This year, we asked our parish for feedback on our Family Faith Formation program. Your input has shaped the future of Family Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Lake, and we are excited to share changes designed to better serve our families and help them grow together in faith.
What You Told Us Through the Survey
The recent parish-wide Family Faith Formation survey confirmed an overall dissatisfaction among families with the current faith formation programing as it stands. The survey also revealed that more classroom-based instruction, stronger catechetical curriculums, direct Catholic teaching from catechists, more opportunities for students to be among their peers, and connecting with parish families for a greater sense of community are all top desires of families. And, overall, between the two potential ways forward that both provided two distinct visions for the future of our religious education program (either an enhanced version of our current programing or a hybrid between family faith formation and traditional religious education models), the parish preferred the hybrid selection by a strong majority of 76%.
Critical Areas We Are Addressing
One of the most important needs identified through both parish feedback and program evaluation is the need for stronger content, structure, and continuity in our faith formation offerings. To address these deficiencies, we have selected more robust and comprehensive curriculums for two of our pathways that will better support the catechetical and spiritual formation of our children. At the same time, we have worked to make these improvements while maintaining a more accessible and affordable cost for families for both the sacramental pathways (Mend/Nourish-First Confession & Communion and Confirmation) and the Continuing Education pathway (non-sacramental years). The need for trained catechists across all pathways was also a critical area of need.
How We Are Responding
In response to your feedback, we have created a hybrid family faith formation model that combines some of the best of both a family faith model and traditional religious education. Our new model consists of the familiar divisions of the Mend/Nourish pathway, Continuing Education pathway, and Confirmation pathway. However, there will be large increases in the amount of classroom time within our program creating more opportunities for students to learn and grow alongside the same peers throughout the year, and there will be a division by grade levels and separate classrooms.
· Grades K-1 and 3-7 will be Continuing Education
· 2nd grade will be Mend/Nourish
· 8th grade will be Confirmation
Both Continuing Education and Confirmation pathways will be increasing to a weekly classroom structure. We are also implementing Alive in Christ, a grade level structured textbook-based curriculum, for Continuing Education from Our Sunday Visitor. We are also returning to Chosen, a dynamic multimedia Confirmation program featuring student workbooks and guides for catechists, parents, and sponsors from Ascension Press. Both programs will provide greater consistency, continuity, and depth in religious education while still fostering meaningful community and fellowship among our families and manageable parent involvement. Since the once a month Mend/Nourish model has been well received overall, this pathway will remain largely unchanged. Small enhancements are being introduced, including the addition of trained catechists to enrich the experience. Families can continue to expect parent and student sessions, Mend/Nourish home boxes, and fall and spring retreats. Lastly, we are in the process of recruiting and training a group of catechists to meet the need for all pathways. We are seeking to provide two catechists per classroom for each pathway and grade level, if possible. More details on each of our pathways still need to be finalized and will be released as we get closer to the new formation year and as registration numbers become more complete.
What’s “Hybrid” About It??
· Family focused and classroom based
· Involving and equipping parents to pass on the faith at home and letting trained catechists teach
· Helping to build faith at home while preserving community and connection at the parish
· Manageable family engagement with the faith at home and full curriculum and textbooks at church
What We Need From You
As we move forward, we ask for your continued partnership. Most importantly, we ask for your prayers for our children, families, catechists, and faith formation staff. We also need volunteers—catechists, assistant catechists, and other helpers—to support this important ministry and to help make your desire for trained catechetical leaders in classrooms truly possible. Your partnership is crucial to make the needed improvements to our program a reality. Finally, we ask for your trust and active involvement as we work together to hand on the faith and help our young people grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.
For any questions, please reach out to Father Justin Farr, Director of Faith Formation at fr.farr@ololcc.org