Today we celebrate the blessing of our catechists. We begin a new year of religious formation for our children and adults. I know our Director of Religious Education, Joni Scott, is excited about a new year of growing in our faith. I know she and the children have been growing sunflowers over the summer and they will be showing them off in the next weeks. For me, it’s great to see the children involved in our life at Nativity. When I call them up for the Our Father, I always think of Jesus saying “Let the little children come to me for such is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Our liturgies are truly enhanced when the children take the lead. Their voices speak of goodness and I suspect some of our parents wonder who that angelic child is when they see then on the altar! I am looking forward to all that Coleman will bring to our Children’s choir.
Forming our children in the faith is not only Joni and the catechist’s responsibility, it’s on all of us. By nature of our baptism, we are all called to be evangelizers in the faith. St. Francis is quoted as saying, “Preach always and when necessary, use words.” As a parent, you are the first teacher of the faith. Your children will see in you the strength of your faith. They will either see the incredible light of your faith in the goodness you show to them and to those in your life or they will see a faith that is superficial and doesn’t carry into the events of daily life. If our children see in us the strength of discipleship: caring for those who are most vulnerable, standing up on issues of social justice, treating all people respectfully, having a joy and peace throughout our lives, then they will see by our actions that our faith is real.
As we being a new year of Religious Education, let us all give much support to Joni Scott and the catechists as they take on the task of educating our children. Let us also re-commit ourselves to developing a deeper faith life this year. Let us take a little more time for private prayer, reading the scriptures, and doing more works of mercy in our lives. Let us preach the Gospel, as St. Francis says, by living in a way that causes our children and others to be inspired and want what we have. Let us truly be shining examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
Forming our children in the faith is not only Joni and the catechist’s responsibility, it’s on all of us. By nature of our baptism, we are all called to be evangelizers in the faith. St. Francis is quoted as saying, “Preach always and when necessary, use words.” As a parent, you are the first teacher of the faith. Your children will see in you the strength of your faith. They will either see the incredible light of your faith in the goodness you show to them and to those in your life or they will see a faith that is superficial and doesn’t carry into the events of daily life. If our children see in us the strength of discipleship: caring for those who are most vulnerable, standing up on issues of social justice, treating all people respectfully, having a joy and peace throughout our lives, then they will see by our actions that our faith is real.
As we being a new year of Religious Education, let us all give much support to Joni Scott and the catechists as they take on the task of educating our children. Let us also re-commit ourselves to developing a deeper faith life this year. Let us take a little more time for private prayer, reading the scriptures, and doing more works of mercy in our lives. Let us preach the Gospel, as St. Francis says, by living in a way that causes our children and others to be inspired and want what we have. Let us truly be shining examples of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.