Coaching Parents to form their own children Whole Family Catechesis.
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Transcript of Coaching Parents to form their own children Whole Family Catechesis.
Coaching Parents to form their own children
Whole Family Catechesis
If you want to read more…
Coaching parents
A plan to have much higher expectations of our parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Goals in this presentation
How can we succeed with restored order of initiation sacraments?
A conversation about the role of parents What should it be? What doesn’t that always happen?
What resources are there to support a greater role for parents?
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Question
What is the toughest aspect of this for you as a parish priest?
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Decree on Bishops, #44From Vatican II
Called for the development of a
Directory to guide Catechesis
International Study Weeks were underway:–Nijmegen, 1959–Eichstatt, 1960–Bangkok, 1962–Katigondo, 1964 –Manila, 1967–Medellin, 1968
Already at that time
A real turning pointShifted from teaching “about religion” to helping folks have an encounter with Christ
The study weeks led to…
A wave of activityaimed at renewing catechesis!
The church makes a shift
‘71: Gen’l Catechetical Directory ‘75: Evangelization in our Time
Evangelii Nuntiandi
‘79: Catechesis Today Catechesi Tradendae
‘88: Catechumenate: RCIA ‘92: Catechism of the Catholic
Church ‘97: Gen’l Directory for Catechesis
Evangelization Today
1975 Pope Paul VI Very concise, very readable
One of the most important documents published in the church since Vatican II!
Evangelization Today
Catechesis in a ministry of the Word “It initiates church members… …into the meaning of Christian signs
and symbols” It assumes that folks have
consciously accepted the proclamation of Christ
Conversion precedes catechesis! Catechesis is Christo-centric
Catechesis in our Time 1979 From Rome Repeats the Christo-centric themes
from EN Focus on catechesis
for the whole community by the whole community
Calls for it to be lifelong
1988
The church…Restored the Catechumenate…after almost 1700 years of decline!
A fantastic, new, and powerfulunderstanding of catechesis emerged!
Followed, in 1992 by…
The Catechism ofthe Catholic Church
The revision of the
General Directory for CatechesisSigned by Pope John Paul II in 1997
Which led to…
Places the catechumenate in a central place and role
Sets the stage for lifelong faith formation for all ages!
The
General Directory for CatechesisIn Plain English
Which led to…
Two Great Goals
Help folks turn their hearts toChrist, discover Christ in theirlives & love the Church…
Evangelization
Offer all members some level ofinstruction in the faith to deepentheir conversion…
Catechesis
We know
More than 90% of adult Catholics are active today because their parents were active only about 10% come to the church
as adults What does this tell us? Parents play THE vital role!
www.PastoralPlanning.com
A timeline to help
until 1960
Formation in the homeMass every week Feasts & SeasonsFasting & abstinenceConfession
Religious Ed: filled in a tiny gap
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A timeline to help
until 1960 1960-70s
The old “Catholic culture” endedTelevision & mediaHuge cultural shift in WestAt Mass less often
Religious Ed: bigger gap to fill www.PastoralPlanning.com
A timeline to help
until 1960 1960-70s 1980-90s
Religion classes at parish or in schools …with the parents mainly absentParticipation in Sunday Mass on the declineHome life more secular & media oriented
Religious Ed: HUGE gap to fillwww.PastoralPlanning.com
A timeline to help
until 1960 1960-70s 1980-90s Today
The numbers tell the truth The leading indicator
“Will they have faith?”
The role their parents played
in their formation.
www.PastoralPlanning.com
We have to help develop
the role of parents.
Two groups of parents
#1 Deeply engaged Active in parish life At Mass every week Household of faith
#2 On the edge of the parish Show up when the kids need it Very tentative about faith Religion not central in life
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These two groups The engaged – only about 16-20%
Still reluctant about formation for their own kids
Believes this is the job of the parish The unengaged – nearly 80-85%
Some are hungry for more But many are distracted so they
don’t even feel the ache or longing… These are the ones we must love the
mostwww.PastoralPlanning.com
The outcome of this:
The passing of faith from Generation to Generation has slowed down or stopped.
