1. Partnering With Parents More effective Religious Education

3. ‘ WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR FOCUS ON FAMILIES FROM ‘OBJECTS’ OF OUR MINISTERIAL EFFORTS TO ‘PARTNERS’.

4. We simply must rekindle the family’s desire, effort and ability to be a center of religious activity.

5. Family or Household of Faith?

6. Family is a System

7. Get into the home Build Neighborhood skills Build a network of civic relationships Develop and maintain a family perspective in your ministry

8. Households of Faith What are five characteristics of the households of faith you work with?

10. Rediscovering the Impact of Parents and Families on faith practice.

12. Declining Participation in Christian Churches In 2020, more than 85% of Americans will be staying away from worshipping God at Church.

13. What are the Implications?

14. Growth in No Religious Affiliation among Americans Among Americans ages 18-29, 1:4 say they are not currently affiliated with any particular religion.

15. Becoming More “Spiritual” and Less “Religious” Vast majority of Americans – approximately 80% - describe themselves as both spiritual and religious.

16. If these trends continue, how does this affect how we minister with households?

17. Changing Structures and Patterns of Family Life in the United States Delaying Marriage The average age of first marriage of men today is 27 years old and for women it is 25 years old. Married couples in their twenties were a majority of their peers in the 1970s, but were atypical in 2000. Having Fewer Children and Later in Life Average Number of births per woman is 2. 19% of women end their childbearing years with no children. Median age at which mothers give birth to first child is 24.5 years old. Birth rate is increasing for women age 35 to 39 and 40 to 44. 2005-2006 Children Living w/ 2 parents Children Living w/ 1 parent Households including children under 18 67% (18% decline since 1968) 28% (16% increase since 1968) 30% (20% decline since 1960) Decreasing Number of Children in Two-Parent Households Increasing Number of Unmarried Couples Living Together (Since 1980-500% increase) Increasing Time Caring for Children Over the Past 40 Years Fathers: 6.5 hours/week (153% increase) Married Mothers: 12.9 hours/week (21% increase) Single Mothers: 11.8 hours/week (57% increase) Fathers: 40% multitask Mothers: 70% multitask

18. What do these patterns and trends say to us as we develop approaches to partnering with parents and households?

19. Catholic population65.3 million Parishes19,496 Marriages257,000 Infant Baptisms1 million Adult Baptisms162,000 (and entrance into full communion) Confirmations629,000 First Communions893,000 Children (grades 1-8)3.5 million (parish religious ed.) Adolescents767,000 (parish religious ed.) Catholic elementary school students2 million Catholic high school students682,000 Participation Trends in the U.S. Catholic Church 2001-2008 (Using figures from the Official Catholic Directory) 2001 2008 68.1 million 18,674 192,000 887,000 124,000 622,000 822,000 3.1 million 722,000 1.6 million 674,380

20. Diocese of Wilmington2000 Catholic Population193,000 Marriages875 Infant Baptisms3006 Baptisms Adults189 Confirmations1900 First Communions2691 Elementary Pupils Catholic School9830 Elementary Pupils RE9182 Adolescents872 Catholic High School4645 2007 230,000 653 2727 152 2122 2772 8859 7944 1309 4748

21. Where Do We Go From Here?

22. Creating the Partnership Realistic Vision of Your Households Realistic Expectations: What is the partnership we seek? –P–Partners not objects What can we do to facilitate the partnership? –R–Rekindle desire, effort, ability What are the points of contact/entry?