Partnering with Parents Resources
Partnering with Parents Resources
Resources for ministry leaders and parents to help develop strong Catholic families.
Leader Resources
- Strong Catholic Families Survey of Parents – In 2015, the Strong Catholic Families team conducted a simple online survey of parents, grandparents regarding the messages they needed most to hear from the church and church leaders. Over 5,100 people responded and the results were eye opening.
- Family Faith Inventory – an abbreviated pdf version of the full version found in the Family Faith Resource Booklet, developed through the Strong Catholic Families initiative. An excellent tool for families to use to determine how they wish to grow in faith as a domestic church. (Spanish Version)
- Parents of Youth Survey – A survey template provided by the Center for Ministry Development designed to assist leaders in ascertaining parents expectations, family concerns, program interest and availability. Additional resources are available at www.youthministryaccess.org and www.fashioningfaith.org.
- American Catholic Religious Parenting Report – This report, written by Christian Smith and Justin Bartkus (Notre Dame), examines what parents can do to optimize their chances of replicating their faith in their children, and how can clergy and pastoral professionals assist them.
- Young Catholic America – the latest book based from the groundbreaking National Study of Youth and Religion explores a crucial stage in the life of Catholics. Drawing on in-depth surveys and interviews of Catholics and ex-Catholics ages 18 to 23–a demographic commonly known as early “emerging adulthood”–leading sociologist Christian Smith and his colleagues offer a wealth of insight into the wide variety of religious practices and beliefs among young Catholics today, the early influences and life-altering events that lead them to embrace the Church or abandon it, and how being Catholic affects them as they become full-fledged adults.
- Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love): An Apostolic Exhortation on the Family by Pope Francis – a beautifully written pastoral document directed to both church leaders and parents. Developed over the course of two years of Synod gatherings, listening sessions and past and present papal letters and reflections.
SESSION OUTLINES FOR USE WITH PARENTS
These pdf downloads provide leaders and catechists with gatherings aimed at helping parent and families grow deeper in faith. Developed by the Strong Catholic Families National Initiative.
- Family Mission Statement Activity – A downloadable worksheet to help families create their own family mission statement. Encourage them to add a family picture and hang it in the home as a powerful reminder of who and Whose they are.
- Living and Sharing Your Faith – a session to assist parents with specific skills for leading faith sharing within their families
- English PDF Outline and accompanying PowerPoint
- Spanish PDF Outline and accompanying PowerPoint
- Partnering with Parents Video Series
Creating Strong Parent-Teen Connections – an interactive intergenerational session for use with parents and their older children (middle through high school ages).
The Domestic Church – In the Catholic tradition, the family holds a special place- especially in the formation of faith — so important, in fact, that it is called “the domestic church.” This four minute video highlights the four components that make up the domestic church and invites parents to reflect on being the church in the world and what that might look like within their family. Reflection questions at the end are perfect to use with a group of parents for further sharing and discussion.
La Iglesia Domestica – Spanish version of the video
How Are You Doing? – This four minute video invited a few parents to reflect on the question, “How AM I doing as a parent?” They had doubts until words from their kids touched their hearts and changed their minds. A beautiful and moving video will help parents understand that we often underestimate the power of our role and the influence we yield as a parent.
Faith Sharing and Prayer at Home – How does your family pray? In this two minute clip, Dr. Greg “Dobie” Moser focuses on the “ACTS Prayer” (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) as a simple yet effective formula for praying together as a family.
Creating a Faith Nurturing Home – a three minute clip featuring Leisa Anslinger inviting parents to consider how their home environment reflects their faith.
Faith Conversations – What are the “God-moments” in your life as a family? How do you name them? Drs. Bob and Maggie McCarty invite parents to reflect on the daily events and experiences that allow for a connection to the sacramental moments that surround us daily.
Missioning Faith – How can families define and name their core values and commitments as a family of faith? In this breif clip, Dr. Sean Reynolds invites parents to consider the critical and improtant elements that should make up a family’s mission statement. A good intro to use with the Family Mission Statement activity found under the Leader resources section above.
Amoris Laetitia Webinar Series – The Strong Catholic Families National Partnership hosted several thousand ministry leaders, teachers, school leaders, parents and clergy together in 2016-17 for a four month webinar series focusing on the pastoral implementation of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia. Four Master Teachers presented video reflections on the themes below followed by live panels reacting to the content and discussing practical applications to various ministries. The links to all the recordings are archived here for you.
Parent Resources
- The Secrets of Happy Families
Best-selling author and New York Times family columnist Bruce Feiler
found himself squeezed between aging parents and rising children. This
book is the result of his three-year journey to find the smartest ideas,
cutting-edge research, and novel solutions to make his family happier.
Feiler then tested these ideas with his own wife and kids. The result is
a fun, completely original look at how families can draw closer
together, complete with 200 never-before-seen best practices. - Catholic Family Bibles – Every family should have
their own bible and these two Catholic versions are created to
especially assist families with not only reading the word of God, but
reflecting on it and sharing it more deeply- Catholic Family Connections Bible by Saint Mary’s Press, 2010 (New American Bible Revised Edition)
- Catholic Family and Faith Bible by Harper Catholic Bibles, 2010 (New Revised Standard Version Edition)
WEB BASED RESOURCES
Faith and Parenting Resources
- Strong Catholic Families Facebook Page – “Like”
this page to receive daily updates on articles, research, inspiring
stories and more for both parents and the leaders who serve them. - Strong Catholic Family Faith
– a curated website designed to assist parish and school catechetical
leaders in supporting and resourcing families in their efforts to offer
quality faith formation for children and families. - Growing Up Catholic –
excellent resources for coaching parents to share their faith with
their own children, including catechetical programs, handouts, books,
and a free getting started kit. - Center for Parent/Youth Understanding –
committed to building strong families by helping parents understand and
respond to the complex world of their children and teens from a
distinctively Christian point of view. - Lifelong Faith – a treasure chest of articles, Christian practices and faith-based resources for parishes and parents alike.
- ParentFurther.com
– a parenting website created by the Search Institute offering answers
to your “need-to-know-right-now” questions and provides you “with an
understanding of what it takes to raise successful kids who will become
healthy, responsible, and caring adults.” - Paradisus Dei –
helping families discover the superabundance of God within marriage and
family life offering free parish-based programs for couples, men,
women, moms and daughters and more. - For Your Marriage
– an excellent resource developed by the United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops designed to strengthen and support marriage. - Substance Abuse Guide for Parents – A helpful website to inform and resource parents on substance use/abuse and recovery options.
- A Complete Guide to Substance Abuse in College –
Health Administration Degrees presents the latest facts on substance
abuse including its prevalence, legalities, and effects among college
students. - Teen Body Image And Self-esteem – A Practical Guide For Parents – A guide that focuses focus on practical advice for improving teen self-esteem and supporting them as they grow up
- AlcoholRehabHelp.com – A guide to rehabilitation and treatment resources.
- Teen Mental Health
– A guide for parents that helps shed light on the common mental health
challenges for teens, the factors that cause them such as academic
anxiety, peer pressure, body image, or cyberbully.
