The Parish to Its Young Families… A Valued Pen Pal When It Counts Most

 

By: Diane Dover, Pastoral Associate, St. Joseph Parish, Brooklyn, MI

 

A few years ago, the Education Commission at St. Joseph Shrine Parish in Brooklyn was grappling with an all too common problem: How do we keep in meaningful contact with our young parents? Diane Dover, pastoral associate and director of adult education, religious education and Christian initiation for children at St. Joseph, characterizes the problem this way:

"So often, with the demands of a new baby, work and other responsibilities, we do not see our young families on a regular basis. Sometimes, we might not even see them until the start of religious education for their child. So, we were looking for ways that we could show our interest in their families and help support them in their parenting and faith. That is when we hit on 'Parent Letters' as an excellent tool for doing just that."

"Parent Letters from Your Parish" is a series of communications available through Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), which offers parents helpful information and practical suggestions about introducing their children to the Catholic Faith. The series' focus is on important family aspects that will contribute to and stimulate the child's development and assist in transmitting religious beliefs and practices. 

Seven times, over the course of two years, the pre-packaged mailings include a four-page timely and topical letter for the parents along with a musical CD or other useful gift for the child. The CDs offer lullabies, cradle songs and toddler sing-alongs while the other gifts include such useful items as a laminated family prayer sheet, a laminated placemat with mealtime prayers and culminate with the child's first prayer booklet in the series' final mailing. 

"Parents seem to enjoy the information in the mailings and sing the songs presented on the CDs. It has been our experience that the parents put the rest of the gifts to use as well," notes Diane.

OSV promotes this service, seeing in every baptism an opportunity to energize parents in the faith, family and parish. From the very start, the series is targeted to fill the critical need to connect the parish with its families. They provide Catholic wisdom, age-appropriate strategies, timely advice and heartwarming sentiments in parent-friendly packages. According to Diane, " Parent Letters is the invitation parents are looking for to get involved."

The catalog at the OSV website indicates the seven-letter series is available for just under $20.00 per set. The breakdown of each letter - its timing and its particular objective -- is described as follows:

 

Letter 1: Birth/Baptism - the responsibilities of parenting invite parents to practice and cherish Catholic Faith. This letter provides an understanding of the importance of parenting prayerfully, using family rituals and what happened at Baptism.

 

Letter 2: Six Months Old - families are the natural place for nurturing God's gift of faith. The second letter talks about parenthood as a Christian calling, the importance of teaching as Jesus taught, establishing routines and caring for your own needs.

 

Letter 3: One Year Old - The baby has grown into a toddler.  How can you celebrate the first year of life and deal with your child's changing needs? The third letter outlines helpful tips on taking your child to Mass with you.

 

Letter 4: Eighteen Months Old - The toddler is beginning to accomplish many new things. As the child's personality and social skills develop, the toddler needs help to develop as a child of God.

 

Letter 5: Two Years Old - Now more than ever, consistent love and patience are needed. How do you build caring and trusting relationships that the child needs?

 

Letter 6: Two and a Half Years Old - Two and a half year olds have personalities that are forming as they develop into the unique and special people God wants them to become. Take time to listen and talk to your child about his/her play activities.

 

Letter 7: Three Years Old - Celebrating birthdays, Baptism and other important family events will help children better understand and appreciate parish worship. Parents should initiate their children at an early age into the mysteries of faith. Use faith-filled stories from family and books to help with this.

 

The program comes with a "director's guide", which includes tips on administering the project as well as a mailing record to keep distribution on schedule. At St. Joseph Shrine Parish, baptism automatically enrolls the parents/child in the program.

So, how is it working thus far?

 According to Diane, the program is doing just fine, thank you.  "We have about 20 families presently receiving our mailings. It seems to be doing just what we hoped it would, keeping the parish a presence in parents' lives with a unique communications link."

It seems to be just as appreciated on the "receiving end" as well. 

Jennifer Eyler views the program positively and is grateful to the parish for implementing it.  According to Jennifer, "The parent letters re-center me with my children and provide continuity in faith formation for my family. They have had great fun with the growth chart, 'Growing in God's Love' and they particularly love the music CDs." 

Another parent, Sue Wilson, had not heard of the parents' letters before and finds it "very thoughtful" of the parish to offer. "It definitely supports me in many of the things I have to do as a parent. The letters provide encouragement for me to include activities that I might not have undertaken otherwise. The good, simple ideas, reminders and reassurances in the letters provide guidance on how to bring meaning to the sacrament of Baptism, using practical and real life applications."

Fr. Carl Simon, pastor of St. Joseph's Shrine Parish, sums it up saying, "Sacraments are not just points of time in liturgical celebrations but encounters with Christ that are to be lived out for the rest of their lives. So it is logical that we should want to enable people to follow up on that lived reality. This program lets us do that."

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Contact Information:

Diane Dover
St. Joseph Shrine Parish
8743 U.S. 12
Brooklyn, MI  49230-9217
Phone: 517-467-2106