The Religious Formation of the Children and Youth of the St. Catherine Laboure Parish family
We live in historic times. Past ways of doing things are no longer the standard of our lives. It is precisely in such unprecedented times that new ways of doing things can spring forth with new opportunities. I believe that the current restrictions imposed upon our parish due to Covid 19 have opened a way to move forward that we have already been moving toward over the past two years: family based faith formation. Soon you will be hearing more about family based faith formation from Mrs. Leslie Reagle. I place my full trust in the direction that Leslie has been taking our faith formation programs. On the day of your child's baptism, the heavenly Father placed his full trust in you to raise your child to know his Son Jesus and to be a full and active participant in the sacramental life of the Church. Now is the time for you to renew your sacred promise to the heavenly Father. I too, place my full trust in you as a parent in this most sacred and important task. So let us move forward not in fear but in full confidence that you can do this. I give you my promise that Mrs. Reagle and myself will be with you to assist you every step of this 'new way' of faith formation.
The Domestic Church
1657 (Catechism) It is here that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way "by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity."170 Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment."171 Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous - even repeated - forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life.
Faith Formation is a term that envisions a process of formation in faith from birth to death. It is a lifelong process. Faith Formation encompasses all ages - infants, children, youth, young adults, adults, elderly. It brings all participants into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ by bringing all the faithful together to learn, share and participate in the Catholic Church. Faith Formation means that we are always learning through the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, prayer, liturgy and God’s presence in our lives