It’s a family catechetical program that enables the parents of young children to have conversations about the Catholic faith with their peers and experiences at home living out that faith.

A joint project of the diocesan Catholic Schools and Catholic Faith Formation departments, the pilot faith formation program is being introduced to parents of kindergarten and first grade students at three Catholic schools and parish religious education programs.

“This is a program that affirms, assists and challenges parents in being engaged at home in the development of the domestic church,” said Mercy Sister Susan McCarthy, coordinator of evangelization programs for the diocese. “Children feel comfortable in conversations about God and things that are sacred in a home environment.”

The family catechesis program is being introduced in conjunction with the liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent at St. Basil Parish in Vallejo, Sacred Heart Parish in Sacramento and Holy Cross Parish in West Sacramento.

The 90-minute sessions, which started during this past Advent season, focus on the four pillars of faith of the Catholic Church — a master plan of how Catholics believe, pray, live and celebrate their faith.

Susan Hill, principal of St. Basil School, said that while religion and discussions of family faith issues are part of Catholic school education, the new catechetical program provides one more vital piece for family faith formation.

“Parents have the opportunity to take a kind of adult look at faith to share with their children,” said Hill, who was a facilitator for the program.

Julie Kissinger, director of religious education at St. Basil, was a presenter at two parent sessions which each drew approximately 35 participants. Kissinger said parent participants who initially had some difficulty putting thoughts to words soon became comfortable and even passionate about discussing their faith.

“Parents who continue growing in faith contribute so much to the class and become hungry for more,” she said.

That was the experience for Kay Rodrigues, whose two children, ages seven and eight, attend St. Basil School. Rodrigues said the family catechesis session which she attended ended up being something of an “epiphany” for her.

“It was my first true understanding of the Beatitudes, which I had never reflected upon as an adult,” she said. “I’ve begun developing my own relationship with the Lord.”

Since attending the first session, Rodrigues has joined a church Bible study group and become its facilitator.

Kissinger also sees the faith formation program as a positive way for the parish and school to work together in the religious education of children.

“We’re a community of faith...whether as private or public school parents,” she said.

Ray Burnell, principal of Sacred Heart School, said he sees in the pilot program the potential to be an effective tool empowering parents as “the first and foremost educators of children.”

“They deepen their own appreciation of faith...and discover ways to express that faith in real-life terms,” he said.

Family activity projects for the sessions to be held during Lent, for example, include opportunities to prepare Lenten foods, to go on a journey of love doing simple acts of kindness for others, and to support projects of Catholic Relief Services’ Operation Rice Bowl program.

Rita Spillane, who worked as a presenter with Sacred Heart’s first sessions two months ago, said when parents are reading, studying Scripture and attending classes, the message to children is clear.

“Deeds always speak louder than words. If mom and dad study for their religion class, it must be important,” she said.

Joe Chavez, who attended the first faith formation session at Sacred Heart, recalled the greeting he received from his kindergarten and second grade daughters upon returning home from class.

“I basically got quizzed,” said Chavez, who remembers entering into an interactive conversation with his children about what it means to make the sign of the cross.

Looking ahead to the next session, Chavez expects to receive timely information to prepare his second grader for her first Communion.

Jeannette Holmes, one of two coordinators of catechesis for the diocese, was a presenter at the first faith formation session at Holy Cross Parish in November. She said the pilot program was designed to mirror the individual chapters of children’s journey of faith.

“Christian prayer is introduced in kindergarten because for many this is their introduction to formal and community prayer,” Holmes said.

Likewise, first grade parents study sacraments such as first Communion, which their children will be introduced to in second grade.

Mercy Sister Anne Marie Miller, a teacher at Holy Cross, said what she most liked about the program was its potential to build community among parents.

“Solid theological content helps parents and children discover together the presence of God in their lives,” she said.

Angelina Rivera, who attended the family catechesis Advent session at Holy Cross, has discovered the program works for grandparents too. Since becoming a caregiver for two grandchildren who are students at Holy Cross School, Rivera has found herself reconnecting with her own faith.

“My life had been kind of empty, but I rebuilt it through my grandchildren and getting involved in their school,” she said.

Going to Mass with her grandchildren at school and talking to them about their prayers at home has made Rivera feel less alone and closer to God.

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