January 7, 2018 - "Practicing Our Faith in Our Homes"

As we begin this New Year I want to begin a series in which I discuss some things that parents can do to strengthen the knowledge and practice of the faith in their homes.  As a basis for these reflections, I am going to use a tool that the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education prepared in 2011:  Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization.  Here is the link for those who want to read the whole document:  http://adw.org/forming-disciples/.
 
Today I intend to provide some ideas for the parents of preschool children.  Many parents have asked for suggestions on ways they can strengthen the knowledge and practice of the Catholic faith in their homes.  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 of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of the Knowledge of the Faith at home. Children are made by God to love and receive love.  The first order of catechesis, or religious instruction, then, is an education in love.  Parents can stimulate awareness, awe, and joy for life in the preschool child through nurturing loving relationships and life’s precious moments together.  Noticing the beauty of God’s creation in nature and exposing children to religious symbols can be particularly illuminating.
 
Key Element II:  Liturgy and Sacraments.  Parents of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of Liturgy and Sacraments at home. Parents teach young children the meaning of family and ritual.  Participation in family rituals (such as bedtime rituals, family prayer, seasonal celebrations) by preschoolers can form the basis for their future understanding of worship.  Attending Mass with children is an excellent opportunity to teach them about the various religious signs and symbols.   
 
Key Element III: Morality.  Parents of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of Morality at home.  Parents help children to learn to love as Christ loves.  This moral formation begins in the home through parental age appropriate example and through opportunities to teach young children the difference between right and wrong.  Even at this young age, children learn there are consequences to their actions for good or for ill.
 
Key Element IV:  Prayer. Parents of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of Prayer at home.  Families pray simple prayers with children and establish patterns of prayer that are comfortable for them as a family. Spontaneous prayer, meal prayers, bedtime prayers, and prayers at special family times are all excellent ways to introduce prayer to the preschool child.  At this young age, teaching children rote prayers like the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be are learned through repetition.
 
Key Element V:  Education for Living in the Christian Community. Parents of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of Education for Living in the Christian Community at home.  Parents model community life to their young children through active participation in parish life.  Even simple actions, like talking to the priests or other parishioners after Mass, show children the value of community life.  Setting aside time to be with preschoolers to share the events of the day, to hug them, and to listen carefully to them are ways parents nurture the faith of the child by being models of loving service and care.
 
Key Element VI:  Evangelization and Apostolic Life. Parents of preschool children might consider the following ways to strengthen the teaching of Evangelization and Apostolic Life at home.  An apostolic life is passed on in its practice.  A sense of security and trust in the home are of vital importance as a basis upon which faith builds.  It is from this basis of love and trust that children will acquire later in life a desire to reach out to others to share their faith.
 
Until next week,
Fr. John