Yes. We will be meeting on the second Sunday of every month as a whole family and parish community. If the Wednesday evening time worked well for your family, keep that time open and sit down at home as a family to do the lessons or activities so you keep the consistency.
Although it is important to learn facts and memorize prayers, the main intention of teaching faith to the children is helping them see their faith as a relationship with God and become the disciples He calls each of us to be. We believe this program will be able to create those disciples and saints that the world desperately needs.
The beautiful truth is that God entrusted you with these children and knows you are well equipped and has given you this parish to walk with you!
"Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues." Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2223
The program we provide Sophia Institutes’ A Family of Faith is easy-to-understand content, no prep needed ahead of family faith time, step-by-step instructions for each activity, helping you to gain knowledge of the faith and confidence as you teach it. Children ask amazing questions. If a question is asked that you are uncertain of the answer, know that St. Pius X faith formation team is committed to walk with you and your family. We are here to help you along the way in this journey of faith!
In short, the answer is no! The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:
"Family catechesis precedes, accompanies, and enriches other forms of instruction in the faith. Parents have the mission of teaching their children to pray and to discover their vocation as children of God. The parish is the Eucharistic community and the heart of the liturgical life of Christian families; it is a privileged place for the catechesis of children and parents." (emphasis added) Catechism of the Catholic Church,#2226
To learn more about this privileged place of the parish in the formation of adults, please see this video by Fr. T.J. CLICK TO WATCH SPECIAL MESSAGE TO PARENTS FROM FR. T.J. - WHY FAMILY FORMATIon
No! There are two lessons to complete each month at home, along with a variety of family and child activities. Family formation at-home lessons are completed as a family – all together – all at one time! There are not separate lessons for each grade level. Each lesson takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
We understand that there are many obligations pressing on parents and family. Another benefit of A Family of Faith is that it is more flexible for family schedules and enables parents to adapt the family lessons for their children, who they know so well.
Spirit Sundays help guides parents into a conversion to Jesus Christ, which is beneficial to the parish, but most of all to the children they are raising.
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other important adults in the children’s lives are also welcome to join and support these children in their formation.