Echo the Journey

Encouraging Families and Children to Attend Mass

from notes at Pray, Play, and Plan, May 2010

Suggestion:  Family Masses – Two times a year

   Children participate

   Spirit awards – service

   Children sing childrens Mass (choir)

  Triduum-

   Invite families to attend Holy Thursday Mass

   Feet washing ceremony

   Adoration – 1 hr.

   Good Friday – 6^th graders can be involved in service

   Sat Vigil – confirmation class should attend, be involved

   Palm Sunday procession

   Covenant signing

   Invite children from each grade with family to attend one liturgy.  Readings sent home prior to their Mass time

   Children/Families as Greeters

   Service projects

   Invitation from child support

   In-Class

   Question on the Gospel—Answer at home, Bring back to class.  Good Resources from Phlaum Publishing – Gospel Weeklies – order – incorporate cost in tuition

   “Bring a friend to church” week

   Family masses on Holy Days – Mass Intentions

PPP Getting Families Involved with Parish Events?

Plan events carefully and advertise a lot

Don’t judge by numbers – teach, it’s not a numbers game

Possible time for event—Before evening Sat Mass (or after?)

Offer AFF during children’s class time for parents who are waiting around

Corpus Christi – Give 2^nd graders a good reason to come to Mass.  Have them scheduled to DO something

Special events with children draw parents (Blessing of animals) – bring donation for shelter, walks for hunger, prayer walk (for whole family)

Some will tell others about it for next time, so the program will build

RE Carnival – each class has a stand – then Mass

Ash Wed. -> 4:30 – 5:30 stations by children

   5:30 Soup supper

PPP Listening to God – How do we get the kids to not just yap at God, but listen?

Noisy Society – we need to give them quiet times, space, atmosphere, mats out in sanctuary, music, time to reflect

Suggestion from St. Alphonsus, Hopewell.  Teach children: go one by one into church to music, sit alone, get used to quiet, sign of the cross, genuflecting, etc.

Time for prayer – repetition, scripture each time, quiet, journaling

Children lead Lord’s Prayer – they listen, repetitive,

meditations during retreats, prayers in other language, signing

They enjoy quiet

5 min at start of class

 

PPP Providing Meaningful Learning Experiences For Parents

from notes taken at Pray, Play, and Plan, May 2010

1 Replace AFF & Rel. Ed. with Intergenerational Ministry

2 Can we ask for Commitment from Parents?

  What happens if parents don’t commit?

3 Pastor involvement: Some Pastors don’t think we can ask for parent accountability.  Other Pastors do try to make them accountable

4 Will Diocese back us up when we ask for accountability?

5 How do we determine if they are ready to receive the Sacrament or not?

4 How can we provide programs that we are supposed to – without the support of parents, staff, leadership?

  Thought: Teaching Masses.

   Start slowly – Create opportunities to learn then add additional elements.

   Everyone – mandatory attendance. (Instead of Rel. Ed. Class)   

  Thought: Why are we inviting? Instead, they are obligated – It is the Parent’s obligation to be the Primary Educators

Education of the Parents is the Most Important.  If Parents don’t understand the importance – then it won’t work

Families and The Sacramental Journey!

  Different family structures—families feel excluded if it is not a “traditional” family

  Should we use the phase “Inter-Generational” instead of family

What if:

  You could do whatever we wanted to prepare for First Holy Communion. and not put them in a classroom until after F.H.C. – 3^rd grade?

How would we Boldly – Go ->

  Keep the families together

  Centered around Liturgy

  Activities -> Food

  Sharing Meals

  Prayer Rituals

The best way to teach the Mass is by attending Mass.  Make every gathering centered around Liturgy

PPP- Providing Meaningful Experiences for Parents

 

Notes from a discussion of catechetical leaders of Trenton at annual Pray/Play/Plan (May 2010)

Students can create ceramic chalices as a keepsake.  Pastor blesses them. (for more info contact Barbara Hardiman @ OLPH, Highlands

Parent/Student Confirmation Retreats led by Colleen Raynor & Sr. Michelle Lesher SSJ 732-751-1949.  The retreat is 4 hrs.

"Family Faith Matters" have gathering for parents 1X/month during children's classes.  ask what they would like to learn about.

Family Picnic for all families or just one grade level

PLEASE ADD YOUR OWN SUGGESTIONS AS A COMMENT

Connecting Catholics Families with the Bible

 

Two workshops for Connecting Catholic Families with the Bible were held in early June and drew a combined audience of over 100.  Leif Kehrwahr, the presenter from the Center for Ministry Development, introduced a variety of ways to “connect” the Bible with family faith-life. The offerings made the bible accessible to an average Catholic and demonstrated in word and practice engaging activities for parents to pique the curiosity and participation of younger family members.  Lief also introduced  a new edition of the Bible, The Catholic Faith & Family Bible, published by Harper Catholic Bibles, which incorporated much of what was introduced at the workshop. 

