What is the most difficult part of this program?
The biggest challenge to families
is simply finding the time to do Family Formation each week. At our
first meeting of the school year, we have parents and children get
together and agree on a time, put it in writing, and commit to setting
this one hour aside each week. For many, the traditional
Wednesday CCD night works because there are typically no other school
activities scheduled at that time. Others choose Sunday afternoons and
use their Family Formation time as part of the way they keep the
Sabbath holy.
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I am a single parent / my spouse
is not Catholic. Will this work for me?
Absolutely! All parents are
given the graces necessary to lead their children to our Heavenly
Father. The additional effectiveness of family-based catechesis is a
wonderful blessing to families in these more difficult situations. The
clear, simple explanations of the faith as presented in Family
Formation lessons are a great way for a non-Catholic parent to learn
about Catholicism and to have their questions answered. Simply
use Family Formation in the same way as other families.
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What is the pastor's role in
Family Formation?
A priest holds a singular position
of authority in a parish and can effectively set a positive tone by his
encouragement and support of Family Formation. Through his
priestly ministry, he is uniquely qualified to remind parents of their
sacramental vows to raise their children according to the faith, and
can remind them of the graces they have to make these sacrifices.
In addition, priests are typically pleased to have the additional,
monthly opportunities for adult catechesis and will often give a
teaching on the monthly topic (or raise up other volunteers in the
parish to do so).
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What if my pastor isn’t supportive?
Obeying legitimate authority is an
important part of being Catholic. If your pastor is not supportive, we
would not recommend using Family Formation as a parish-wide program.
You could, however, still use it with your family through the distance
family program.
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How do you include younger and
older children in the Home Lessons?
Each Home Lesson offers parents a
great deal of flexibility and a variety of activities. This
allows parents, who are the best judges of their child’s needs, skills,
and attention span, to tailor lessons to their family’s needs.
We encourage parents to challenge,
but not overwhelm their children. with younger children to
approach topics at the most basic level knowing that they will be
covered again the next time through the three-year cycle.
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Can you use Family Formation with
high school students?
Family Formation is designed
primarily for use with kindergarten through sixth grade students, but
many families get all their children (including preschoolers and
highschoolers) involved in doing the Home Lessons. The games, stories,
and activities that reinforce each lesson are fun ways for the entire
family to learn, and there are many benefits to having your entire
family learn the faith together.
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What do you offer for sacramental
preparation?
There is a separate Family
Formation program for those preparing for the sacraments of first
Reconciliation and first Holy Communion. Students in our program
(typically second graders), meet at the same classroom time as regular
Family Formation students. Instead of learning about the topic of the
month, they are on a separate track, concentrating on their preparation
for one of these sacraments. Each sacramental prep student purchases a
Family Formation workbook containing
Home Lessons to do with their
parents the other three weeks each month. They prepare for their first
Reconciliation during the fall semester and, after receiving that
sacrament, they prepare for first Holy Communion in the spring.
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Would you recommend offering both
a traditional CCD program and Family Formation to the families in our
parish?
Normally, we recommend offering only one program so as to use the
available resources in your parish most effectively. In making the transition, some parishes have found
it effective to choose a small number of committed families to use Family Formation on a pilot-program
basis for a year. The following year, these families are able to work with the priest/DRE as advocates
of Family Formation, giving testimony to its effectiveness to the other parents in their parish.
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How can parents who aren’t
adequately catechized teach their children the faith at home?
Parents do not have to be experts
in the faith to use Family Formation. Each lesson is written at an
elementary school level, and is easily understood by everyone. By
simply spending a small amount of time in preparation each week,
parents can become familiar with the topic in the upcoming lesson.
Additional references from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic
Church are given for those interested in further study. One of the
richest blessings of Family Formation comes as families learn about the
beauty and truth of the Catholic faith together. Many parents have
testified to the fact that, through Family Formation, they have come to
learn and understand the Catholic faith for the first time.
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What do you do with parents who
are resistant to the idea of teaching their children at home?
Even the least committed Catholic
parents have an interest in their child’s religious formation. By
making Family Formation the only option in your parish, families are
compelled to try it, and most will soon see the effectiveness of the
program. Also, do not underestimate the value of having your parish
priest’s support. His enthusiastic endorsement of family-based
catechesis from the pulpit and at your classroom lesson times will
convince many families to give it a try. Personal contact by the
DRE or another enthusiastic parent could help to encourage them through
difficulties.
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What about children who go to
Catholic schools?
Faith formation at home is
critical, regardless of a child’s school environment. By using
Family Formation, a family can grow together in their faith, and the
shared faith experiences offered make for many teachable moments
throughout your lives. Children receive significant lessons in
the importance of continual education in the faith as they see their
parents giving priority to their own progress. At every age,
growth in our faith is important!
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How many workers are necessary to
implement Family Formation in a parish?
The number of workers will vary with the size of your program, but in general you will
need prayer support, classroom teachers, musicians willing to lead praise and worship, monthly adult speakers, nursery
workers (if nursery is offered), people to pass out home lessons, a principal, and an overall coordinator. All members
of the body of Christ are endowed with unique gifts to be used for His service. As with many areas of parish life, this
principle is important in making your Family Formation program a success. Encouraging parishioners to use their
gifts in service of the Church's educational mission is important to your program and to their individual Christian growth.
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