Welcome to
Southwest Cluster
Resources for Directors, Coordinators & Catechists
of Catholic Faith Formation
Family Faith Initiatives
Getting Families Involved -
The Great Challenge!
We all strive to figure out ways to bring our Catholic Families into the mix of Faith Formation. It can seem like a daunting task. But the truth is that there is no one magic solution. It is a combination of offering a variety of programming and repetition.
Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it. - Proverbs 22:6
Ideas:
2nd Sundaes: After mass have a 10-15 minute topic to discuss followed by an ice cream social. Pre-pack ice cream scoops put out toppings and you have a simple way to engage people with a deepening understanding of part of our faith as well as some fellowship time. While people are seated, have an ice breaker question to get people talking to each other: ie: If Jesus came to your door, what would you feed him?
Stained Glass Scavenger Hunt: Invite the families to stay after Mass to find meaning in your stained glass windows. Maybe offer a small prize to the family that wins, like a free pizza.
Prayer Lessons: Teach a different way to pray: Adoration, Lectio Divina, Prayer Labrynth, Pray in Color(Doodling) etc...
Family Movie Nights: Can do different themes throughout the year, Advent, Lent etc... Where do they see Jesus in the films. Can also work as a YM or RE fundraiser when the older students sell snacks for the movies.
Saturday Advent Art Program: Set up different art projects for each week of the first three weeks of advent. Each week can include a short topic of Advent followed by Reconciliation and Mass.
Living Nativity: Have a living Nativity presented by the upper grades. Invite the parents to experience the Christmas Story in an interactive way. Have the students not acting out scenes prepare a simple spaghetti dinner for the parents and act in service for the evening.