Evangelizing
Spiritual Heirlooms . . . Treasures
the Domestic Church
Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM
IHM Office of Formative Support for Parents & Teachers
• By what virtues do I most want to
be remembered ?
DrPatMcCormack@aol.com
Spiritual Heirlooms . . . Treasures
• What do I offer my children that
will carry them through life, in
good times and times of stress
and trial?
• What part of me do I want my children
to integrate into themselves -- to inspire,
direct, and advise them when they are
away from me and after I die?
Obstacles to Christian Life
 Secularism
 Religious
Indifference
 Atheism
 Culture of violence,
drugs, pornography
 Glorification of the
affluent life
 Hedonism (viewing
pleasure and
happiness as the
greatest good)
 Consumerism
Creating SPIRITUAL HERITAGE
Is a Countercultural Challenge
Times have changed. Sunday mornings
are filled with entertaining TV shows, swim meets,
league games, travel demands. Holy Days have
given way to commercialized holidays. It’s not that
people have become irreligious. No. The rhythm of
life has. The social rhythm of life is no longer
automatically turned in to the practice of
Christianity. . . If I’m going to practice the Christian
tradition of daily prayer [and other spiritual
practices], I’m going to have to be ‘countercultural’
-- a bit out of step.
Bishop Ken Untener (2003). Little White Book, Epilogue
Parents share in the evangelizing
mission of the Church . . .
. . . To proclaim Jesus as Lord
. . . To spread his Gospel
• God is love.
• God is present among us.
• God calls us to relationship, conversion,
and transformation.
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Imitate Jesus: Prophet, Priest, King
Live the Great
Commandments
i
Be the
in
Evangelization
Be the compassion
of Christ
Catholic
Social
Teaching
Key themes that run through
centuries of Church documents
and tradition
Life and Dignity
of the Human Person
Call to Family,
Community,
Participation
Rights and
Responsibilities
Option for
the Poor and Vulnerable
Solidarity
Warn the sinner. Instruct the ignorant.
Pray for the living and the dead.
Forgive all injuries. Bear wrongs
patiently. Counsel the doubtful.
Comfort the sorrowful.
SPIRITUAL
WORKS OF MERCY
Feed the hungry. Give drink to the
thirsty.
Clothe the naked. Visit the sick.
CORPORAL
Shelter the homeless. Visit the
imprisoned. Bury the dead.
How is Christian Character transmitted
in the family home?
CUSTOMS
ENVIRONMENT
RITUAL
SACRAMENTS
Care of God’s Creation
PERSONAL EXAMPLE
Dignity of Work & Rights of Workers
prayer center or
prayer table
Physical reminders
of the sacred
prayer dish / bowl / container
symbols of liturgical season
spiritual reading / materials / prayer aides
decorations / poster messages
Social habits / practices / routines that
“season” class time with the sacred
and integrate awareness of God into
the ordinary events of the day
Jesus Chair
Stimulus-Response Mantra
Blessing the Hour
Gesture
Signing forehead, lips, heart
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MARKER occasions of
participation in the
Sacraments
PREPARATION
PARTICIPATION
marked by
Demonstrate
your relationship with God.
“What you do speaks so
loudly, I cannot hear
what you are saying.”
Emerson
• Attention • Reverence • Devotion
The Seasons of the Liturgical Year
are like a Mini-Series
of Salvation History.
  ADVENT: the ancient longing for the Messiah
  CHRISTMAS: the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a
Savior
  ORDINARY TIME I: Jesus’ public life & ministry
  LENT: Jesus moves towards his passion and death
  EASTERTIME: the resurrection and ascension of Jesus
  PENTECOST and ORDINARY TIME II: the Father and Son
fulfill the promise to send the Holy Spirit to guide us until
the end of the world when Christ will come again in glory
Challenges in Family Catechesis
 To educate without
antagonizing,
offending,
embarrassing,
speaking down,
adding stress or
implying guilt
 To lead to an
experience of
personal relationship
with Jesus
 To energize versus
adding to parent
burden
8 Suggestions
Ways to
“Come through
the back door.”
Focus on how to help a child to grow in
security, self-esteem, responsibility,
prayer, conscience . . .
