Families Forming Disciples

Faith Formation During COVID-19: Planning for ‘20-’21

The Big Picture

•Responding to a crisis – a unique situation – yes•Triage

•Adaptation

•Creativity

The Big Picture

•But also … a great opportunity•To pilot change strategically•To engage families in renewed ways•To respond to the pastoral plan, to our Holy Father(s), and to the data•To refocus on the goal of faith formation

The crucial location where youth’s religious

outcomes are largely decided is not the

congregation or the parish,

but the home.

Families Forming DisciplesA hybrid, family-focused approach to faith formation

• See Planning Ahead recommendations: https://archatl.com/come-holy-spirit-fill-and-renew-us/families-forming-disciples/planning-ahead/

• Hybrid, family-focused, thematic-activity approach

• where groups of families meet with catechists online and/or in-person to encounter the Lord together

• and to encourage each other to live as the Domestic Church in and through their home and family life.

Families Forming DisciplesA hybrid, family-focused approach to faith formation

Goal: More families praying

together and growing as disciples.

Families Forming DisciplesA hybrid, family-focused approach to faith formation

Objectives:• NOT to burden parents with more school work

• NOT to water down faith formation (the content of the faith remains unchanged)

Families Forming DisciplesA hybrid, family-focused approach to faith formation

Objectives:

• Accompany families through an unprecedented time

• Support parents to learn and live the liturgical year within their homes with their children

•Help families strengthen their relationships with each other, with the Lord, and with their Catholic community

Families Forming DisciplesA hybrid, family-focused approach to faith formation

A 3-Week Model (Per Month)

•Weeks 1 & 3: Virtual gatherings of families with catechists (40 min. lessons)

•Week 2: Families at-home activities

•Daily and weekly family prayer commitments (simple but meaningful)

•Sacramental preparation will need particular attention

Week 1: Virtual Gathering of Families

• Welcome and Prayer

• Ice breaker

• Teach main concept

• Facilitate discussion/questions within families (mute everyone for privacy)

• Large group sharing (unmute)

• Assign Mission/Discipleship Activity

• Provide models/ideas for family-sharing session

• Reminder about next gathering of families to share their experiences

• Close in prayer

Week 2: Families At-Home

Time for families to:

•Carry out the Mission/Discipleship Activities together

•Prepare to share at the next online gathering

Week 3: Virtual Gathering of Families

• Welcome back and prayer

• Ice breaker

• Review main concept

• Families share their experiences

• Facilitate new discussion of questions with large-group sharing about their experiences doing the Mission/Discipleship Activity

• Close in prayer

• Lessons being prepared (English and Spanish)

• Resources being added to website: https://archatl.com/come-holy-spirit-fill-and-renew-us/families-forming-disciples/

• Faith Formation Survey: archatl.com/ofdnow

Challenge and hope

If children do not “see” Catholicism in the “face” of their parents, they will likely never gain sufficient familiarity with it to commit to practicing the faith in the long run.

Horizon of Hope: Key Takeaways

1. Parents should be informed of their role and empowered, not intimidated

2. Parishes, clergy, and religious professionals are as necessary as ever

3. [Catholic] cultural opportunities need to be available for the enhancement of Catholic family life