“Education in the faith by the parents should begin in the child’s earliest years. This already happens when family members help one another to grow in faith by witness of a Christian life in keeping with the Gospel. Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith.” (CCC 2226)
A. Purpose
1. The purpose of the Parents/Guardians section of this resource is to aid the program director in discovering possibilities for catechizing the parents/guardians of the Confirmation candidate. Confirmation preparation is viewed as a teachable moment for these participants. These adults can deepen their understanding of the Sacrament, its importance in the life of the candidate and the ongoing life of faith formation that the Sacrament of Confirmation fosters.
B. Role of the Parents/Guardians
1.“Parents as primary educators of their children [cf. CCC 2221] are to be actively involved in the preparation program for Confirmation. This will help them renew and strengthen their own faith, besides enabling them to set a better example for their own children.”
a. They are to attend orientation sessions with their children.
b. They are to be given information as to diocesan and parish requirements.
c. They are to be presented with an understanding of the sacrament, its history, the rite and its meaning for Christian living.
d. They are to be encouraged in family prayer, most especially in regular family prayer with the Sacred Scriptures.
2. Parents/guardians live out the commitment made at the child‟s Baptism, when they accepted the “responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith” (Rite of Baptism for Children). Parents/guardians should be open to continued and renewed growth in their own faith through participation in the sacramental life of the Church, especially in regular Sunday celebration of the Eucharist, daily prayer and reading of Scripture.
3. Parents/guardians should give prayerful support and encouragement to the candidate in matters pertaining to the practice of the Catholic faith.
4. Parents/guardians should support the candidate through Confirmation preparation and continue that support in post-Confirmation continuing faith development. This involves an appreciation of the sacramental life of the Church and an understanding of what that means in the candidate‟s everyday life (especially moral decision making).