A Family of Faith encourages and equips parents to catechize their children. By attending two meetings a month, parents who participate receive everything they need to teach their children about the Catholic faith at home. Each Family will get a Parent Guide and Student Activity Book in addition to he beginnings of a year-long Scrap Book you can cherish after the year is over. 

This year is devoted to an in-depth study of the Sacramens for our families. Remember the Sacraments are efficacacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church by which Divine Life is dispensed to us through the work of the Holy Spirit.  

There are seven Sacramants; three are called the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism Confirmation and the Eucharist. There are two Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and Annointing. And there are two Sacramants of Service: Matrimony and Holy Orders. 

It promises to be an exciting year. We look forward to seeing you and your families. And please make plans to join us this year.

On hearing about this concept, some parents have expressed the concern, “But I’m not trained as a teacher! And “I’m worried I don’t know enough about our religion!” As Jesus told us so often, I repeat: Do not be afraid! As a parent, you will be provided with the material and tools you need to accomplish this crucial task. 

Whenever a child is baptized in the Catholic Church, the child’s parents are reminded that, in asking for his or her baptism, they are accepting the responsibility of training their son or daughter in the practice of the faith and the duty to bring him or her up to keep God’s commandments. The religious education of our own children is part of the God-given vocation of parents, and the Lord never calls us to do something without also giving us everything we need to accomplish it. So, on top of the essential material and tools our parish will provide, God has given you his grace to do this! And that’s something no teacher in the classroom could ever claim.

A Family of Faith gives you everything you need in two meetings a month: an parent only meeting and a community meeting. Between the meetings, parents teach their children the Catholic faith at home. All students in the family, from grades 1 thru 5 will study the same topic(s) each month using grade appropriate activities provided in the Parent Guide and Student Activity Book. On the night Parents meet with Dcn Tom the students meet with their grade appropriate catechist. Sacramental Prep students and their Family will work and meet together each week.

At the Parent Meeting for Grades 1,3,4 and 5 we’d go over lesson ideas, activities and the religious concepts underlying each lesson. There are two essays per month in the Parent Guide offering more theological information pertaining to the monthly lessons. As the year rolls forward the Parent Sessions are also places where we can discuss progress, answer questions and brainstorm solutions for challenges that come up.

At the Community Meeting, we will participate in parent/student community service projects, informational programs, projects appropriate for the liturgical season, Masses and other activities. There would be time for questions and answers for the kids as well as the parents.

Each Family will also work on a Family of Faith Scrapbook for the year detailing activities, projects, comments, thoughts prayers etc. from the year.

Questions: contact Dcn Tom at (920)242-3047 or email him at [email protected].