August 28, 2023
Dear Faith Formation Families,
Welcome to our 2023-2024 year. This Fall, we are excited to introduce you to our new “A Family of Faith” program. It is a wonderful program that has been seeing great success across the country. It aims to encourage and equip our parents to live and teach your children the Catholic faith within the domestic churches – your homes. You will be provided with all the knowledge and tools you need to live your faith within your busy daily lives.
Each month, beginning Sunday, October 1^st, families will attend the 10am Mass on Family Faith Formation Sunday. On some occasions those designated Sundays on our calendar may be more or less than one month apart. After mass, there will be a chance to gather for light refreshments in the social hall, followed by a parent presentation to teach the material for the month and to go over the specific turn-key pre-packaged lessons you will work on with your children. During this time, the children will go into the classrooms to learn the same material at an appropriate grade level. For the course of the rest of the month, there are two at-home lessons to work on at your own speed as a family, using the children’s Activity Book and the Parent Guide.
This is not merely a program to teach children to memorize the Catechism, but to help children and families develop an authentic relationship with God and to fall in love with our Lord through everyday faith practices. Families come together regularly — growing in relationship with one another and learning the truths of the Catholic Faith and how to apply them in their lives. In the parish and at home parents and children have the opportunity to build strong relationships through discussion and reflection on topics that matter in their lives.
As families continue to learn about the life of Jesus Christ, His teachings, and the Catholic Faith, the home becomes the place of deep learning as families desire to follow Jesus more closely. Parents can learn and share with their children practices such as grace before meals, reading and praying with Scripture, and learning about the lives of the saints, all within and throughout your daily lives at home, your car-ride to school, or wherever these lessons naturally fit into your family life.
The goal is not to burden families, but to equip parents to be the teachers of the faith, rather than just expect it to happen. Countless studies have shown that parental engagement with the child is the single most effective way to develop young people into disciples of Christ.
I hope parents will take advantage of this great opportunity to grow in faith with your children as you journey toward heaven together! Included with this letter is a registration form and calendar. Please return the completed registration form and payment by Monday, September 25th. Registration forms can be mailed in, brought into the parish office or placed in the weekend collection basket in a clearly marked envelope.
I look forward to a great year, learning together.
Sincerely in Christ,
Fr. Andrew Dawson