St. Robert Bellarmine Parish, Freehold, is offering a Parish Institute series on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults process and its adaptation for children of catechetical age. The institute will be held on five Saturdays over a seven-month period. Sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the parish hall located at 61 Georgia Road.

The schedule of dates, topics and presenters follows:

Oct. 3 – Overview Vision of the RCIA (including the adaptations for children), JoLynn Krempecki, director of lay ministry formation for the Diocese of Camden.

Nov. 14 – Liturgy as Primary Formation, Mercy Sister Eleanor McCann, former associate director of the diocesan Office of Worship, and Msgr. Sam Sirianni, pastor of St. Robert Bellarmine Parish and former director of the Office of Worship.

Jan. 16 – Catechetical Formation, Terry Ginther, diocesan executive director of Pastoral Life and Mission.

Feb. 6 – Apprenticeship and the Context for Initiation, Jennifer Schlameuss-Perry, coordinator of children’s catechesis and ministry in St. Mary Parish, Colts Neck.

March 5 – Practical Considerations in Adapting the RCIA (for use with children and youth), Sister of St. Joseph Sandra DeMasi, director of liturgy and worship for St. Rose of Lima Parish, Short Hills.

Explaining the purpose for the RCIA institute and its focus on children of catechetical age, Msgr. Sirianni spoke of how in 1988, the Church in the United States established that children of catechetical age reaching the age of reason are to be prepared for the Sacraments of Initiation through an adapted process based on the RCIA. Similar to adults, children in this situation will go through a process of preparation, along with their parents so that in two to three years, they will be initiated at the Easter Vigil through the reception of Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.

“This process calls for volunteers who love their faith and are willing to share their faith with the children and families that are in this process,” said Msgr. Sirianni. “This ministry also calls for training. In order to train a team that will be knowledgeable to what this initiation process is all about, I have established a series of workshops that will be conducted b leading experts in the field of RCIA and who are working with children of catechetical age. Each workshop will offer practical ways to understand how children learn and the importance of working with their families as we prepare them for the Sacraments of Initiation.”

Msgr. Sirianni said the series was originally developed for St. Robert Bellarmine parishioners. However, an invitation has been extended to catechetical leaders from other parishes. To obtain a registration form or for more information, contact Msgr. Sirianni at 732-462-7429, ext. 119.