WHY? WHO? WHAT? WHERE? WHEN?

Why Family Formation? “Parents are the principal and first educators of their children.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1653) “The new evangelization depends largely on the domestic church…the new evangelization is inseparable from the Christian family.” (Pope Benedict XVI at Pontifical Council for the Family in December 2011) “Family catechesis precedes…accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis.” (General Directory for Catechesis 169) “Parents have more sway over religious lives than often perceived.” (NSYR-National Study of Youth and Religion-Christian Smith, Notre Dame)

Six ways of sharing faith in our families: Sharing the Catholic Faith stories from Scripture and in parish community settings Praying together as a family Performing acts of justice and service Celebrating faith through rituals Enriching family relationships by spending quantity and quality time together Relating as a family to the wider community

Faith and families are a natural combination…

Families provide the place for us to nurture God’s gift of faith Families provide the place for us to nurture God’s gift of faith. It is a lifelong journey that is never complete, but can grow each day as we gain a deeper knowledge of and relationship with God in Jesus Christ.

“And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise. And you shall bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall write them on your doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Dt. 6:6-9

Parents for Eternal Life Fr Parents for Eternal Life Fr. John Hardon, SJ wrote that Catholic parents “must be convinced that their primary responsibility as parents is to prepare the children that God gave them-for eternal life. Yes, parents are the primary teachers of their children in all that pertains to the children’s lives here on earth. But that is not all. That is not primary! What is primary? The parents’ most fundamental duty is to prepare their children for eternity.”

What is Family Formation? *religious education program developed over 25 years ago that equips parents to pass on the Catholic Faith to their children enabling them to grow in their faith together as a family

FAMILY FORMATION HIGHLIGHTS Learning and teaching the faith allows you to encounter Christ and grow in your faith. All catechetical material and research required is prepared for home use for parents to educate children on the specific faith content each week.

Catechetical material has been given the imprimatur and is faithful to the Magisterium. Parents provide a religious atmosphere in the home by praying together and working as a family to learn a faith topic each week. Since many of the activities are fun for all ages, Family Formation often includes younger children and teens working along with the family at home.

Parents and children come together for 10:30 am Mass on the 2nd Sunday of the month. After Mass students in grades 1-6 gather with a “substitute” catechist for a faith lesson. Parents gather for a faith lesson on the same topic as the children and are given support for teaching the faith. Families receive a packet of weekly home lessons to use for the rest of the month with the children at home.

Trained each month for faith lesson “Substitute” catechists: Staff and Laity Parents, Clergy, Adults: Trained each month for faith lesson “Substitute” catechists: pre-school, middle and high school Grades 1-6 Children: