The RCIA for Children - St. Augustine Church - The Catholic Student Center of Gainesville, Florida
The
RCIA ForChildren
What is it?
The Rite of Christian Initiation for Children is a special
program for older children who have not been baptized.
Who is eligible?
1. Any child who is at least seven years old and who for one reason
or another, was not Baptized is eligible for this program.
2. The child must be enrolled in the other age-appropriate faith formation
programs in the parish.
When does the program take place?
The program begins on the first Sunday of Lent, and takes
place during the 11:30 am Sunday Mass on each Sunday thereafter until Easter.
Children attend Mass with their families. Children are dismissed from the
church after the Gospel reading, and walk with their teacher to a
special
classroom where they study until Mass ends. Then they rejoin their parents in
the parish courtyard. You can download a schedule
of all the meetings using
this
link.
What do they study?
The children are prepared to receive the sacraments of
Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. According to the rules of the church once
a
child has reached the age of seven, s/he then follows the preparation
guidelines for RCIA as if s/he were adult. This catechesis will include
sacramental education and reflection on the scripture.
Is there a cost for this program?
There is no charge for preparation for the sacraments in
the Catholic Church.
Who will be teaching the children?
Tom Rinkoski, the Director of Faith Formation for St.
Augustine Church, will teach the children. He is the parish’s lead catechist,
has an
M.Ed from Boston College and over 35 years in church teaching experience.
Who do I contact for more information?
If you have any questions or concerns about this program,
or your child’s eligibility for it, please contact Tom Rinkoski at (352)
372-3533
or via e-mail at
tomrinkoski@yahoo.com.
How do I register my child?
First, make sure you enroll your child in the regular Faith
Formation program of the parish. Click on this link to take you to the web page
of
the K – 5 Sunday Morning Faith Formation program. Please note on that
registration that your child is not yet baptized.
Then complete either one of the following steps to make
sure your child is also enrolled in the RCIA for Children program. There are
two
ways to accomplish this…
1.
Pick up a registration form at the church office. Complete this form and return
by the deadline of January 15, 2008.
2.
Download
the 2008 Registration form from this link.
Complete the form and return by the deadline of January 15, 2008.
The parish office is open 9:00 am till 10:00 pm every day;
it may be convenient to drop these off after Mass on Sunday. Just be sure they
place your envelope in Tom Rinkoski’s mailbox.
