The simplest way to share faith with kids

What’s the most important influence on a child’s faith, according to numerous studies?

It is not attending Mass with their family; not watching their parents’ habits of prayer. It’s not pastors, youth group leaders, Catholic school, faith formation classes, summer camp or mission trips.

Instead, it’s the simple act of parents talking to kids.

In their recent book “Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation,” sociologists Christian Smith and Amy Adamczyk report that not only do parents have the biggest influence on their children’s future faith lives, but the most powerful factor is how parents speak with their kids about religion and God in everyday life.

It turns out, ordinary conversations matter more than anything else.

These surprising findings need not undermine what we believe as Catholics. We know our celebration of the sacraments (especially Eucharist) is essential; daily

CATHOLIC OR NOTHING | COLIN MILLER