Diocesan initiative helps parents reclaim their role as the first teachers of the faith

When parents pray with their children, talk about God around the dinner table or bring their family to Mass, they do more than teach religious practices. They help shape a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ.

For generations, the Catholic Church has recognized parents as the primary educators of their children in the faith. While parish faith formation programs play an important role, they are most effective when what children learn at church is reinforced at home through prayer, conversation and daily family life.

Recognizing the critical role parents play in passing on the faith, the Office of Christian Formation joined 20 other dioceses across the United States in the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership’s Parents and Families at the Center of Faith Formation project.

Supported by a $2 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., the three-year initiative is helping parishes strengthen families as the primary place where faith is nurtured and lived.

Nine parishes across the Diocese of St. Augustine are participating in the initiative.

The project is built on a simple but powerful belief: faith formation is most effective when the entire family is engaged, not just the children enrolled in parish faith formation classes.

Through workshops, resources and collaboration with dioceses across the country, participating parishes are exploring new ways to strengthen faith at home and create parish communities that intentionally support parents in their vocation as the first teachers of the faith.

The initiative is rooted in a simple truth: children are most likely to embrace the faith when they see it lived by the people they love and trust. By supporting parents and engaging entire families, parishes are helping create a stronger foundation for lifelong discipleship.

Across the diocese, participating parishes are already seeing encouraging results.

At St. Matthew Parish in Jacksonville, parents are taking a more active role in sacramental preparation. Parent volunteers now help lead preparation sessions alongside catechists, giving families the opportunity to learn, discuss and experience the faith together. The experience has helped many parents become more comfortable talking about their faith and modeling it for their children.

At St. Anastasia Parish in St. Augustine, monthly family gatherings known as “Cafés” invite parents and children to experience different forms of Catholic prayer together. Families have explored prayer through sacred art, created family prayers, participated in child-led rosaries and spent time together in Eucharistic Adoration.

At Queen of Peace Parish in Gainesville, a family-centered approach to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults adapted for children and youth brings entire families together for mini-retreats that include prayer, catechesis, sacramental preparation and faith-sharing. The experience reinforces that faith is not simply learned in a classroom but lived together at home.

Meanwhile, St. John the Baptist Parish in Atlantic Beach has shifted from a child-centered religious education model to one that considers the needs of the entire family. The result has been greater participation, more flexible scheduling and stronger engagement through monthly family-centered events.

While each parish has developed its own approach, they all share the same goal: helping parents and families encounter Christ together and making faith a natural part of everyday life.

As the project continues, diocesan leaders hope the lessons learned through the initiative will encourage even more parishes to strengthen family-centered faith formation and support parents in their essential role of passing on the faith to the next generation.

The initiative also connects participating parishes with innovative ideas being developed by the other 20 dioceses involved in the project, allowing them to share successful models and learn from one another as they strengthen family faith formation.

To learn more about the Parents and Families at the Center of Faith Formation initiative and explore ideas being shared by the 21 participating dioceses, visit www.ncclcatholicfamilies.org.

Erin McGeever is the diocesan director of Christian Formation. To learn more and obtain resources, email EMcGeever@dosafl.com or call (904) 262-3200, ext. 118.