Resources

We have many catechetical resources to support family catechesis in different settings and through many topics. However, our cohort program is focused on a two-year extended sacramental preparation process for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

Why Focus on Sacramental Preparation?

• This is when we see the largest number of families still approaching the church for catechesis, so it is our greatest opportunity to evangelize them.
• Since parents are motivated for their children to receive the sacraments, we have some extra leverage to encourage them to participate.
• Since preparing to receive the sacraments is special, parents may already expect that they will be asked to participate at some level above standard drop-off catechesis.
• The topics we cover in preparing for these sacraments get to the core of our beliefs and Christian practice: the Eucharist and Mass (and how they connect to missionary discipleship) and our moral life (and how the Sacrament of Reconciliation helps us become the loving person we were made to be).

Parent-Child Sessions

Main Topics

The extended preparation process focuses on three main topics through three components:

Recommended Schedule

As shown in this suggested schedule , we highly recommend that each year include:

• ten parent-child sessions hosted at the parish
• four or five parent-child sessions for families to complete together at home

Our flexible resources can be scheduled in a variety of ways, such as this alternate schedule that adds an Old Testament components, with a total of 14-15 parish sessions and 8-9 home sessions per year.

We will work with diocesan leaders for each cohort to establish any minimum requirements.

Session Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why a Two-Year Extended Process?

It is becoming more common for dioceses and parishes to require a minimum two years of catechesis before children receive First Reconciliation and Eucharist. This is often the only catechesis that children receive until they (hopefully) return for Confirmation.

Why So Few Sessions?

We feel it is important to be pragmatic and find a balance in the number of sessions that will be enough to give families a substantial evangelizing experience but not so many that participation will be low. We are especially trying to reach families who are on the margins of the parish and may not yet value Mass attendance or catechesis. Even parents who are engaged in their faith may be resistant to attending with their children. In our experience, parents today can be convinced to attend ten parish sessions per year.

Why So Many Sessions?

If we look at the two-year process as a minimum preparation and perhaps the only catechesis these famillies may ever receive, it simply takes some time to present the kerygma and sacrament-related topics. The purpose is not to simply "process" these families so the children can receive their sacraments, but to walk with them and give ourselves (and Jesus!) a chance to make an impression.

Do Parishes Have to Follow the Sample Schedules Exactly?

No. The schedules are suggestions that attempt to correlate some sessions with the catechetical year and work within standard parish schedules. However, the session ordering and calendar can be adjusted.

Faith@Home Collection

Cohorts will also have access to a set of send-home handouts "for busy parents" to supplement the process. It will include weekly Gospel reflections from a parent’s perspective, discussion prompts on the Sunday Scripture readings for use in transit to or from church, seasonal handouts, and suggestions for family rituals.

Cost

The grant will fund purchase of the Growing Up Catholic Extended Sacramental Preparation program and Faith@Home Collection for use in pilot parishes with one set of families over two catechetical years. Other cohort parishes will be able to purchase the same resources themselves.

	Funded Pilot Parishes	Other Cohort Parishes
First Reconciliation Sessions	$0	$20 + $11/child
First Eucharist Sessions	$0	$20 + $11/child
Jesus Lives Sessions	$0	$12 + $12/child
Faith@Home Collection	$0	Estimated $200-300 (TBD)

After the cohort program, all parishes can continue to purchase the resources through their own budgets.