Parents tend to remain absent… as long as we agree to do it for
them.
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Many parents Feel un-equipped Don’t know their own faith Haven’t got the fire of faith in
their own hearts
So they drop their kid at the parish
And go shopping
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And we at the parish
We accept these children And we do a pretty good job
But we will always be only the substitutes
Parents form their own kids, even if they don’t take an active role
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Add to that…
Restored order of Confirmation The “carrot” will be gone What will hold them?
If they stayed only for the carrot, Our formation wasn’t working
anyway
We aren’t losing very much
What seems to work
A combination of 3 things: Focus on the goal of
helping people know Christ Coach parents to form their own
kids Participatory liturgy
www.PastoralPlanning.com
From the GDC #53
Conversion is first. It is the full and sincereadherence to the person of Christand the decision to walk in his footsteps.
Faith is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ,the making of oneself a discipleand it demands a permanent commitment
to think, judge, and live like him.
General Directory for Catechesis
www.PastoralPlanning.com
From the GDC #98
What we find at the heart of all catechesisis not a book or a theology system,but a person!
The fundamental task of catechesis is to present Christand everything in relation to him
leading people to follow Christ in their lives.
General Directory for Catechesis
www.PastoralPlanning.com
The Question of the Week
Breaking Open the Word A process used in the RCIA A two step process:
Re-proclaim part of the readings from Sunday Mass
Then ask first: what touched me? what word or phrase did I hear?
Followed by: how does this affect my life?
Year B is available on the
site now -- FREE
The witness of pastors When you share what you believe In simple but honest words Others see belief as more possible
for them
You may need to rehearse or practice this in front of a mirror or with each other.
Living Christ retreats Friday evening and Saturday all day About 30 folks per retreat Leaders and host team from parish Working with your local team
Brendan, Chris et al. Deepen communion with Christ
Grow in your ability to “die in Christ”
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Living Christ retreats Use YOUR leaders Do not make this complicated Start with those in your parish who are
already evangelized through Cursillo or other retreats
Provide follow up Questions of the Week Mini-Course gatherings or bible study Be ready with follow up pastoral care
Resources
There are many resourcesto help you implement this
at
www.PastoralPlanning.com
What seems to work
A combination of 2 things: Focus on the goal of
helping people know Christ Coach parents to form their own
kids Participatory liturgy
www.PastoralPlanning.com
From the GDC #226
The religious awakening which takes place in the home
during childhoodis, simply,
irreplaceable.
General Directory for Catechesis
www.PastoralPlanning.com
From the GDC #227
The local parish must, therefore, help parents
by whatever means works best,to prepare for and assume
their responsibility,of educating their children
in the faith.
General Directory for Catechesis
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Whole Family Catechesis A new form of religious education
One where parents take the lead With their children If parents can’t…
Grandparents Older youth or others from the parish
The parents are the teachers.
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Coach your parents.
When you coach parents to form their own children
The parents also grow in their faith
You can’t just “send home a book” Parents are intimidated It’s not community based
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Coach
To succeed You need 3 things:
#1 Leadership & vision to see the whole picture of what it takes to grow up Catholic
#2 A Parent-friendly resource
#3 Motivate the parents to jump in
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Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Prep for Confirmationand First Communion& Confirmation
Key years after the First Sacraments
Secondary schoolyears
Growing up Catholic
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
A dual approach One avenue for parents who are
active and engaged
Another for those who are on the edge of parish life and faith
These live in a “Catholic” home
Baptism prep materialsfrom a Catholic publisher are
usually enough
The goal here is:Evangelization
Instead of the usual three night prep process,
a three night retreat-like experience
I Claim You for Christ One example of a retreat-like
process
Three sessions Journey of Faith from their own baptism
to the present moment Dying in Christ – Reconciliation Living in Community – Eucharist
A covenant about raising their kids in faith
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Here’s what it looks like
Found on the web site
An E-product
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Post-baptism care
Who stays in touch? Again, a dual approach
More for those who are not engaged than for those who are
Entrusted to Your Care One example of a method for
staying in touch E-product Reproducible Letters, e-mail, calendars, invitations,
& prayers The key: Stay in touch Relationship!
