Sowing Seeds:
Will Our Children Have Faith?

Several years ago, a prominent religious educator named John Westerhoff was studying the decline in the Sunday School throughout the major Christian denominations in the United States and Europe . Following his research, he wrote a book. The title of the book is our Question of the Week:

Will Our Children Have Faith?

We honor those individuals who actually volunteer to sit over a lesson plan on Saturday evening and then get out of bed on Sunday morning to come and share faith with children.

This job is not for cowards.

Yes, it can be very rewarding. But it is hard work. It can be frustrating.

Parents are the primary catechists for their children. Catechist means "to echo" and parents, by word and example, demonstrate to their children the importance of faith.

When you brought your baby to church for baptism, do you remember the questions asked at that ritual? The priest probably asked you what you want for this child and you asked for the gift of faith for that baby.

Catechesis is NOT teaching a lot of facts about Jesus and the Church. Faith cannot really be taught, but truly is "caught." Your example, your behavior is what makes the difference.

What you do speaks so much louder than what you say.

So, honor those who have such a burning enthusiasm for our Catholic faith that they come each week to share it with the next generation of Catholics. Parents, these catechists are here for your benefit because they represent the community of the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, ready to assist you in sharing faith with your child.

Will our children have faith?

Have any questions or comments about sharing our faith with children? Want to volunteer in the Sunday School or Little People's Church? Please contact us!