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2005 Mustard Seed Award Recipients
Mary, Mother of the Redeemer, North Wales, PA
Nancy Franks, DRE/Joanne Zinn, School Principal/Msgr. Philip C. Ricci, Pastor
The parish of Mary, Mother of the Redeemer has been like a mustard seed from its early beginnings 20 years ago to the overwhelming volunteerism by the parents' involvement today. The team of Msgr. Ricci, DRE Nancy Franks and Principal Joanne Zinn, believe that "family catechesis precedes…accompanies and enriches all forms of catechesis" (GDC 226). The numbers have gone from 600 families to 3,350 families with 800 religious education students and 670 parish elementary school students. Parents volunteer in the parish catechetical program, the school program, the Vacation Bible School and Sunday morning Children's Liturgy of the Word.
As the parish built its Catholic education center, parents were involved at every stage - town meetings, design input and continued support. A parent group that has continued to nourish young mothers for the past 12 years is the "Mothers of Young Children." The families receive a monthly newsletter which enables them to prepare for the Sunday readings and learn through activity sheets for home use. The parish bookstore was initiated by parents looking for additional resources for religious formation. The Little Rock Scripture Study is well attended and another program, Disciples in Mission, now meets in parishioners' homes. The parish evangelization team works with parishioners to help them in spreading the Good News.
Mary, Mother of the Redeemer believes that "by means of personal contact, meetings, courses and also adult catechesis directed toward parents, the parish must help them assume their responsibility of educating their children in faith" (GDC 227).
Holy Trinity Parish, Westmont, IL
Patricia Giunta, DRE/Fr. William De Salvo, Pastor
Two years ago Holy Trinity Parish established "Family Centered Faith Formation" as the primary model of religious instruction. The program actively involves the parents of all the children enrolled for kindergarten through 8th grade. One Wednesday a month families come together to eat, pray and learn. While the children are in learning sessions, the parents are either with them (K-5) or in their own adult sessions (6-8). Some parents are also involved as group leaders and presenters. Many of the presentations are also open to the wider parish community, thus influencing other adults as well.
During the week, until the families return for their next sessions, they continue learning at home, using provided materials. There are written lessons which require scripture and catechism research, discussion questions and a CD containing audio teaching that features story and song. The lessons are tailored to meet the needs of varying ages and different learning styles.
There are two other goals of the program - families are encouraged to worship regularly and serve God through peace and justice efforts. Each family is given a set of Mass cards that prepare them for Sunday readings. In November and March there is an opportunity to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. The preparation involves an examination of conscience and a review of how to receive the sacrament. This aspect of receiving the sacrament as a family has been getting strong positive feedback from families. Finally, each family is encouraged to do 6 hours of service together with appropriate opportunities provided.
It was a large change and some wanted to wait until every detail was in place before changing to this new model. Because of the success of FIRE and Generations of Faith in the parish, Holy Trinity took a risk and they are very pleased with it. Fr. De Salvo credits much of the success to Penny Giunta's work and ability to call forth the gifts and talents of so many in the parish.
Good Shepherd Parish, Garland TX
Alexander Sandoval DRE/Rev. Robert Williams, Pastor
Good Shepherd Parish is a multicultural and multilingual parish of 2,600 registered families. The primary languages are English and Spanish, with over 95% speaking Spanish as the first language. It is the only parish in the northeast region of the diocese which serves a Hispanic Catholic population of over 20,000. Alexander Sandoval has been DRE at Good Shepherd for 9 years and sees how the Spanish language, which was once the exception, has become the norm.
While the newcomers are strong in the faith, they have need for what Pope John Paul II calls "re-evangelization." The parish began proactively embracing the demographic change and was ready to "support parents in their roles as 'first and most important educators of their own children.'" Among the long list of things they did are the following:
- Added more bilingual staff in faith formation ministry (4 out of 5) are either bilingual or speak Spanish as the primary language of the home;
- Reconfigured faith formation times to evenings and weekends so that working parents could have access to the ministry leadership;
- Identified and recruited more bilingual catechists - 80% of the 115 are now bilingual;
- All programs are offered in Spanish and English; while children are bilingual, most parents communicate in Spanish. Textbooks can be read in English and or Spanish;
- Offered adult religious education programs at the same time as the children's programs so parents can grow spiritually and raise their children in the faith.
There is more, but we want to end with this statistic: 98% of parents with children in the program participate in the adult programs. That means that 600 parents consistently attend weekly sessions. Fr. Robert Williams the pastor arrived at Good Shepherd only a year ago and says that this is truly a different and superior model of catechesis.
Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Church, Irving, TX
Linda Moses, Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry/
Msgr. Jerome Duesman, Pastor
One of the hallmarks of Holy Family of Nazareth parish is the collaborative efforts of the Faith Formation, Adult and Family Ministry, Total Youth Ministry and parochial school. The four ministries have formed a partnership that is invaluable in the parish's ministry to families. The leaders of the ministries work together to provide a comprehensive, holistic catechetical ministry. RCIA, faith formation, Sacramental preparation, marriage and parenting education processes are all designed with a family perspective in mind. Linda Moses, the Director of Faith Formation and Family Ministry is part of this team. All aspects of Holy Family's program emphasize the importance of the domestic church and the role of the parents as primary educators of their children.
Family catechesis is not limited just to programs. It is supported at the parish through homilies, a newsletter and personal dialogue as well as opportunities for participation in formational activities with national speakers. Faith formation is accomplished through a collaborative, inter-disciplinary team approach which involves not only the parish, but the school as well. Parents can be found involved as catechists or members of the Family Ministry Commission. Parents are requested to give their opinions and input throughout the year which emphasizes the fact that parents are the primary educators of their children.
Resources are provided to families for at-home learning. Once a month there is a session in the parish and over 75% of the parents attend with their children. By working together as a team, Linda Moses and her colleagues are able to minister through the lens of family, nurturing a good relationship between the parish and domestic church.
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National Catholic Educational Association
