Catons Corner: September 2024
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It can be easy to be discouraged about raising children in the faith in today’s world. You’ve probably seen the news stories about how many young people are leaving the practice of the faith in early adulthood. And with the media constantly bombarding us with messages that are counter to the message of the Gospel, it can feel like an impossible task to help our children become adults who live the faith.
There is good news, however, that you might not see when scrolling through your social media pages. The truth is that families can do something simple that can make a world of difference in the faith lives of their children.
If you want your children to grow up to be faithful, one of the best things you can do is to have spiritual conversations with your family at home.
This is the conclusion of a University of Notre Dame researcher who studied families and looked at what factors led to children keeping their faith when they left the home. The results were clear: families who talked with their children regularly about faith and morals were far more likely to produce children who remained faithful in adulthood.
This research supports the church’s long-held teaching that parents are the first and primary educators of their children in the faith.
It doesn’t have to involve a major time commitment, but it does take intentionality. Build time in the day for prayer or conversation–in the car on the drive to school, around the dinner table, before bedtime. When your children tell you about their day—good or bad–help them think about it through the lens of faith. Maybe it’s a prayer of thanksgiving for a good day. Maybe it’s a reminder to act with love, even when dealing with “drama” among classmates. Maybe it’s inviting the Holy Spirit to help when a child is struggling with an assignment. These small moments can have a major impact on your child’s future.
Blessed Sacrament offers support in helping families foster faith at home. “Root” is an experience that combines guided family meetings at home with monthly Sunday meetings with other families. It provides all the materials you need to begin having intentional conversations with your children about faith and morals. Everyone is welcome, but for those families who would like their child to receive First Communion in the 2025-26 school year (that is, current first graders), participating in Root is a new requirement. Contact the parish office to register.
As we begin a new school year, I want to challenge our families to find ways to engage their children in regular conversations about faith and morals. I have no doubt that these few minutes each day will lead to incredible blessings for your children and your entire family.
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