January 28, 2018 - "Practicing Our Faith at Home - Primary/Elementary School Level"

Two weeks ago I gave some advice to parents of children who are of kindergarten age (4-5) about activities that they 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 to give similar advice to the parents of children who are in primary or early elementary school level.  This would include students in the first, second, and third 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.  At the primary or early elementary school level, these are things that parents could do as a family to strengthen the teaching of the Knowledge of the Faith in their homes.  Parents of primary-grade children provide the most powerful influence on forming the faith of their children by living out their own faith with consistency and joy.  Children experience God’s loving presence in the everyday care and nurturing provided by their parents.  Families can also engage in primary-age actions and discussions of the Catholic faith.  When children hear about the faith but do not see it lived out, they question its importance.
 
Key Element II:  Liturgy and Sacraments.  At the primary or early elementary school level, these are things parents can do as a family to strengthen the teaching of the Liturgy and Sacraments in their homes.  Parents educate and prepare the primary child for the first celebrations of the sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation and Eucharist by connecting daily experiences to Gospel teachings and their own experience of these sacraments.  Families participate at Sunday Mass with the parish community and discuss the meaning of symbols.   Simply talking about the readings at Mass is a powerful tool to begin to engage your child more in the liturgy.
 
Key Element III: Morality.  At the primary or early elementary level, these are things that parents can do as a family to strengthen the teaching of Morality in their homes.  Parents are responsible for forming a child’s conscience through age appropriate instruction in right and wrong actions.  Children will also notice the actions of their parents and other responsible adults and ask why they acted as they did. Parents have the opportunity to shape their child’s view of the world and actions of people.
 
Key Element IV:  Prayer. At the primary or early elementary level, these are things that parents can do as a family to strengthen the teaching of Prayer in their homes.  Families help children memorize traditional prayers such as the Our Father and Hail Mary through repetition.  The family can pray together regularly at mealtime, bedtime, and special seasonal observances and to commemorate significant life events.  The model of a parent in prayer can be the most inspiring catechesis on prayer a child will receive.
 
Key Element V:  Education for Living in the Christian Community. At the primary or early elementary level, these are things that parents can do as a family to strengthen the teaching of Education for living in the Christian Community in their homes.  Living Christian community life does not happen spontaneously, it must be taught carefully.  Children are like apprentices learning at the feet of the master carpenter, Jesus Christ, who has shared this task with parents.  Parents model the Christian virtues to their children and how to act in public settings with love and compassion.
 
Key Element VI:  Evangelization and Apostolic Life. At the primary or early elementary level, these are things that parents can do as a family to strengthen the teaching of Evangelization and Apostolic Life in their homes.  Parents influence their children through the witness of their lived faith expressed in integrity and service.  Children are made aware of service and Catholic social teaching through inclusion in service projects when this is possible.  Issues related to justice, peace, respect for life, and other moral issues are discussed routinely around the dinner table or elsewhere at a level understandable to the primary age child.  To make service projects more meaningful for primary children, it is useful to help them process the experience.  These projects teach children to think of others and prepare them for serving/evangelizing others through word and action.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John