1. Parents are expected to be the first and best teachers of their children in the ways of faith. Unfortunately, many parents have forgotten the basic teachings of the faith. Thus, it makes it difficult to teach the children. Spending time at the table discussing these teachings enables both parents and children to learn. It will also provide a forum to understand what your children understand regarding faith.
2. List some of the basic teachings of the faith, such as:
a. The Liturgical Year is broken up into Seasons of the year much like our regular
calendar. Our Church year begins with Advent (Color is Purple). Christmas Season follows Advent. The color is White. Green is the Color for Ordinary Time which follows Christmas. This leads to Lent, Purple color. Lent melts into Easter celebrated in White. This will lead back to Green and Ordinary Time. There will be times when Red is used. This signifies death of a martyr, or it may indicate a major feast day, Pentecost, Good Friday. Once it is understood the Church celebrates various seasons, the color changes and changes in prayers during Mass begin to make sense to even the smallest member of the family.
b. Discuss how the Bible is set up. There is an Old Testament and a New Testament. The Old Testament and the New Testament have their own divisions within them. Each of these divisions can be broken down and explained.
c. The Seven Sacraments of the Church can be talked about especially as each member gets closer to receiving a Sacrament. Can you name all seven Sacraments? (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Sacrament of the Sick.)
d. Regarding the Sacraments of the Church, the two Sacraments most common are Holy Communion and Reconciliation. Reviewing the teachings of the Church regarding these two Sacraments will enable the children to grow in understanding.
This will assist parents and children to refresh and/or learn the material at the same time together. Learning the faith as a family reinforces the bond of the family and the understanding of the subject matter. What is learned at home can be reinforced in Church through the readings and homilies.
Family Day 2013, Family Life Apostolate, Archdiocese of New Orleans