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Who’s got time for this?
Here’s what it looks like
Found on the web site
An E-product
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Prep for early Sacraments
An ideal time to launch coaching Parents expect to be more involved Parents & kids attend together
They work as a family through the lesson.
Here’s one example:
from Growing Up Catholic Sacrament Prep Coaching Notes are all ready to use
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Confirmation before Eucharist
4 Sessions for Confirmation Begin with their own baptism Turn to a treatment on Mary End with a strong understanding of
the Holy Spirit Move on to Eucharist immediately
10 sessions total About one year of work
Growing Up Catholic
Parents and children sit together A strong resource is on the table A Catechist leads the process People called “floaters” are available
keeping an eye out for parent needs
Here’s a picture of the room:
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PrayerTable
FoodFood
Supplies
1 The purpose of exercise is to understand & pray the Our Father.
2 First, read through the words of the Our Father with them. Read one line and invite your child to repeat it after you. Your child should know this prayer by heart. Affirm your child often as he or she learns.
3 Then help your child find the correct meaning of each phrase of this prayer. Draw a line to that. We have given you two clues to get you started. Here’s the key:
1 = 42 = 83 = 1 (given)4 = 7 (given)5 = 26 = 57 = 38 = 99 = 610=10
Creating the Resource
Number the steps Give the answers in a key Do this in a parish gathering Make it interesting and fun
You will discover something:Parents want to do this.
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1 We will now read about how Jesus is our friend, just as a shepherd is to his sheep. Begin by showing your child a Bible. Open it to show them this passage.
2 Tell them that we are going to read this story in words that we understand better.
3 Then close the Bible and ask them to read this passage aloud. Help them when needed. Ask your child to retell this story in his or her own words.
4 Time for a break! Help your child enjoy coloring this image of Jesus and the children.
Coloring time is a good time to be close to your child without necessarily talking about faith.
Don’t be afraid to put your arm around your child during this time.
5 Your child may not be familiar with what shepherds do. Explain that they look after their sheep with tenderness and love. Jesus watches over us that way.
What about Confession?
Growing Up Catholic has a 6-session prep process for Reconciliation
BUT – should you wait until they’re older?
Plus: we must return to this sacrament many times throughout life…
Heartily Sorry
Gathering with all ages to learn about and celebrate Reconciliation
Solemn gathering Solid learning about God’s mercy “Confession” isn’t the only form of
Reconciliation
Often with non-Catholic
spouses present
Here’s what it looks like
Found on the web site
An E-product
Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Prep for Penanceand First Communion
Key years after the First Sacraments
After the Sacraments
Learning Centers for Parents Parents in one room Kids in another
room Prayer Then parents move
between 15-minute quick sessions, coaching them on specific topics of faith
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Centers: Little children Primary school age Secondary age Theological
background Seasonal
suggestions for the Catholic home (Advent, Lent, summer, etc)
After the Sacraments
Very similar to the Growing Up Catholic approach
The goal is to start a conversion about faith that will go home with them
Whole Family Catechesis Parents and
children work together
Sitting at the same tables
They learn about the topic and actually go through a lesson
Coaching Parents
Follow the themes set out by the Church in the GDC:
www.PastoralPlanning.com
RevelationTrinityJesus ChristThe ChurchMoralitySacramentsThe Kingdom of God
ScripturePrayerSocial TeachingsThe MassOur Hunger for GodChastitySin and Grace
Here’s what it looks like
Found on the web site
An E-product
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Another example
Faith on the Run
Parables on the Run
Miracles on the Run
Learn to Love the Saints
One fold fliers E-products: PDFs You print Used to
encourage parents to insert a sacred moment in the busy-ness of life
Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Secondary school years
Prep for Penanceand First Communion& Confirmation
Key years after the First Sacraments
The period of “catch-up”
For children ages 8 thru 12 or 13 Children’s Liturgy of the Word Rooted in Sunday liturgy Excellent resources already exist
For everyone older than 13 or so Mini-Courses on the faith Content & conversion oriented
Mini-Courses
How do they work? Parents and youth sit together Open with something to break the ice Pray as one whole group Then move to small groups
“Active learning” With a strong way of teaching “Learn & Teach”
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Here’s one example Growing Faith Mini-
Courses Short, defined areas of study Combined with faith sharing Usually 6 to 10 sessions per
Mini-Course
For example: What Does God Want?