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#1
Organize Parent Discussion Groups
Ready-to-use RESOURCES
1. How did the newsletter affirm or validate you? Be
specific. (Unmonitored Sharing)
2. How did the newsletter challenge you?
Be specific. (Unmonitored Sharing)
3. Name one action, practice or behavior that you will
apply between now and the next session.
(Unmonitored Sharing)
“The meeting is now open for
free-flow discussion .”
Today’s Catholic Teacher
40 Reproducible Newsletters
WEBSITE
www.ParentTeacherSupport.org
Newsletters:
Family Faith
Character Development
School Issues
Religious Ed Classroom
100+
Joseph Cardinal Bernardin (1977).
Growing in Wisdom, Age and Grace.
 Today’s Family
 Infants
 Young Children
 Primary Grade
Children
 Intermediate Grade
Children
 Young Adolescents
#2
Schedule events that involve the
child as a performer.
Deliver messages
that touch the heart.
Touched by a Angel
Chicken Soup for the Soul
Inspirational e-mail “forwards”
Child-oriented movie, cartoon, etc.
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#3
Host family-centered entertainment
nights or mini-retreats
 Videos, CDs, DVDs, music, episodes of TV
shows, cartoons . . .
(Media Message: clear, simple, unmistakable!!!)
 Easy-to-discuss focus questions
#4
Make meeting times convenient.
 Provide child care.
 Offer sessions at daytime, early
evening, nighttime, and on Saturday
afternoon ending with Vigil Mass.
 Interview questions -- child to parent
 Meet while children are in Religious
Education class.
 Family/Group Report
#5
Initiate life-long support and faithcommunities at the time of Baptism.
 Network families who celebrate a Baptism
within the year.
#6
Provide succinct literature on
parenting support themes.
• Organize group discussions in homes.
 Provide a formative experience once a year.
 Host an annual anniversary reunion of
Baptismal families. Offer age-related support.
 Organize Baptismal families into small “faithcommunities.”
#7
Organize a way to share, honor and
celebrate FAMILY or CULTURAL RITUALS
 Birthdays
 Anniversaries
 Bedtime
 Leaving the family
home
Etc.
 Advent
 Christmas
 Lent
 Easter
• Facilitate group discussion at Church:
- after the “children’s Mass”
- before Saturday evening vigil Mass
#8
Illustrate a desired parent behavior.
Take NOTHING for granted.
Prepare parent-child teams to demonstrate
VIGNETTES of:
• Integrating Jesus into conversation
• Teaching prayer
• Shaping character
• Correcting in love
• Et Cetera!
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Ordinary Holiness
Tim & Julie Smith
Ordinary holiness,
in the sacred day to day
Where we live and love and labor,
as we gather here to pray.
Humble God of all simplicity,
help every heart prepare
and heed the call to holiness,
and hear the call to prayer.
Ordinary Holiness
Tim & Julie Smith
Ordinary holiness,
in the sacred day to day
Where we live and love and labor,
as we gather here to pray.
Humble God of all simplicity,
help every heart prepare
and heed the call to holiness,
and hear the call to prayer.
Ordinary Holiness
Tim & Julie Smith
Ordinary holiness,
in the sacred day to day
Where we live and love and labor,
as we gather here to pray.
Humble God of all simplicity,
help every heart prepare
and heed the call to holiness,
and hear the call to prayer.
Kitchen table gospel
is lived in every home
where families take the time to kneel and pray.
Fathers who encourage;
mothers who embrace;
friends who listen carefully
reveal God’s loving face.
Voices that are gentle,
Words that welcome home,
Meals that feed the body and the soul.
Honoring the family
and cherishing each life;
strengthening the sacrament of
husband and wife.
Ordinary Holiness
Tim & Julie Smith
From the collection “A Eucharistic People”
3118 S. Los Altos
Mesa, AZ 85202
(408) 897 - 0842
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IHM Formative Support
For Parents & Teachers
Dr. Patricia M. McCormack, IHM
6600 Little Falls Road
Arlington, VA 22213
703-237-2891
DrPatMcCormack@aol.com
www.ParentTeacherSupport.org
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