The Importance of Religious Education for Children

The mission of the Church is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. One of the most important groups that share in the message of Jesus is our children. Parents are the first example of our Catholic faith that children receive. The Catholic Church addressed this at Vatican II. In the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church, Lumen Gentium, the Church states “In what might be regarded as the domestic church, the parents are to be the first preachers of the faith for their children by word and example.”

The way parents preach to their children is by the examples we give them. The examples are how we treat each other, our children, our neighbors and our prayer life. It is how we respond to conflict, rudeness and fulfill our responsibilities. Through the words and more importantly the tone we use, our children learn to respect others. Parents are called to teach their children the beliefs of our Catholic faith and the theology behind that faith. Just as we make sure our children receive the proper medical attention and education throughout their childhood, it is also our responsibility to insure they receive the proper spiritual tools as they grow.

While this may seem to be a great responsibility it is also an amazing gift. It is the gift of trust that God has shown us. He is entrusting us with a new creation, a gift from heaven. These spiritual tools our children need can come from other gifts God has given us. These gifts can be in the form of parents, grandparents, godparents and teachers. The spiritual tools children learn now will help them later in life as they respond to the joys, sorrows, challenges and opportunities that life will present to them. Besides word and example mentioned earlier, we can insure our children are ready to live a life acceptable to God by continuing their spiritual education. CCD or a parish religion program will help give your child the spiritual tools they need to grow into the adult God desires them to be. Child based religious programs prepare your child to receive the sacraments, teach them the Catholic faith and help them to understand the meaning behind the words spoken by Jesus.

Your child matures more and more each year of his life. Child based religious programs will delve deeper into the meaning of our Catholic faith each new year as our children grow older. No one year is more important than the other. Receiving a good religious foundation is important to your child every year not just the years they are to receive a sacrament. Make sure your child receives the spiritual tools to grow into the adult God and you want them to be.

Joyful Perseverance (Homily-14th Sunday Ordinary Tme)

I hope everyone is had a wonderful 4th of July Holiday. The holidays always bring about certain feelings and thoughts for me. Thanksgiving is a time to reminisce about past family members and to share our stories. Christmas is a time to be and share with our immediate families; our parents, spouses, siblings and children. Easter is a time to more closely examine our spiritual life as we look at the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Independence Day seems to be a time to review the state of affairs of our country and of the World. When we review the world in light of our faith, all does not seem well.

There is religious confrontation everywhere. Today, over 2000 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus, people are still be martyred for their belief in the Son of God. If you search the Internet for Catholic news and information you now find more and more conflict among those of the same faith. Comments and rebuttals are mean spirited and confrontational.

Just over a week ago we hear and read of the decision by the Supreme Court to redefine the definition of marriage. As a parent and grandparent, I cannot help but wonder that the rights and freedoms I now enjoy will be the same for my children and grandchildren. Will they be able to practice their faith as we do today or will their faith be governed by secular law.

The good things even remind us of how much change will be needed by the inhabitants of our world. Pope Francis recently released his encyclical on the environment. It is a very thought provoking document and is presented in words that are meant to inspire us not condemn us. I, as a parent and grandparent, cannot help but be anxious. I wonder what type of world we are leaving our children and grandchildren. Will the environment be one that is representative of the world God created for Adam and Eve or will it be one of heat and decay.