
At the beginning of the year when Family Catechesis begins, some parishes hold enrolment masses to welcome families at this time of Sacramental Preparation.
Here is an example from St Teresa's, Upholland. It is possible to edit this Word Document for your own needs.
Some ideas for structuring an enrolment Mass include:
• Families sign up for a particular Saturday or Sunday Mass on one weekend. (The enrolment form may be given out through the school to be brought back to the parish a particular weekend).
• Families are asked to bring completed Enrolment Form and Child’s Baptism Candle to Mass
• Enrolment may be at same Mass as a Baptism welcome (or Home Mission Sunday, or other appropriate weekend, etc)
• At end of the sermon, Father calls the catechists forward and blesses them; then parents are called forward and bring their forms to Father. On the way back to the pew, parents walked to Catechists at the sides of the church for their candles to be lit
• Father reads out the promises from the enrolment form (below) as questions and parents respond “I Do”
• Parents return to their child in the bench and place a hand on their child's shoulder
• Then Father asks the children if they too will join in with preparation and help from the parish/home/school....Children respond ”I Do”
• Father also asks the People of the parish “Do you welcome and support.......” The parishioners answer 'We welcome and support you.'
• All of the congregation stand and renew baptism promises together.
The questions in the enrolment leaflet were based around:-
Parents, are you willing to accept the invitation
to join in the “With You Always” programme
to prepare your child to receive
the Sacraments of Initiation
and include them in full
Confirmed Communion with the Church?
I/ We (parent’s names)
accept the invitation to join in with
the “With You Always” programme.
I / We welcome the help and support of the
Home ~ Parish ~ School partnership.
I / We commit to participating fully
in the preparation for the Initiation of
(child’s name)
into the ways of faith and Holy Communion.
With thanks to St Teresa's, Upholland.