“As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.”

- St. John Paul II

Parents, do you desire the Sacraments for your children? 

Whether it is First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion, or Confirmation, please don't hesitate to contact me, Andrea McLean, at [email protected] or 740-774-1407, ext. 8. 

First and foremost, I want to meet with you. We want to surround you and your child with support and resources, especially during these crucial years of preparing for these life-changing Sacraments.

Parents, your role in your child’s religious formation is irreplaceable. 

According to sociological studies of 230 in-depth interviews and three nationally representative surveys, “The single, most powerful causal influence on the religious lives of American teenagers and young adults is the religious lives of their parents. Not their peers, not the media, not their youth group leaders or clergy, not their religious school teachers. Myriad studies show that, beyond a doubt, the parents of American youth play the leading role in shaping the character of their religious and spiritual lives, even well after they leave home and often for the rest of their lives.” (Amy Adamczyk and Christian Smith. Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation (New York: Oxford University Press, 2021), 1).

Pathways is a beautiful approach to faith formation that focuses on the family.

Children flourish in their relationship with God and character development when open conversations about God become normal family discussions. Similar to talking about your favorite sports teams or family hobbies, Jesus wants to be a regular part of our everyday lives. The Pathways Faith Formation program we will be using for Sacramental prep this year creates simple opportunities to begin these conversations and build positive family memories around your faith. Pathways is a combination of monthly at-church meetings and at-home family meetings. 

I am extremely picky about formation content, and this is one of the most beautifully crafted, simple, and rich resources I have ever encountered. St. Brendan’s parish in Hillard has been using Pathways for 5 years with tremendous success. The diocese as a whole has been encouraging parishes to shift to a family-centered faith formation model for 3 years. 

In past years, we have highlighted Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).  CGS will still continue at Bishop Flaget School. CGS is wonderful; the only thing it lacks is a fruitful way to involve the family as a whole. This integration of our faith into family life is where Pathways excels. 

We are actively seeking out volunteers to support our families who are helping their children prepare for the sacraments. If you are a parent who has adult children and desires to support young families in our parish community, please contact Andrea McLean to ask about what this ministry looks like. More than ever before, we need to support families. They are the bedrock of our nation and our world.