Adult Meeting

Agenda

Opening Questions Who is your child(ren)’s first teacher? Who is their most important teacher?

Opening Questions Children will first come to understand right from wrong and learn to choose good over evil from their family life. What does this mean for us as parents?

Familiaris Consortio The example and witness of parents “leave an impression that the future events in their children’s lives will not be able to efface”

The goal of A Family of Faith To encourage and equip you to be your children’s primary catechist

Trivia Game

Parent’s Guide Monthly overview pages explain what your family will learn this month, questions your family will explore during the month, words your children should know at the end of the month, etc. “Your Catholic Home” gives you one easy way each month to bring the Faith into your family life. Point out that many of the activities to teach throughout the month begin with a short “What you need to know before you begin” section. Encourage the parents to read these sections for their own understanding, even if they do not choose to do the activities with their children.

Parent’s Guide A lesson overview page lists out the activities to choose from, alongside recommended age levels and times. Each month features at least one prayer board project activity that will be built on throughout the year. We will learn more about this later! Walk the parents through the various icons that demonstrate types of activities, for example: scissors for creative activities/crafts, a Bible for activities based on Scripture, an apple for direct instruction, and so forth.

Parent’s Guide Saint of the Month essays tell the story of saints whose feast days we celebrate throughout the year. Saints are wonderful models of holiness, and we can ask them to pray for us! Point out that each month ends with a wrap-up — a summary of the main ideas in each month’s lessons and some space to reflect on how your learning has been going.

Yearlong Prayer Board Project

Reminders and Announcements Each family will need a Holy Bible and a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The next Community Meeting picnic will take place at [location] on [date].

A society that loves its children is a healthy and dynamic society A society that loves its children is a healthy and dynamic society. On their behalf I appeal to you parents. Children need parents who will provide them with a stable family environment. To know what real love is they need you to be united in your love for each other and for them. From you they seek companionship and guidance. From you, first and foremost, they must learn to distinguish right from wrong and to choose good over evil. I appeal to you: do not deprive your children of their rightful human and spiritual heritage...

Teach them about God, and tell them about Jesus, about his love and his Gospel. Teach them to love God and respect his commandments in the sure knowledge that they are his children above all. Teach them to pray. Teach them to be mature and responsible human beings, and honest citizens of their country. This is a stupendous privilege, a grave duty, and a wonderful task that you have received from God. By the witness of your own Christian lives, you lead your children to take their rightful place in the Church of Christ. —Pope St. John Paul II, 1986 homily

Closing Prayer Dear Lord, thank you for bringing all of us here today as we begin this exciting and humbling journey together. Please bless all our families in a special way, and especially our parents, as they prepare to be their children’s catechists.