Family Faith Formation continued

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Ya, it’s something we’ve discussed but with our boys it’d be way easier for us (and better for them) in a classroom setting.

We pay $125 per kid, so $250 this year. If we stay it’ll be $300 because sacrament years cost more. It’ll be $175 for the middle ones 1st communion year. At some point we’ll have 3 kids in the program (if we stay). The setement from the parents is “that’s a lot of money to do all the work yourself”. Thing is they used to offer so much in their classroom program the cost didn’t seem so bad, but when they switched to the “do it yourself”, the cost of the program stayed the same.
 
It doesn’t seem unreasonable for something classroom based but it does seem a real rip off for DIY. Is it a fee or voluntary contribution? Would a family be turned away from the sacraments for their children if they couldn’t afford it?
 
It’s definitely a fee.

I doubt they would turn anyone away, but I’m guessing there would be some qualifiers there to get reduced or free catechism class.

We never really complained about the fee when it was classroom based because they bussed the kids over from the public school(s), let them play a bit, snack, class and then we had a free will offering meal. That all went away, it became DIY but the price stayed the same. That ruffled quite a few feathers early on so the program never really got off on the right foot to begin with.
 
So if a parish does family faith formation, are there other regular opportunities for the kids to meet each other? If not I feel like they are missing out on making Catholic friends and learning the importance of building community in the parish.

I get that we need to encourage parents to be more involved in faith formation, but putting it all on them seems a bit much. As far as the fee goes, catechists don’t get paid so I guess the cost of materials stays the same. But I didn’t realize parents had to pay anything for religious formation! I assumed it was something the parish covered.
 
I think I would at least want to shop around for education materials if I was expected to do this.
 
The program we are using is from https://www.familyformation.net/ from the Church of St.Paul in MN. It is called ME time - (stands for Monthly Enrichment) - a hybrid between classroom & home teaching, with an adult formation component. We are told that this is the trend & that all the major publishers are scrambling to come up with a family formation program. I have only seen a few publishers with anything at all - most, including the one we are using - are “home-grown”. Sacrament prep for 2nd was completely done by home teaching, with 2 “review sessions” with parents & catechists & no day retreat.

ME time was the only one I researched that included any catechist teaching at all. We had one classroom session with the children while the parents attended a speaker session. The parents were given a take-home packet with 3 home lessons for the following weeks. The take-home lessons were based on the liturgical year & Sunday Gospels. They were not difficult & each packet contained step-by step teaching instructions for the parents - but there was a lot of material to cover in those packets. Some parents are natural teachers & some are not.

We were not short of catechists, but may very well lose many dedicated volunteers next year. The materials & methods are quite different than what had before & it took several months for me to get used to it. There was no requirement for the children to return any of the home lessons to the classroom. I did give an extra “good conduct” ticket to any one who brought something from their home lesson to add to their memory book.

Most Catholic parishes charge a fee for the cost of textbooks, materials & classroom space. In some parishes this is small & in others it is quite substantial, but it is not a foreign concept. At my parish, we use the classrooms in the parish school & the school hall - no one has ever been turned away for inability to pay. Our cost was lowered when we went to the FFF model.
 
Kinda not really. One Sunday a month we have “family day” after Mass where we’re supposed to go through the lessons covered that month. It’s supposed to force us all to A) go to Mass and B) fellowship, but it hasn’t really worked. We usually stay together in our families for the hour and then go home.

The first month the Mass was standing room only. Last couple months family day has been just like any other Sunday. You can show up 5min before and pick where you want to sit.
 
I’ve tried a bit. The program we use isn’t available on Amazon and the publisher won’t sell singles.

It’s kinda like college, they change the curriculum each year so every year we need to buy new materials.
 
Ah, another difference with our monthly program is that it is before Mass. Parents expected to arrive at the hall & bring the children to the classrooms by 8:30 - then go back to the hall. Refreshments from 8:30 - 8:45, then a presentation for the parents - usually a speaker - from 8:45 - 9:45. Children are dismissed to their parents in the hall - in time for the 10:00 Mass. Not everyone stays for Mass, but a lot of them do. For the catechist/teacher - there was a scramble to get the classroom cleaned up & everything out & get the children to the hall by 9:45. Especially for those with children/grandchildren in the program who wanted to attend Mass as a family.

