STUDENTS REACHING FAMILIES THROUGH

A kinder student once asked their religion teacher, ‘Can I tell my family about God because I don’t think they have heard about Him ’ Well, let’s hope many kids did tell their family about God and everything else they learnt about in Catholic Scripture (SRE) lessons

The Walking with Jesus program is written with the intention of engaging the students as well as their families in faith formation There are lessons which draw upon students’ home lives and activities which involve conducting surveys or discussion at home

As many Catechists know those students from families who share a faith life are often well informed and well formed. We cannot assume that just because they send their children to State Schools that families are not practicing. Bearing in mind, there are many ways to practice our faith.

Recently a new catechist asked permission to give her class some sheets to take home to their families They were delighted to discover that many suitable sheets were already available In fact, every unit in the program has a Family Supplement and in Kinder there is one for every lesson These are available on the Diocesan CCD website under Curriculum https://www bbcatholic org au/evangelisati on/ccd/curriculum/classroom-familyresources

You are encouraged to print these, take them to class and hand them out inviting students to share them with their families It is sometimes even possible in the next lessson, to ask students about the activity – how family members responded for example. As many Sacramental Catechists know - The more families engage in the formation of children the stronger their faith development will be.

One of my favourite supplements invites families to chart the different breads they eat in a week This is part of the Bread of Life lesson in Stage 3 (Cycle A) There have been many reports from students whose brothers and sisters have asked what this chart is all about We can well imagine the ensuing conversations in these homes about Jesus, bible stories, the Mass and Communion

As part of the authorised curriculum these take-home supplements are already approved to be sent home, so feel free to use them regularly

We catechists are called to be sowers of seeds Some of these seeds fall on rocky ground others on rich soil – you know the story Sending family supplements home is another very effective way we can spread the seeds of faith further afield

John Donnelly