ABOVE: Denise Utter (left) and Andrea Slaven, director of Child & Family Catechesis, discuss ideas with catechetical leaders at the workshop held at St. Paul’s in Rome early last month. Photo Credit | Jennifer Menneci
Catechesis workshops help to strengthen programs, engage more families
By Tami S. Scott, editor
Baptism is the foundational sacrament — the first of seven — that welcomes individuals into the life of Jesus Christ and the Roman Catholic Church. From there, children, on their way to becoming young adults, prepare for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation, respectively. It is with these sacraments, during their formative years, that our youth learn more about their faith and joyfully develop a relationship with our Lord.
Last month, just over 60 catechists from around the Diocese attended one of three workshops led by Chicago-based ministry coach and speaker Denise Utter, called “Animating the Faith of Families at Home and in the Parish.”
Catechesis, or religious education, has traditionally taken the form of weekly afternoon or early evening classes held during the school year, where parents entrust their children’s faith formation to catechetical leaders and parish teams. In recent years, however, the program has incorporated newer models to include the entire family in the process.
Why?
Because research indicates that “parents are the most important factor in the transmission of faith,” Utter said and queried what it might look like to accompany rather than just teach each other. “We’re trying to help parents animate the faith at home and in the parish, connecting the domestic church (the family) with the parish.”
Utter emphasized the importance of catechetical leaders building relationships with parents through efforts such as hosting family ‘dinner party conversations’ where families can share their stories. Building relationships, she said, is essential for accompanying families on their journey as disciples.
Ann Marie Hunzinger, catechetical leader for kindergarten through sixth grade at St. John the Baptist Parish in Rome, said her program still follows the customary one-hour weekly class, which poses challenges due to time constraints and an abundance of material that must be covered.
“I was very inspired by Denise’s workshop to really start building a program that is focused on the family and not just the student,” she said. “From surveys to hosting listening sessions for the families, she has inspired our team to engage with the families and see what their needs and wants are for our faith formation program, and how we can help them build their child’s faith at home.”
As of July 1, St. John the Baptist in Rome merged with St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Joseph’s to form Sacred Heart Parish, modeled after Spirit of Hope in Oneida. The catechetical structure will remain largely the same, with Hunzinger continuing to lead the same grade levels. Robin Calandra, also from St. John’s, is now the catechetical leader for seventh and eighth grade, as well as ninth through 12th youth ministry. Jean Bauer, from St. Peter’s Parish, now serves as the Sacramental coordinator for First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation.
“What I have discovered in this merger is that our new parish is blessed to have dedicated, faithful, generous catechists and families who are excited to collaborate and accompany our children in growing their faith,” Hunzinger said.
Other parishes, however, are not as fortunate — highlighting the very reason this workshop exists. One of the greatest challenges that catechetical leaders face is something we can all relate to: busyness. Parents are stretched thin with work and family obligations, while children juggle school, homework, sports, and other activities.
A 2020 Gallup Poll revealed that only 47% of US adults belong to a church, synagogue, or mosque. “Fewer people belong to a church than those who do,” Utter said. “Our Office of Catechesis — our evangelization — is meant to break this trend. We have to break this trend. And to do so, we need to engage families.”
Susan Neis, catechetical leader of St. Patrick’s in Chittenango, hopes to do just that — by learning how to improve her program, engage parents more deeply, and reach the children more effectively. “I want to know how to get parents back into church with their families and get them excited about being in church,” she said, “not to see it as an obligation.”