I see that Loyola Press’ Family Formation program is now using a similar model - 1x/month classroom & 3x/month home teaching. But they have grade level student books. Probably more expensive than what we are using. Family Catechesis | Loyola Press
 
My church has a Family Faith Formation Program on Sundays. Some of the parents are embracing it, enjoy the speakers and doing more with their family. Others find the speakers boring and just put in their time and some duck out of the speakers. As for the take home lessons, for some families if feels like another homework.
I personally feel some parents can do this program but not all. Although a parent is the first and primary teacher,
that does not mean they can teach lessons or packets. I wish there was more for those parents and not just one program.
 
Ya, we’re kne of this families that just can’t do it. Our two oldest are so close in age it’s a chore and “more homework” trying to get them to sit down together. With me not being Catholic that just puts more pressure on my wife to do the monthly lessons.

When I got home from work last night she had picked up registration for RE at 2 different parishes. I think we’re one of many families that are going to move on because of the program.
 
I would have been a nightmare at that age if given extra homework but I did enjoy the monthly classes. I hope you find something that suits your family.
 
The program we have has a guest speaker on a topic for the parents and the same topic for the children, that way conversations about the same topic can happen easily. Students are grouped over grades, say K-3 and 4-6, so siblings could be in the same classes, have the same catechist and learn the same on topics. However, it seems that parents don’t want the children together. Many in the program still feel the differences of learning at each grade level along with sibling rivalry will occur. Some grades are easier to combine, like 1 and 2 or 2 and 3, but pre readers like K is harder to combine, for pictures and more hands on is a better learning tool for them. So that works for one lesson and to help get conversations started. However, the other is where homework starts, and I feel for the parents. I think there are many tools parents have to employ, do not know about or just can not do because of who they are that would help. Some include bedtime stories on the topics, dinner time discussions, scavenger hunts, field trips or games. I am a catechist and my children are grown and not in this program, but I have home taught at times and really understand with all my heart how hard it can be for some. This program is great for home schooled children for the parents know what to do or how to break it down. For the average person, a little is fine but not so much each month. I want more for the families, more ideas of how to start topics, how to learn together without knowing they are doing it and just more help in general instead of packets given out. So I am sorry for those who are having difficulties, but I can not make the changes or influence others to do it, for those in charge know best. I truly want to spread the Good News of Jesus.
I hope some of my ideas can be useful and informative. In the meantime I will pray for all as I do pray for all my students, past and present.
 
I am the director of youth ministry at my parish and am thinking of adding some adult faith formation for parents. But it won’t be a FFF program and it will be voluntary. We have parents who drive a bit of a distance and hang around for youth group to finish. So we will offer something for them to do. Our parish has Formed so they would be able to do some studies on there or they can do a book study or a bible study. We can pray that it becomes a popular feature for parents and more will come.

I think if I were to add a FFF program I would get resistance, but doing a casual thing may fly better.
 
How great to consider the parents and their needs! The parents of the Confirmation Candidates are asked to stay for the guest speakers during the FFF time. I like your flexible ideas and wish you luck.
 
Thanks, hope so too.

The only reason my wife switched to membership at this parish was for the convenience of the prior RE program. The convenience of the program really negated the high cost.
 
Last monthly ME time session for this school year will be this coming Sunday. Topic is Mary. I have lots of extra material, but will follow the lesson plan, with one or two extras as time permits
 
We had our last “family day” this past weekend.

My wife said a grand total of 15-17 families were “represented”. She’s still not sure what we’re going to do next year. We may just get our 1st grader through 1st communion there next year, not enroll our 3rd grader and re-evaluate after next year.

It’s too bad, I think the DRE and staff see that this program is bombing but their hands are tied.
 
What an awkward situation, I guess the priest who brought it in doesn’t want to admit he was wrong.
 
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