The family is the first place that the Gospel is shared and lived. You, as parents, have the unique privilege and honor of being the primary catechist of your child. The Catholic Church considers the home to be the domestic Church because what you do in your home and as a family is holy.
Our hope is that our new religious education format will allow for the incredibly busy schedules your families have, for intentional time spent in conversation about faith with your child, and for the opportunity to build Catholic community connections with other families.
Family of Faith is comprised of both Instructional Sessions (classes) and Community meetings. Please see the calendar for the specific dates and times of each session
Instructional Sessions (Classes)
After attending the 10:30 Sunday Mass, Families from St. Mary Parish will gather together in Robisch Hall on the 2nd Sunday of each month from September-May. From 11:30 AM - 12 PM, we will share in food and fellowship in Robisch Hall. at 12 PM, the children in grades K-8th grade will go to their designated classrooms for a lesson taught by a parish catechist.
While the children are with the Catechists in the classrooms, the parents will remain in Robisch Hall for the parent lesson. During the parent lesson, parents are given the resources, knowledge, and understanding of the lessons/activities that they will be teaching their families at home for the rest of the Month.
Community Meetings
In addition to the monthly instructional sessions (classes), most months have a Community Meeting as well. These community meetings are designed to put into practice what we have learned in the classroom and grow together in fellowship and community as a parish. See the calendar for dates and times of each community meeting.
A Family of Faith follows a four-year cycle: one pillar of the Catechism is covered per year from September-May. Parents are given a detailed picture of authentic and vibrant Catholic family life, the tools to implement this life in their home, and age-appropriate readings, games, crafts, and other activities to help them deepen among their children a love for Christ and His Church.
After four years, families will have been guided through the entirety of the Catechism and will have developed a broad understanding of the Church's teachings. Families then cycle through the program again in order to deepen their knowledge and develop the habits needed for life-long spiritual growth.
You can learn more about the Family of Faith Curriculum at our publisher's website here.
The Children's Activity Book is designed to help children come to know the Catholic Faith through fun games and activities. The Parent's Guide offers talking points for how to use each activity in the children's book as a teachable moment, leading the child to a deeper relationship with Christ.
Activities in the Children's Activity Book include…
Family of Faith is created for ALL Catholic families with children up to the 8th grade. It is not limited to only those families who are seeking sacramental preparation or for families who attend public school. All families, including those who send to Catholic Grade School are encouraged to participate in this family-based faith formation. The goal is to equip the parents to be successful in their roles as primary catechists of their children. This goal reaches all Catholic families, not just those who attend public school.
Since the current faith formation and religious education model is struggling to transform family life, and since many young people who go through faith formation are leaving the faith, we are proposing a new model (which is actually an ancient model) where the parish focuses on catechizing the parents in order to strengthen parent/child engagement in the Faith. This increases the likelihood that a child will receive an authentic education in the Faith and develop into a knowledgeable and practicing Catholic. Countless studies have shown that parental engagement with the child is the single most effective way to develop young people into disciples of Christ.
A Family of Faith is completely turn-key for parents, giving you the easy-to-understand content and step-by-step instructions for each activity, helping you to gain knowledge of the Faith and confidence as you teach it. Various tools are also available to help parents turn potentially problematic situations into successes, such as what to do when a child asks a question you do not know.
No. There are two lessons to teach each month, one of which is taught by a certified catechist at the monthly meeting. The second lesson is taught by the parent at home. In addition, there is a variety of family and child activities. Each lesson should take no more than 30-45 minutes to complete, and requires minimal preparation on the part of the parent.
Because this program focuses on teaching the faith to parents and helping them make it an organic part of family life, it is perfect for parents with children of all ages. For example, a monthly feature called “Your Catholic Home” gives specific advice for ways to make the Faith a regular part of each day. The Children’s Activity Books are recommended for children in grades K-8, and features engaging activities at various grade levels. Parents can skip the activities they believe are too elementary or too advanced for their child.
No. Although readings and written activities are offered, the Children’s Activity Book and Parent's Guide offer a wide variety of activities using numerous strategies to impart and assess knowledge that do not rely on reading or writing.
First, we encourage all families to attend Mass together. After Mass, the families will meet in Robisch Hall for food and fellowship. At 12:00 PM, the children will go to their designated classrooms and the parents will go to their meeting space. While the certified catechists are teaching the 1st monthly lesson to your children, the parent will be participating in the parent lesson. During the parent lesson, parents are given the resources, knowledge, and understanding of the lessons/activities that they will be teaching their families at home for the rest of the Month.
You will undoubtedly see your children learn as they memorize Scripture verses and are able to define key words of our Catholic Faith. Children will demonstrate in conversations their understanding of concepts of the Faith, and you’ll see them begin to live their Faith through an enriched prayer life and a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. The child’s desire to know, love, and serve Jesus is proof that they are learning and becoming a disciple of Christ.
September 11, 2022 - Open House & Family Brunch: The Role of Parents in the Faith (11:30 AM - 12:30 PM - Robisch Hall)
October 9, 2022 - Heaven: Our Final Destination (Class)
October 30, 2022 - 10:30 AM Mass - All Saints Parade (Community Meeting)
November 12, 2022 - Conscience: God's Law in our Hearts (Class)
December 3, 2022 - 9-11:30 AM - Advent Retreat for Families (Community Meeting) (Hosted at St. Cecilia Church)
December 11, 2022 - Cardinal and Theological Virtues (Class)
January 8, 2023 - The 1st - 4th Commandments (Class)
February 12, 2023 - The 5th-10th Commandments (Class)
February 21, 2023 - 6:30-7:30 PM - Closing of Ordinary Time Prayer Service (6:30), Mardi Gras Ice Cream Social (7:00) (Community Meeting) (Hosted at St. Cecilia Church)
March 4, 2023 - 10-11:30 AM - Family Service Project at Matthew 25 Ministries (Community Meeting)
March 12, 2023 - The New Commandment & the Works of Mercy (Class)
April 6, 2023 - 7 PM - Holy Thursday Mass (Community Meeting)
April 16, 2023 - The Beatitudes (Class)
May 21, 2023 - "Stump the Priest" Q&A (Class)