3 minute read
Faith Formation Gears Up for New Year of Building Relationships with Jesus
The family is the first place children learn the faith. This is why the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church calls the family the “domestic church.” In turn, the United States Conference on Catholic Bishops lays out several ways to build a “domestic church,” like always attending Sunday Mass, praying a Rosary as a family, and inviting priests, deacons and sisters into your home, to name a few.
The Antigo Area Catholic Churches seek to also teach children the faith, outside of the home.
Advertisement
“We want to help engage parents in catechesis,” says Tracey Minish, who has served as Director of Religious Education for the past seven years. “We want to give them the tools that they need to be the model of faith for their children.”
We look forward to the upcoming year as a chance to reformat the way the faith is taught. After the ups and downs of 2020 and 2021, we believe this is a great time to “begin anew.”
“I believe — among parishioners and families — there is an authentic hunger to return,” she says.
Faith Formation classes are held Wednesday nights with sacramental prep on the weekends. In particular, Tracey hopes we are able to facilitate more participatory lessons, similar to the lessons used for the LifeTeen program — she has taken additional training in Arizona through LifeTeen. Through this format, someone proclaims the lesson, then students break into small groups to discuss.
“I believe that if a person’s relationship with Jesus is prominent, then all truths of the Catholic faith make sense,” Tracey says.
This summer youth experienced Totus Tuus, which means “totally yours.”
Totus Tuus offered a week of fun and learning more about the Catholic faith.
With the small groups being smaller in number than an average class, more catechists are needed. Tracey asks all adults to consider teaching, and thanks all of the teachers for their commitment to the program. This ministry has a profound impact on both the students and the teachers.
Deacon Andy Bures has been teaching Faith Formation for more than 20 years. He started teaching at St. Wenceslaus and moved when the programs all combined, and he has been teaching the juniors for the past few years. He really enjoys being able to have a positive impact on the lives of young people.
“The definition of a Catholic is to evangelize,” he says. “This ministry is the best ministry to grow in faith. You have to deepen your faith to pass it on.”
He asks everyone to consider a “reorder” of their lives to teach Faith Formation. Jesus has called us to make a commitment to our faith, and this is a great way to do that.
Kristin Steffen has been teaching for a total of 10 years and teaches third grade. For her, this is a way to give some of her time back to God, who has been so generous.
Following all of the challenges of the last school year, our Faith Formation leadership is looking forward to more normalcy and time to make authentic connections with one another.
All are welcome in our Faith Formation program!
“What I love about Faith Formation is having the opportunity to help kids realize being Catholic is fun, awesome, and a way of life,” she says.
Following all of the challenges of the last school year, we look forward to more normalcy and time to make authentic connections with one another. We also want to take the opportunity to welcome all those who are new or anyone who missed the last school year. All are welcome. At our churches, we want to be doing just what our mission statement says — “As friends and followers of Jesus, we are devoted to fostering households and communities of discipleship through the mission and ministry of the Catholic Church.”
“What I would say to someone who is thinking about volunteering is just do it!” Kristin adds. “You don’t have to be a certified teacher or have experience. All it takes is a love of the faith. Taking that leap will be something you will never regret. Helping shape the minds of our youth, being a Catholic role model is humbling and amazing.”
This year, Tracey is stepping down as the Director of Religious Education. We thank her for seven years of dedication to this ministry and wish her well.
We look forward to the 2021-22 school year and plan to build on the wonderful foundation Tracey has set for us.
