In Seoul baptism is held twice a month on Saturday afternoon. The parents who bring their children are given instructions on the meaning of infant baptism and the education of the child in the faith and then an explanation of the picture books that are distributed and showing parents how to read the books to the child.
Education for parents and children is not only a baptismal event but also a monthly follow-up program after the children's Saturday Mass. Where there is no faith education for infants and young children, this educational program fills the gap from childhood baptism until the start of Sunday school.
Fortunately, the church has recently opened its eyes to faith education for infants and young children. In many parishes in the Seoul Diocese, the pre-baptism education has been practiced for several years. It teaches the meaning and importance of infant baptism and how to teach children in the faith. Although these attempts are common, the need for faith programs for infants and young children, always can be improved.
Until now, the church has done little in educating parents before baptism. Little has ever been attempted until the child enters school and the beginning of Sunday school. There is a real need for a variety of pastoral programs so that parents can take responsibility for their children's faith. Pope John Paul II's exhoratation On Catechesis In Our Time (1975) emphasized that "parental education should begin at a very young age" # 68. Infant and child education cannot be achieved without parent education.
The number of young children baptized each year aged 0 to 4 is decreasing year by year. 4-year-olds and under account for 4% of the total population, while only 1% of children under 4 years old are registered in the parish. The low infant baptism rate is due to the overall low fertility rate in society, and to the indifference to religion of young parents. The parents' beliefs are such that they will not even take responsibility for their children's faith and opt for a free lifestyle influenced by the individualization of their faith life.
In a survey of marriage teachings, only half (55.1%) of the students answered that they would give infants baptism, and 38.6% answered that they plan to let their children decide. Given this recent situation, the church should be aware of the need for faith education for young parents and provide a realistic educational program proper to the times.
The 'Bookstart Movement" described above is a means of communicating with a child and a caregiver by reading and talking to their infant children with the help of books.
Apostle Paul reminded the readers of his letter that Timothy, one of his spiritual sons, inherited his faith through his mother and grandmother and became a good church worker (2 Timothy 1,1-8).
The church needs to provide a program for the infants and young children before they enter Sunday school. It can begin with infant baptism. The church's interest in teaching infants would make the continuance of the program into Sunday school and remedy the fear of the demise of the Sunday school program in the future.
