parish near you that you like the most and just jump in. Teach the kids what happens during the liturgy...your bigger ones are old enough for simple explanations...there are books out there that do this...and sit right smack in the front row. Of course Mass is boring when all you can see is the backside of the person in front of you! Bring along something to color on in case they need it. The best way to learn to attend properly is just to go and do it. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> Don't mind if they make a little noise...God gave you the babies and they belong in church as much as the grownups! (I'm not big on sending kids away...can you tell? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue"> )</div>
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<br>
ITA! Front Row all the way! My parents always piled us in (4 children) in the front row. We still acted up, but the front is so much more interesting then say the back. LOL

 

[lilyka]

you have no idea how different the beliefs are between catholics and most protestant denominations. if you go to a church where they send the kids off to children's church during the service they will be targets if evangelism. starting very young they will be indoctrinated into the whole salvation, hell, etc. . . .its really quite different. And then if they accidentally mention Mary or saints the teachers, even if innocent and well intentioned will teach them that that is wrong. because in protestant church's it is and they will also assume that since you are attending etc that you either want to convert (why wouldn't they) or they have a small window in which to reach your children. most evangelical churches see Sunday school as a prime mission field. and their goal is indoctrination and conversion. end of story. it is not about teaching sweet little Bible stories. its about planting seeds. and either converting your children or teaching them to convert their friends.<br><br>
plus this may be a fun way to spend a Sunday morning but it does nothing to help them acclimate to church. they will still not want to be in mass (and since they didn't grow up with it may have more of an aversion to it) and you will have not done much except expand your collection of crafts and maybe make a few friends.<br><br>
i highly recommend taking them to mass, sucking it up and just working on teaching them how to enjoy it. yes it is a lot of work but the payoff is amazing. and I agree. front row all the way (i always at in the front row as a kid. not about to act up there <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">) . let them see and smell and hear everything. i just started attending liturgy and all of it is so exciting. I am like a little kid standing on my tip toes and looking all around all the time. I want to see all the colors and touch the stuff and hear all the things everyone is saying (different people talking in different languages all things I have never heard before) and smell the candles and incense, and see everyone worshiping. I think when kids can really see what is going on they will more likely be into it.<br><br>
and someone mentioned taking two a week. I think this is a great idea. I haven't started taking my kids to liturgy with me but when i do it will be one kid at a time. or maybe I will start with one and then ad another and then another. but it is all so new to them I want to make sure I only have to deal with teahcing one child at a time.

 

[BusyMommy]

Well, actually, we do CCD classes regularly but mass only occasionally. My kids LOVE CCD. Sounds odd, I'm sure, but they thoroughly enjoy them and look fwd to Sunday mornings. When my youngest was too young for class, he'd go to Nursery and call it "his" CCD.<br><br>
So, I'd say if you believe you are Catholic, look around for a family friendly church that makes you feel comfortable and just start. When we do go to mass together, my kids seem to really enjoy that, too, even though they can't sit still for 60 mins. It helps us to be on the aisle so they can lean out to watch "the action."<br><br>
I'd not mix faiths at this age for the kids. Diff exposures is great but I'd pick one main religion as a base.

 

[suzywan]

If you want your kids to be Catholic, you should take them to Catholic Mass and no other (exceot on rare occassion, under specific circumstances, like a wedding or baptism, etc.) I think childhood is when the strong foundation of faith is laid.<br><br>
If you want your children to be exposed to all sorts of faiths so they can one day make a personal decision on where their faith lies, take them to all different kinds of churches and religious ceremonies. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Also, be aware that some protestant/evangenlical denoms don't believe Catholics are even Christian and have rather bigoted opinions about us.

 

[anotherKatrina]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ccasanova</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7900387"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">thanks for the suggestions, what is CloW?</div>
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Childrens Liturgy of the Word