Family Faith Formation is a partnership between parents and the parish. It empowers the parents to be the primary educators of faith in their family. This program is structured to educate and encourage conversation and connection between family members and the community.
(Registration link is at the bottom of this page -- please read this information first!)
In our continuing catechesis on the family, we reflect today on the connection between the family and the Christian community. The Church is the home of those who believe in Jesus Christ as the source of the unity of the entire human family. Christ chose to enter our history, to become part of a human family, and to form a community which welcomes all who wish to hear his good news of the Father’s love.”
– Pope Francis
According to various studies, the Church is losing a large number of members annually. About 80% are leaving the faith before they reach college-age, but the average age for disaffiliation is 13.
Catholics often blame many of the Church's problems on poor catechesis. Although the quality level of various catechetical programs certainly varies from parish to parish, the reality is: Regular Mass attendance plus the typical weekly catechism class equals barely 1% of a person's life. That means that even during the school season, 99% of a child's experience is outside of parish catechesis. One percent of a child’s life can’t overcome the other ninety-nine. The goal of Family Faith is to assist families in fully integrating faith practices into their lives so we can be as close to acknowledging, recognizing, and praising God 100% of our lives.
The Church’s expectation that parents act as catechists to their children might sound frightening or radical, but it is the reality that parents teach their children how to walk, talk, think, and behave just by being parents. Most lessons are "caught" more than they are "taught" because children learn from their parents simply by being around them. The same is true of living the faith! If parents skip Mass anytime it is inconvenient, that is the lesson their children will learn about the importance of Mass. If parents pray before meals, that is the life of prayer the children will learn. If parents spend time in Scripture and say a daily rosary, that is what the faith will look like to their children.
The focus is on giving parents tools to help them succeed at being the religious educators that they already are. For most families, high-level theological training is not as important as faithful practices, and Family Faith Formation can help with both. No single parish program or activity can meet the particular needs of all families. The goal of our Family Faith Formation is to offer as many opportunities for education and spiritual growth as possible.
Programs begin September 17, 2023 - Catechetical Sunday.
Faith Formation Families (K-6) are expected to:
We will be using RCL Benziger's Be My Disciples this year. Each family will receive an At Home Family Guide, and each child will receive a text at his or her grade level. Regardless of the grade of the student, all students will be learning about the same topic at the same time.
Class sizes will be limited to 12 students per class, and families/students must attend the class day and time for which they have registered. We are unable to accommodate the flexible schedule that has been allowed in the past.
Class Times are as follows:
1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 8:30 - 9:30 am at Church of the Resurrection
1st and 3rd Sundays of the month from 10:15 - 11:15 am at Church of the Assumption
1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month from 6:15 - 7:15 pm at Church of the Assumption
Cost - $60 for families with one child
$80 for families with two children
$100 for families with three or more children