For Children

Why did Saint Andrew Parish make this change in religious education?
To put it bluntly - our "traditional" Religious Education program no longer works. Its past success depended on families regularly participating in Sunday Mass and actively practicing their faith at home…but these can no longer be taken for granted. A Family of Faith fosters both. And as a diocesan pilot program, we can lead the way!

How does A Family of Faith work?
A parent session is held on the First Wednesday of the month, designed to help parents deepen their knowledge of the Catholic faith. We encourage both parents to attend, and childcare will be provided.  There are two at-home lessons (30-45 minutes each) to be completed per month, with a few additional activities to help make the Catholic faith a part of your family's daily life. During the month there are two community meetings that are for the entire family, building community, and ensuring accountability.

Where is this all happening? And what's the schedule? We're a busy family!
There's a lot more flexibility in A Family of Faith than in a traditional religious education program. Parent sessions will be held on the First Tuesday of the first week of the month, from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm.  The community meeting time is on Wednesday from 6:30 - 7:45 pm. During the month, you the parents, determine when to do the two monthly lessons—at home, on your family's schedule, and at your child's level. The program runs from September to May. A schedule for the year will be provided.

Who is this for? What if we don't have children or our kids are grown
The at-home lessons are geared for kids in grades K-5… but all parishioners are most welcome to get involved. Teens can help teach younger siblings, or assist with childcare. Adults can come and benefit from the teaching during the parent sessions, and those without their children might consider volunteering to accompany and mentor another family that could use a helping hand.

What if the parent doesn't know the Faith well, or how to teach?
A Family of Faith is completely turn-key for the parents, giving them the easy-to-understand content and step-by-step instructions for each activity, helping them to gain knowledge of the Faith and confidence as they teach it. Various tools are also available to help parents turn potentially problematic situations into successes, such as what to do when a child asks a question you do not know.

Shouldn't the religious education of children be left to the parish?
Since the current faith formation and religious education model is struggling to transform family life, and since many young people who go through faith formation are leaving the faith, we are proposing a new model (which is actually an ancient model) where the parish focuses on catechizing the parents in order to strengthen parent/child engagement in the Faith. This increases the likelihood that a child will receive an authentic education in the Faith and develop into a knowledgeable and practicing Catholic. Countless studies have shown that parental engagement with the child is the single most effective way to develop young people into disciples of Christ.

But what if parents don't want to be bothered and remove their child from religious instruction altogether? Wouldn't we be better off just maintaining the status quo?
While it is true that some parents will likely decide to offer no instruction at all rather than to participate in this program, the vast majority of families are finding A Family of Faith to be far more flexible, enabling them to transform the family activities they already do into encounters with God. Parents are able to enter into those “teachable moments” of everyday life. A Family of Faith leads parents into conversion to Jesus Christ, which is beneficial to the parish, but most of all to the children they are raising.

For what age children has this program been developed?
Because this program focuses on teaching the faith to parents and helping them make it an organic part of family life, it is perfect for parents with children of all ages. For example, a monthly feature called “Your Catholic Home” gives specific advice for ways to make the Faith a regular part of each day. The Children’s Activity Books are recommended for children in grades K-6 and feature engaging activities at various grade levels. Parents can skip the activities they believe are too elementary or too advanced for their child.

Does my child have to be a strong reader?
No. Although readings and written activities are offered, the Children’s Activity Book and Parent's Guide offer a wide variety of activities using numerous strategies to impart and assess the knowledge that does not rely on reading or writing.

How many meetings are required per month?
We recommend and provide everything you need for three meetings per month: one 90-minute session early in the month with parents only, and two 90-minute community meetings on Wednesday nights.  The 90-minute parent/adult session catechizes parents and helps them to deepen their knowledge of the Faith. Entire families attend the 90-minute community meetings, which are meant to help ensure accountability and build community through games and other family activities.

What tools does the program offer to ensure accountability?
The program offers several options, along with a planning worksheet for parish teams to determine how they will build accountability. For example, families are given a year-long project that they will add to each month; catechists may require parents to bring these projects in occasionally to check progress. Community meetings begin with a Q & A session with children, which gives the catechist a chance to assess the knowledge of individual children. Finally, the last session of each year features a fun and interactive game with dozens of questions covering content from the whole year. 

What about First Penance and First Holy Communion?
Sacramental preparation has always been the responsibility of the Parish.
Specific preparation to receive these Sacraments is separate from A Family of Faith, additional information will be provided. However, families who have children that will receive one of these Sacraments in the next two years should be enrolled in either A Family of Faith or be enrolled at Saint Andrew School.

Who is running this program?
A team of over a dozen volunteers from the parish is coordinating A Family of Faith. Thank them when you meet them at parent sessions and community gatherings, and pray for them as you benefit from all of their hard work behind the scenes.

How will I know my children are learning?
You will undoubtedly see your children learn as they memorize Scripture verses and are able to define keywords of our Catholic Faith. Children will demonstrate in conversations their understanding of concepts of the Faith, and you’ll see them begin to live their faith through service projects, an enriched prayer life, and a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ. The child’s desire to know, love, and serve Jesus is proof that they are learning and becoming a disciple of Christ.

Is there a cost for registration?
Yes, we believe this investment by each family will make a big return, while also encouraging a family's ongoing involvement. The annual fee of $50 per child, covers the cost of the books used for the program (maximum $150 per family.) Other supplies and materials are provided on the parishs' very tight budget!
Please know that no family will be turned away because of an inability to pay.