From the Heart of the Shepherd
From the bulletin for The Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2026 September 06)
A NEW VISION FOR FAMILY FAITH FORMATION AT ST. MARK’S
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when most of my workday transpired in the Rectory third floor office, I participated (not sure why) in “Think Tank” led by the PES Sisters regarding family ministry at St. Mark’s. The fruit of those conversations involving PES members, parish staff, and St. Mark’s parents, was to transform our Faith Formation ministry into Family Faith Formation, adopting a program developed at the Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake. The goal was to better serve our children and families and empower parents to embrace their vocation as primary educators in the faith.
Practically speaking, it meant that instead of parents of public school children dropping their kids off at a weekly Wednesday night catechesis program (the old “CCD” model), once a month parents and children came together to St. Mark’s to learn about the Faith, so that during the rest of the month parents and children could continue to grow together in their knowledge of Christ at home.
Over five years later, those who have participated can agree that Family Faith Formation has borne abundant fruit at St. Mark’s. Now the program attracts not only parents with children in public schools, but also homeschooling and Catholic school families as well. We still have a robust catechetical program for children stretching from First Communion preparation to Confirmation on Wednesday nights, involving fellowship, prayer, and instruction for children and parents alike. Last year, Confirmation preparation was integrated into the Ignite Youth ministry for all children grades 6-8, to provide those students with a more holistic experience of learning and living the faith. And we have made great strides towards ensuring that the home is the primary site of formation in the faith, with the parish providing parents concrete assistance in that crucial education.
But it has also become apparent, after five years, that our families are ready for something more. We are blessed to have a parish full of committed and well-formed parents. Many who are ahead of the curve in terms of those for whom the Family Faith Formation curriculum was designed. Moreover, this year, in which the Archbishop is asking the whole Archdiocese to focus on supporting parents as primary educators, we have the perfect opportunity to further develop our family faith formation program.
After listening to the input of families involved in FFF and those who don’t, the parish is ready to roll out a revamped ministry to parents and their children: Family Faith Formation is now Nazareth Family Ministry.
What will stay the same? The PES Sisters will still lead a First Wednesday formation night gathering at which catechesis will be provided to children grades 2-5 (including sacramental prep). That night will, as it did last year, involve a family meal (pizza night!), night prayer, and a talk for the parents to equip them better to form their children in the Faith. What will change? First, there will be no more packets to worry about. Second, with the help of Kristen Grant, our Director of Discipleship, we have created our own curriculum for the parents’ formation sessions, based on input from our parents themselves. We plan to bring in engaging speakers from the area to speak on matters of interest such as
Passing the faith on to your children
Communication and conflict resolution
Cultivating a Catholic family culture
Praying together as a family
Kids and technology
Thirdly, we want these newly minted Nazareth Nights to feed your hunger for more fellowship, peer-to-peer wisdom sharing, and discussion. You parents talking to each other about how you navigated certain challenges, comiserating and “co-parenting” in the best sense. So, in addition to exceptional speakers sharing illuminating content, you all will be teaching one another too.
My hope is that those families who have been a part of Family Faith Formation will profit from Nazareth FM even more. Those parents who have stayed away or dropped out FFF because it did not seem relevant or worthwhile, I hope will reconsider and come check it out. And those who are not parents or not forming children in the home any more, know yourselves welcome too; we all are called to be members of the Family at the Feet of Jesus, and each Nazareth Night is a chance to be that, together, at St. Mark’s. Starting October 7!
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