We Begin in Prayer Engage Parents, Form the Family The Engaging and Evangelizing Community Our Desire Let’s Focus Who or what has been good soil for you? To draw people to What hopes and dreams do you have for the families of your parish? Christ through our parish communities, leading them to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Who are the “Nones”? Pew Reform on Religion and Public Life • 10% of Americans are former Catholics Over 30% of • 2.6% of Americans have Americans become Catholic • Current young adults under age are less likely to affiliate with any denomination, 30 are even when compared to other generations unaffiliated when they were young adults. 26 Many who were raised unaffiliated now belong to some religion. “ Catholicism has a higher retention rate Those who join are: than most other religions, (including all • Attracted by religious services/styles of worship Protestant denominations).” (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) • Have been spiritually unfulfilled • Feel called by God "Most who decided to leave their childhood faith say they did so before reaching age 24.” Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life: Faith in Flux 7 8
Painting the Picture Painting the Picture • 13% of Catholic parents and single and live • 68% of Catholic children are not enrolled in religious education with a partner • Most Catholic parents say it is important that their • 9% are single, never married, divorced, child receive First Holy Communion and separated or widowed Confirmation • 2/3 are Catholic and married to a Catholic • Over half of Catholic parents are Hispanic Painting the Picture Painting the Picture • 2/3 or more pray often and pray for their family • Catholic families attend Mass more often • They are most likely to pray during times of crisis, when they feel anxious, or when they feel than the average Catholic population blessed • Over half attend Mass no more than twice a • They are more likely to pray for their family than month; 1/4 rarely attend with their family
Form an Evangelizing Community Calling the Questions What is your greatest challenge in engaging families? What is your greatest joy? Encounter God’s love Accompany One Anther, Bridge Distances The Engaging and Evangelizing Community Form an Evangelizing Community Belonging within the community does make a difference! Bear fruit, be filled with joy! Be sent in mission The Engaging and Evangelizing Community The Engaging and Evangelizing Community
Coach and Partner Our Shared Hope and Goal with Parents Three Models: ✤ • Parents form their own children, using materials designed for this purpose; coaches on hand to help • Faith-filled, faithful parent coaching and formation • Parents are evangelized through their children and are drawn in to small group or adult faith formation, often with teens Engage young people and their families and transform the parish! 41 Keep in Mind Parent lesson plans for page two of the 2 nd Engage Parents: lesson. ✤ “ The seed Follow the numbers. is like • Be clear about expectations: what does it mean to God!” be a part of this community? What does it mean to 1 Pray this with your be a Catholic parent? child, helping them find their way through it as the leader guides you. • Meet spiritual needs: partner with parents and help 2 When the time comes, them focus on what is most important — when we help them identify at least put God first, everything else will fall into place one way in which they can do something to help their faith grow . You should also make a • Give parents the opportunity to contribute, and to commitment and share it with your child. When the do so in meaningful ways time comes, these will be 3 Explain that at Mass the three readings, plus the brought forward. Psalm, are chosen by the Church for us. Show them this outline: www.GrowingUpCatholic.com 1 Reading : Usually from the Old Testament, telling of God’s
What are your hopes and dreams? When you think of your family, what do you hope or pray for? Helping Your Child Grow Up Catholic Compelling Evidence • Those who regularly participate in church services: ◦ Live Longer (7.6 years on average); ◦ Experience less depression, drug use and abuse, and suicide; ◦ Experience a greater sense of well-being, hope and optimism, purpose Soil, Seeds and Bridges and meaning, and self-esteem;
