Bulletin Column: Family Life and Passing on the Faith, Part 5

Greetings in Christ on the Second Sunday of Advent. Over the past few months, I’ve been sharing a series of reflections on family catechesis. We have touched on several aspects relating to the role of the parent as the primary educators of their children. We have viewed family catechesis through the lens of Scripture and Tradition as well as considering the Church’s broad view of education orientated towards helping our children to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. We have considered the irreplaceable role of parents as living witnesses of discipleship who, themselves, are on an ever growing journey of faith. Finally, we have presented core practices that families should engage in together that will move them towards a deeper life in God. Today, bringing this series to a conclusion, I would like us to reflect on the necessary role of the Church community in the life of the family. 

To acknowledge the profound truth that parents are the primary educators does not mean that the Church, and in particular the local parish, has no role or responsibility in the formation process. Intentional participation in the community of the baptized is one of the most important dimensions of our faith. In the modern age, we can easily develop an impoverished sense of the communal life of the local parish. Sadly, for some, the Church has become a place only to receive something, with no real sense of being a gift to others, all while seeking the lowest commitment possible. Contrast this with the experience of the first followers of Jesus who “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer… believers were together and had everything in common… Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God.” (Acts 2:42-47) We need to rediscover the reality that by virtue of our Baptism we are family and that we are brothers and sisters in Christ who need one another on the journey of discipleship. The Church teaches that “Having become a member of the Church, the person baptized belongs no longer to himself, but to him who died and rose for us. From now on, he is called to be subject to others, to serve them in the communion of the Church.” (CCC 1269) When the family, as the domestic Church, opens themselves up to the wider family of God that has been placed in their lives through the local parish, new possibilities emerge for service, formation, and concrete ways to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

What impact does the communal life of the Church have on faith formation practices? Those of us in the body of Christ are called upon to share our gifts with others in the community through intentional ministries built on the deposit of Faith. These formation opportunities take many forms at St. Michael including Family of Faith, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, VBS, Bible studies, adult small groups, various pastoral support ministries, mission trips, teen discipleship groups, the Youth Ministry Core Team, Alpha Youth, and Extreme Faith Camp. They are also expressed in sacramental formation through RCIA, Baptism classes, marriage preparation, and sacramental instruction for children and teens. Church teaching specifically mentions the role of the parish community in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. The Church teaches that “infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate… for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth” and that as a sacrament of faith, Baptism “needs the community of believers.” (CCC 1231, 1253) Regarding Confirmation, the Church teaches that “catechesis for Confirmation should strive to awaken a sense of belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ, the universal Church as well as the parish community. The latter bears special responsibility for the preparation of confirmands.” (CCC 1309) My prayer for each of us is that the Lord will guide us to become more open to the communal life of our parish and that we might see our true need for one another as the one body of Christ. Help us Lord in our weakness that we may learn to love you with all that we have and all that we are and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Amen.