blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Convert?(...ducks and runs for cover...) Funny!!! My LDS wife left me because I didn't convert and I was informed she'll be sealed sometimes this coming summer. Good for her. Maybe it will be easier to honor my marital convenants now.Convert now...... ....I don't think that would simplify much! 1
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 A Seminary may even be willing to send teachers and materials to instruct local Catholic kids.You're assuming we have an associated Seminary within our diocese.... We caught the overflow of Irish priests when they were abundant and now we've caught the overflow of Asian and Black priests in our diocese. It's upon the laity to be involved. Of course, that requires to have parents to be involved which is the crux of the matter.
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 It would make for some sweet irony.Many on this board know that my LDS ties are deeper than just my LDS wife since I'm technically a 6th generation LDS on my father's side who has been raised a Catholic my entire life. I have my family records that go back to the 1830's as well as their endowment/sealing dates. So it wouldn't be as ironic as you may think.
Jeff K. Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Our Hispanic, Asian, and Black communities are on-fire with the faith and it shows in parishes that are predominantly made up of these cultures which each of these offers something special in regards to the church. The issue of 'cultural catholics' who are not involved tends to be parishes that are not culturally diverse. For this group, I would think instituting a family home evening approach would be best but not sure how to introduce that. A large part of it deals with parent involvement. When parents deem it iimportant, children will respond accordingly.
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 A large part of it deals with parent involvement. When parents deem it iimportant, children will respond accordingly. Any ideas in how to improve parent involvement?In our diocese, 1st Communion is typically given in 2nd grade after 2 years of catechesis and confirmation is when they're 16 and a junior in high school after 2 years of catechesis. There's a large gap between 3rd grade and 8th grade where going to catechesis is optional and thus the reason for low participation and kids not learning their faith. The fact that many parents don't attend Mass with their children except on special occasions doesn't help anything. The CCD teachers shouldn't be the primary teachers of the faith, but it definitely feels like we are.
Jeff K. Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Increase their faith, have youth activities built around seminary, you might want to try competition, use adults who tend to connect with kids. Make sure there is a sincere belief in the adults teaching versus just teaching. The best way to do that is not to pay the adults but have them volunteer. It does translate to good teaching when a sincerity of the spirit is involved. While I am not Catholic, I do know that many of the truths taught by the Catholic church resonate with the spirit.
Calm Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Any ideas in how to improve parent involvement?Bribery?
Bikeemikey Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 They had a church high school in new Zealand. The church just recently closed it - there was a lot of drama among local members about it.It cost a lot of money and the education quality as no better or slightly worse than the state schools.(null)
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Increase their faith, have youth activities built around seminary, you might want to try competition, use adults who tend to connect with kids. Make sure there is a sincere belief in the adults teaching versus just teaching. The best way to do that is not to pay the adults but have them volunteer. It does translate to good teaching when a sincerity of the spirit is involved. While I am not Catholic, I do know that many of the truths taught by the Catholic church resonate with the spirit.I enjoy the spirit of your post and believe I am one of those type of volunteer-type teachers who have ignited the youth that has come through my class. The hope is that if you ignite the kids, you hope it can ignite the parents about their faith. Here's the results of many of those whom I believe I put on-fire about their faith. They get to high school and the parents decide to let them do what they want in regards to their catechesis so most drop out and don't get to confirmation. The kids that have spent the time skipping in going to CCD since it's not required, suddenly show up in high school so that they can get confirmed.Needless to say, I'm slightly disheartened in watching some of my on-fire students. The only way to address this issue is to figure out how to make the parents actually care about their faith so that they can pass that onto their children.
Jeff K. Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 Like I said, its driven by parents (as is regular education). The parents have to feel its important, and that importance has to be translated through the bishops or priests to the congregation. 1
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Bribery?Bribery barely works with the kids. I don't give much hope that it would help with the adults...
blueadept Posted March 13, 2012 Author Posted March 13, 2012 Like I said, its driven by parents (as is regular education). The parents have to feel its important, and that importance has to be translated through the bishops or priests to the congregation.I will probably write a letter to our new bishop.
KevinG Posted March 13, 2012 Posted March 13, 2012 You're assuming we have an associated Seminary within our diocese.... I can't even pretend to be well informed enough to make that assumption.
Calm Posted March 14, 2012 Posted March 14, 2012 You might try asking on a Catholic forum if you haven't already to see if anyone there has had any success and what their methods were...
Avatar4321 Posted March 15, 2012 Posted March 15, 2012 You're assuming we have an associated Seminary within our diocese....We caught the overflow of Irish priests when they were abundant and now we've caught the overflow of Asian and Black priests in our diocese. It's upon the laity to be involved. Of course, that requires to have parents to be involved which is the crux of the matter.Invite them to become involved then.
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