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Second grade catechist Theresa Hoge discusses a biblical story with St. Robert students. As part of an intergenerational religious education program, children participate in age-appropriate classroom discussion and then return for a closing session with their families.(Catholic Herald photo by Sam Lucero
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MILWAUKEE — For several parishes, gone are the days when students, dropped off by their parents, would come to a catechetical class once a week to receive faith formation. Now, for some students and their families, as well as parishioners of all ages, learning about their faith is a group effort
St. Robert, Shorewood began its intergenerational faith formation program, “InLight” Oct. 15. Each monthly session lasts about two hours, not including Mass, and is open to all parishioners. For the first year of the program, each session will focus upon one of the sacraments.
“We’re moving from a child-based religious education program to adult-based,” said Vicky Masse, St. Robert’s director of lifelong faith formation. “We’re asking people from seniors to those with children to come learn about their Catholic faith.”
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Steven Keane and his son Liam listen to a discussion during the intergenerational religious education program at St. Robert School cafeteria Nov. 5. (Catholic Herald photos by Sam Lucero)
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Masse said each InLight program begins with a group prayer and introduction about that day’s theme. Next, the groups break into age-specific groups for discussion and age-appropriate activities. After the break out session, the groups reconvene and share what they’ve learned. The session ends with prayer and Mass. Masse said the InLight program was developed at St. Robert and is modeled after Generations of Faith, a national program.
“Our response has been very positive,” said Masse, referring to the more than 350 people who attended the first session. “People have said, ‘We’ve been looking forward to doing something as a family.’ The children are happy that their parents are with them, even if they’re in a different room. It’s important for children to see their parents doing faith formation, too. It’s quite a change from what we’ve done in the past.”
Masse said the benefits to the intergenerational program are more than simply learning about Catholicism.
“What we hope to find is that people will become closer as a community and the goal is to have people excited about learning about their Catholic faith and tradition,” she explained. “We hope to get people involved as eucharistic ministers and lectors. We’re looking for a spark to generate excitement for being Catholic.”
While many parents may have grown accustomed to dropping their children off for CCD classes, Masse said St. Robert Parish understands they’re asking more from their parish families.
“We’re really asking families to become more involved in the overall faith formation,” she said. “Our focus went from children learning about their faith to adults learning about their faith, too. What the adults learn can be implemented and talked about at home.”
St. Vincent Pallotti Parish in Milwaukee will began its intergenerational faith formation program Nov. 16. The program, Celebrations of Faith, is held once a month in a three-hour session. According to Heather Lukaszewski, St. Vincent Pallotti’s director of religious education, the program is required by all religious education families, but it is also open to all parishioners, and even those thinking about joining the parish.
Celebrations of Faith begins with a group meal provided by the parish. Next, the group learns of the topic and there is discussion. Then there is a break out into smaller groups based on age. Afterward, they regroup for another discussion and end the event with prayer and song.
“We’ll start with a meal at the beginning, just as Christ did,” she said. “We want to include that as part of our mentality. (Participants) will be sitting with other age groups, not just people their own age.”
“The parish feels that there are many benefits to having an intergenerational faith formation program versus the child-only classes, said Lukaszewski.
“The first thing we thought would be most beneficial is that our whole parish community will learn more about their faith instead of just the children,” said Lukaszewski. “We thought if parents were better educated, as well as the parish as a whole, it would create more of a sense of community to the parish.”
Lukaszewski said the transition from weekly classes to a monthly gathering has been well received.
“I’ve heard a lot of positive things about having one session a month so they can save their Sundays for their families,” said Lukaszewski, who said a single dad was happy he could have his child for the Sunday of the class.
St. Anthony on the Lake in Pewaukee has been doing a family-centered faith formation program for 12 years. It meets twice a month at four different times. The group gathers and engages in conversation, then breaks into age appropriate groups followed by the families coming together to work on a project, discuss what they’ve learned, do an outreach project, or participate in their own special prayer service.
“The challenge is to appeal to all age groups, but that’s also the most beneficial,” said Kathie Amidei, the pastoral associate for lifelong faith formation. “Parents are learning beside their children. It shows that after you’re confirmed, you continue to learn about your faith.”
Amidei said the children know more, have a better attitude toward learning and the parents find themselves able to understand and participate in parish life much better.
“(The parents) feel like they belong to the parish rather than just dropping their kids off,” she said.
Amidei said she participated in the program when her children were younger.
“I raised my kids through this program and we had discussions we never would’ve had otherwise,” she said.
Laurie Kish, the archdiocese’s associate director of young adult ministry, sees benefits to parishes hosting an intergenerational catechetical program.
“People in general, especially adults, are hungry to learn more about their faith — why do we do what we do? This is a way to address those needs and hunger,” she said. “Also, parents are looking for ways to connect with their kids and to be able to pray together and really make faith a core of who they are as a family unit. This intergenerational approach begins to address those needs. It also gives families and households the tools to be able to engage in a conversation about faith.”
While Kish sees benefits to the program, she said not to expect the archdiocese to require it at all parishes.
“We’re not going to mandate that all parishes do this; however, we’d encourage parishes to look at ways for families to share faith together, as well as households to share their faith together,” she said.
A Generations of Faith workshop will be held Feb. 15 and 16, 2007. For information visit this link. |