Compelling Evidence Those who are rooted in the faith • Those who regularly participate in church services: community: ◦ Have a greater sense of satisfaction within their families, Are much more likely to be satisfied with closer parent-child relationships; with the circumstances of their ◦ Children exhibit higher performance in school and attain lives.... higher levels of education In other words, they are Wow! ◦ “It may be that religion provides the strongest force available to reverse the powerful trends that are breaking happier! fathers and children apart.” The NSYR So what is a parent to do? • “Contrary to popular misguided Fall in love with Jesus; cultural stereotypes and frequent parental misperceptions, we believe Develop a regular that the evidence clearly shows that rhythm of participation in Mass the single most important social and in the life of your parish; influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their Learn and appreciate the fullness of our faith; parents.” (Soul Searching: the Religious and Recognize the holy, Christ-like potential Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, in every day moments p. 261)
The two main social entities in religious socialization: “First are “Thus whether adults -- particularly parents -- know it or not individual family households where parents predictably do the and like it or not, they are in fact always socializing youth primary socializing. Second are individual religious about religion. The question is never whether adults are congregations , where other adults can exert socializing engaged in religious socialization, but only how and with what influences on youth.” effect they are doing so. (Smith with Snell, Souls in Transition, 286) Build on Your Experience Let’s Keep it Simple • How did you come to faith in Christ, or grow in faith • Pray together! over time? ◦ Sunday Mass ◦ Did your family pray together? Attend Mass together? ◦ Seasonal Prayer ◦ Were there family or neighborhood celebrations? Birthdays, ◦ At home feasts or seasons of the Church year (Advent, Christmas, ◦ Let your children know the importance of prayer in your Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, May Crowning, etc.) life ◦ How did you learn to pray, acquire basic beliefs, or develop ◦ Read the Bible skills in faith-influenced decision-making? ◦ Are you still learning and growing in faith? • Play together! ◦ At home and with your faith community
Let’s Keep it Simple Let’s Keep it Simple • Talk with each other • Have Supper! ◦ Share religious • Recognize the holy in experiences everyday moments ◦ Read sacred scripture ◦ When do you forgive ◦ Ask your children another? what they think, where ◦ How do you express their challenges are, love, care, what they dream of compassion? • Continue to grow “These little gestures are those we Like the warm supper we look learn at home, in the family; they get forward to at night, the early lunch lost amid all the other things we do, awaiting someone who gets up early yet they do make each day different. to go to work. Homely gestures. Like They are the quiet things done by a blessing before we go to bed, or a mothers and grandmothers, by hug after we return from a hard day’s fathers and grandfathers, by children, work. Love is shown by little things, by brothers. They are little signs of by attention to small daily signs tenderness, affection and which make us feel at home. Faith compassion. grows when it is lived and shaped by love.” World Meeting of Families, September 27, 2015 35
What comes to mind? What’s a Parent to Do? Bring liturgy to life and life to liturgy ( Worship ) Connect with the community ( Connect ) Live, learn and teach ( Grow ) Reach out to others ( Serve ) The Growing Young Study An Appreciative Process • 250+ congregations, including Catholic parishes Discover Dream Discern Do • Nominated by Be Be Be realistic Be attentive intelligent responsible denominational leaders What What might What What is working? be? should be? will be? • 40+ congregation interviews • 12 in-person visits • 10,000+ pages of transcripts 22 Adapted from Cooperrider and Whitney, Appreciative Inquiry
Keychain Leadership Six Core Commitments 42 Have Empathy Keychain Leadership for Young People Today Keys refer to the capabilities, power, and access of leaders who carry the potential to empower young people. 43 44
Have Empathy Have Empathy for Young People for Young People Today Today Identity: Who am I? “Tell me more” Belonging: Where do I fit? Purpose: What difference do I make? 45 46 Take Jesus’ Take Jesus’ Message Message Seriously Seriously Young people are drawn to the person and message of Jesus Christ. Christianity can be awkward, but Jesus is compelling.
Fuel a Warm Community Fuel a Warm Community Welcoming. Accepting. Belonging. Authentic. Hospitable. Caring. “Like family.” 49 50 Prioritize Young People and Their Families Fuel a Warm Community 5:1 ratio 51 52
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