We launched our renewed “Family Faith Formation” program with great joy last Sunday with a Family Session for our youngest children and families – our “Mustard Seeds” in Grades K-2.
Kelly Meraw, Director of Pastoral Care and Liturgy, opened the packed session by welcoming everyone and explaining a little bit about what Family Faith Formation is and why parishes around the Archdiocese and across the country are moving to this model.
She emphasized that Family Faith Formation is not about expecting parents to be “CCD teachers” at home – it’s a way to shift faith formation to be more conversational, to be something that is baked-in to everyday life.
“One of the goals,” she said, “is to encourage talking about God, having conversations about the faith, every single day, in the midst of your ordinary stuff… so conversations about God can be more natural in your home.”
Fr. Jim then offered a “Focus on Faith” reflection on this month’s theme of “The Liturgical Year,” explaining the different seasons in the Church year, culminating in a parent/child demonstration of the vestments for each season!
The children then joined Linda Messore, Director of Children’s Faith Formation, and her team for activities related to the liturgical year.
Sr. Colleen Gibson, Pastoral Coordinator, talked with parents about the centrality of family participation at Mass each week, listening together to the stories that Jesus told and then talking at home about what everyone heard in the readings and saw at Mass, planting small seeds of faith that will grow over time.
Kelly and Sr. Colleen also answered some of practical questions about the books for at-home learning (every child receives a book for their grade-level) and where to find the at-home chapters and recordings for each session (on the Family Faith Formation page)
The session ended with everyone back together, with Fr. Jim reminded us that this is also about building community, about coming together with friends and neighbors and together celebrating our faith as a Church family and in our own families.
Mustard Seeds Families: The recording and At-Home chapters from the October 5 session can be found here. If you missed the session on October 5, come to the Loaves & Fishes session on October 19!