Two examples bring out the thrust of the workshop. 

At our table we envisioned a “family” with a member graduating from high school; at another table a family was envisioned with a member about to deploy to Afghanistan.  Those gathered at the respective tables then chose a scripture, which best suited the emerging need.  Some responded from their background in scripture, others turned to a listing of bible passages available in the handouts. 

We were given a string of eleven bible passages that embraced the span of salvation history.  Groups were assigned one of these passages with instructions to provide a headline to capture the essence of the story and to create an image or symbol of the passage.  The groups were lined up in historical sequence and shared their presentation.  The story of salvation history with banner headlines and creative images was captured and experienced in a dramatic and memorable way.  

Questions for Reflection, Comment, or Sharing:

How do you draw families into sharing the scriptures with one another?  

If you attended the workshop, share the piece of the workshop you will use in your ministry.

Inviting Children to Share their Faith

As a Catechist you already appreciate the gift of sharing your faith with others. In doing so, you become a witness to your Catholic faith. The fruit of this sharing is a deepening relationship with the Lord and a growing awareness of his living presence.

Inviting your children to share their faith prepares them to move from the classroom to the arenas of their daily life. Perhaps you are already encouraging them to share their faith with one another. Nevertheless, a reminder of the grace of faith sharing may be helpful as you close your school year and ready yourself for a new one.

I have come to believe that faith sharing is a grace inviting me to reflect on those moments that get lost in the whirl of life. Children’s lives move even more quickly than ours and often bury us in their activity. Helping them to capture the moments when God showed up and revealed himself in small and large ways will enable them to grow in relationship and awareness with Jesus.

Where do we start? Faith Sharing Suggestions:

1. Assemble a variety of flowers and plants. Invite the children to notice the varied colors and to feel the different textures. Ask them to share this experience. Reflect together that this flower or plant was once a seed and now is full grown? In what ways do you see yourself and your friends growing? How did all this happen? Where is God or Jesus in these changes?

2. Read 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13. What is the best gift you ever received? Do you still have it? What does it mean to you now? Jesus in this scripture sends the Holy Spirit with these special gifts for our journey with him. What can we learn about gifts from hearing this passage? Prompters: Jesus shared his many gifts! The gifts have purposes! Gifts are to be used! Gifts are not possessions! Jesus gives freely! How freely do I share my gifts?

 

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Faith Enrichment Centers

  
 

The Faith Enrichment Centers are finishing up for the academic year.  Most of the centers have already completed their schedules, but there are still a few opportunities to attend a session.  Coming up:

May 20-  7:oo-9:00 PM  Human Sexuality, discussion led by Mrs. Carol Dunphy, Nativity, Fair Haven (this session was rescheduled from an earlier time)

May 22- 9:30-11:30 am  Liturgy, discussion led by Deacon Dennis Slavin,  Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport

May 22-  12:00 noon-2:00 pm  Prayer discussion led by Deacon Dennis Slavin, Our Lady Queen of Peace, Hainesport

June 26-  Focus: The Wisdom Years: Free to Be  discussion led by Mrs. Janis Bell, St Ann, Lawrenceville

To register please contact Patti beh at pbeh@dioceseoftrenton.org or 609-406-7400 x 5554.

CATECHIST CERTIFICATION ONLINE

     
Been wanting to get certified, but just can't make it to the sessions?  Sessions always at an inconvenient time for you?  Too many time conflicts? 

Then ONLINE CERTIFICATION may be the answer for you.  We still ask everyone to complete Level I in their local parish, but all the rest can be done online.  Currently, The Diocese of Trenton offers TWO different online approaches:

University of Notre Dame STEP program-- Complete one 7-week mini-course "Core Course:  An Introduction to the Catholic Faith" plus any other ND STEP course and you will be fully certified.  Because of our partnership arrangement with ND, you get the courses at a 50% DISCOUNT.  To register, go to HTTP://step.nd.edu, call 866-425-7837, or email stepnd@nd.edu.

University of Dayton VLCFF program-- Complete 5 short mini-courses: Survey of Catholic Doctrine, Intro to Scripture, Sacraments, Intro to Christian Morality, and Praying With Children, and you will be granted full certification.  Because of our partnership arrangement with UD, you get the courses at a DISCOUNT. To register, go to http://vlc.udayton.edu or call 888-300-8436.

If you have questions, or are unable to register online, please call Mike Fabian at 609-406-7400, x 5620, or email mfabia@dioceseoftrenton.org.

Catechist Certification Sessions Spring 2010

Need Catechist Certifcation???

Exciting offerings for parish catechists. For a complete schedule of Spring 2010 courses and locations click on the following link:

http://www.dioceseoftrenton.org/church/docs/FaithEnrichmentCenterBrochure_Spring2010.pdf