Living the Commandments
www.PastoralPlanning.com
48 Study Guides
for Learn & Teach are all
FREE
Learn & Teach Break the material into small chunks
and assign each to a small group The group draws out the major points
Creates a one-page flip chart sheet on them which will be presented to all
And prepares one of the points for dialogue in dyads in the larger group
They learn by teaching
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Coaching Parents
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Baptism
The years after Baptism…until about age 5 or 6
Secondary schoolyears
Prep for Penanceand First Communion& Confirmation
Key years after the First Sacraments
To succeed You need 3 things:
#1 Leadership & vision to go forward under this plan
#2 A Parent-friendly resource
#3 Motivate the parents to jump in
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Marketing Try this:
“In today’s world, a lot of people are talking to your children about God…
…Shouldn’t you be one of them? Come to St Mary’s – we’ll show you how.”
Or this: “Give your child what really matters: Share your Catholic faith. Come to St Mary’s – we’ll show you how.”
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Marketing
Don’t be tentative! We’d really like it if you’d take part,
but of course, you don’t really have to…
We don’t want to make you mad or anything, but this is really your job…but of course, we’ll do it for you if you don’t want to…
You get lackluster results.www.PastoralPlanning.com
Marketing
Personal invitations Coming from other parents Changing the ground over time so
all will expect to be involved in the on-going formation of their children
Welcome all to Sunday Mass, Regardless their situation in life
Now…
What does a fullydeveloped parish
look like?
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
The Core Work of the Parish
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardship envelopes& buildings
FormationSac PrepSchools& RCIA
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardship envelopes& buildings
FormationSac PrepSchools& RCIA
The Current Pastoral Plan
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardship envelopes& buildings
FormationSac PrepSchools& RCIA
Parish basedprocess
where folksexperienceconversion
The Current Pastoral Plan
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
The New Pastoral Plan
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardshipenvelopes& buildings
FormationSac Prep& RCIA
Encounters&
Retreats
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardshipenvelopes& buildings
FormationSac Prep& RCIA
Encounters&
Retreats
The New Pastoral Plan
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardshipenvelopes& buildings
FormationSac Prep& RCIA
Encounters&
RetreatsLifelong
Formationto sustainconversion
The New Pastoral Plan
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
Liturgymusic &
devotions
Pastoralcare &
outreach
Stewardshipenvelopes& buildings
FormationSac Prep& RCIA
Retreats&
Encounters
LifelongFaith
Formation
The New Pastoral Plan
www.ThePastoralCenter.com
5 Steps to get rolling: (1) Go home and form a Lifelong Faith
Team Pastor People invested in these age groups
From baptism prep to high school
Key volunteers & Parents (2) Study and read Great Expectations
Hold the discussions Follow the book
Your team’s job:
Plan with you to implement this Recruit new catechists & new assistants for the programs Work with you to schedule and carry
out the various levels of faith formation Organize to invite parents personally
into the process Pray with you for all who come forth
Your next steps…
(3) Use the Planning Guide (free)
What elements of coaching work for you?
What timeline might you follow?
Who needs to be involved?
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Your next steps… (4) Schedule a parent & catechist meeting
Use the Parish Workshop Provided free by us
The Workshop includes: Outline for a two hour workshop Prayer sheets – reproducible Talks and Exercises – all outlined PowerPoint pres ready to use or adapt if you
wish
www.PastoralPlanning.com
To get these FREE tools
The Planning GuideThe Parish Workshop
PastoralPlanning.com Parent Coaching Center (on the home page)
www.PastoralPlanning.com
Get started
(5) Start slowly Sacrament Prep? Baptism?
Keep adding one group after another
Think long termwww.PastoralPlanning.com