February 11, 2018 - "Practing Our Faith at Home - 7th & 8th Graders"

Last week I gave some advice to parents of children who are intermediate elementary school level (grades 4-6) about activities that could do at home to strengthen their understanding and acceptance of the teaching of our Catholic faith in the areas of the knowledge of the faith, liturgy and sacraments, morality, prayer, education for living in the Christian community, and evangelization and apostolic life.  This week I want give similar advice to the parents of children who are young adolescents.  This would include students in the seventh and eighth grades. 
Our parish presents a comprehensive program of faith formation following Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization.  You can read more about our parish religious education program by checking out the following on our parish website:  https://sfadw.org/children-grades-pre-k-8.  There are several key elements to the archdiocesan curriculum.  I’ll suggest some at-home activities for each one of them.
 
Key Element I:  Knowledge of the Faith.  Parents communicate their values to their children through family participation in the life, mission, and work of the parish community.  Frequent reference to Jesus and the Gospels and the Church helps keep them relevant in the life of the young adolescent.  Seventh and eighth graders are ready to start learning more complex teachings of the Church and Christian living.
 
Key Element II:  Liturgy and Sacraments.  Parents set the standards for family involvement in parish liturgical celebrations including attending regularly, speaking positively about them, dressing with care, arriving on time and participating fully.  Family encouragement for young people to take on the responsibility of liturgical ministries is essential in their decision to do so.  Children learn how to fully and actively engage in the liturgy whether they are participating in a ministry or are in the pew.
 
Key Element III: Morality.  As children approach the teen years they are confronted with serious questions about life, love and chastity.  More than ever, they need to know they have a solid foundation they can lean on when pressure is pushing them in a different direction.  Their faith and relationship with the parents ought to fill this need.  Although parents feel like they are being listened to less and less, studies show that children are listening and often act on what they have heard from their parents (this is especially true in the area of chastity).  Parents need to keep discussing Catholic values and moral decision making skills with their children so that they have a compass to follow.
 
Key Element IV:  Prayer. Seventh and eighth graders are becoming more socially aware.  Sometimes this means being hesitant to do or to be seen doing spiritual activities.  Parents should talk to their children about involvement in the Church and community life and why it is important to you that they participate.  Parents should realize that their young people’s feelings are valid while still encouraging them in a positive direction.  Their living a virtuous life will be tested in new and varied ways.  Parents should help their young people to set healthy boundaries and learn ways of dealing with pressures of being a teen.
 
Key Element V:  Education for Living in the Christian Community. As I mentioned above, seventh and eighth graders are becoming more social aware.  Sometimes this means being hesitant to do or to be seen doing spiritual activities.  Parents should talk to their children about involvement in the Church and community life and why it is important to you that they participate.  Parents should realize that their young people’s feelings are valid while still encouraging them in a positive direction.  Their living a virtuous life will be tested in new and varied ways.  Parents should help their young people to set healthy boundaries and learn ways of dealing with pressures of being a teen.
 
Key Element VI:  Evangelization and Apostolic Life.  As children begin to think more deeply about their future, it would be good to help them discern the vocation by discussing a call to priesthood, religious life, and marriage.  Parents should help them to know if they have a calling and to awaken any desires that God may have placed in their hearts.  Not matter what the vocation, parents should let them know that God has a plan for their lives.  Families who open their hearts to those in need, and put their faith into action witness Christian service to the young adolescent child.  Parents help children understand the service they experience in light of Christian teaching and the Gospel.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John