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St. Philip Neri Gets Ready to Kick Off Another Year of Faith Formation!
“Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.” With these words, Proverbs 22:6 instructs us on the great importance of bringing children up in the faith. Here at St. Philip Neri, we have a wonderful faith formation program that ensures our children learn the traditions and doctrines of the Catholic faith. While the format of our Faith Formation classes has changed to accommodate necessary precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing certainly remains the same — the joy and enthusiasm that our team of dedicated catechists bring to our students as they instruct them in the faith!
Taking into account current social distancing guidelines, our Faith Formation program will be seeing some changes. Children will meet in smaller-sized classes only once a month, gathering in the parish hall where there is more space to spread out. Lessons and materials will then be sent home with families to work on at their own pace between class meetings. The benefits of this new format include a greater family participation in faith formation, in keeping with the Church’s view of parents as the first teachers of the faith.
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While the monthly meeting times are changing this fall, many things about our Faith Formation program will remain the same. The curriculum is Biblebased, students will have the opportunity to build a relationship with their catechists, and the program will continue to keep the kids engaged with games, activities, crafts, and visits to the prayer garden.
Mary Harden continues on as our Faith Formation Director. After 16 years in this role, Mary still finds her job inspiring and uplifting.
“When you see that you’ve reached a student, when you have changed their mindset, there is this joy in knowing that you are changing their lives in some small way,” she says. “When you see that they understand the love of Christ in their life and what they can do with that, it’s just huge.”
Having worked in faith formation for many years, Mary has seen firsthand the importance of beginning to form children in the faith from an early age.
“I’ve had parents say they want their kids to make their own decision, but if you wait and the children aren’t exposed to anything, they won’t really be able to make a decision,” she says. “But when you give them that foundation, it’s something that — inevitably when they grow up and have their own children — that foundation will be there, and they will come back to it.”
Far beyond the textbook learning of Church teachings and prayers, Mary and our catechists seek to impart to our students an awareness of the deep love God has for all of His children, an appreciation of His many gifts, and a desire to share the blessings they have received.
“We send home collection envelopes with the families, and we talk about the importance of going to Mass every week and helping those that are in need,” Mary says. “We talk about when you’re in the lunchroom and someone new has moved to the school, the importance of making them feel welcome, or if you see someone who forgot their lunch, you might share your sandwich. During our Halloween Trick or Trunk, we collect food for the needy, and we also collect items for a shelter for battered women.” Our Faith Formation program is blessed with many wonderful parishioners who give generously of their time to serve as catechists. With the need for smaller class sizes this year, the parish is in particular need of more helping hands. Mary is grateful for the incredible team of volunteers who come together to provide our youngest parishioners with loving instruction in the faith.
“The love, the patience, and the charity that our volunteer teachers show these children is amazing,” Mary says. “Giving of their time — certainly a stewardship pillar — is something that I could never repay them for. Some have been doing this for 10 years, and they enjoy the interaction with the kids and imparting their faith in them and watching it grow. I could not do this without volunteers, so I just want to sing their praises every chance I get. I’m so appreciative of them!”
