My suspicion is theyтАЩd be more inclined to stick around if they werenтАЩt treated as muddlebrained infants for two years, and instead received very direct, mindful, clear instruction for about six months and could go on with living and loving the faith instead of being imprisoned in classrooms with volunteer catechists for years on end.
I've been invited a couple of times to apply for staff faith formation positions. In the end I decline every time for exactly this reason. I don't know if my faith could survive working for the Church.
Not at my parish. Our middle school RE and confirmation programs, whatever its faults may be, do not come remotely close to treating kids and families like muddle-brained infants. The content, especially from the 7th/8th teacher is thoughtful, challenging, orthodox, and deep. Our paid confirmation coordinator manages to rope in many teens for additional years in the program after confirmation is administered. It still mostly whooshes right by and is not affirmed in the family.
I teach faith formation for 7th grade. Believe me most don't have parents that are Pillar readers.
We require two years of faith formation before receiving Confirmation and it is probably all they will ever get.
I always pray that they receive enough to come back as adults
My suspicion is theyтАЩd be more inclined to stick around if they werenтАЩt treated as muddlebrained infants for two years, and instead received very direct, mindful, clear instruction for about six months and could go on with living and loving the faith instead of being imprisoned in classrooms with volunteer catechists for years on end.
The sad truth is that they and their parents do not attend church and they are simply checking a box.
Honestly, I think only a volunteer could handle the lack of faith. A professional would simply weep.
I've been invited a couple of times to apply for staff faith formation positions. In the end I decline every time for exactly this reason. I don't know if my faith could survive working for the Church.
Every year the Holy Spirit sends me someone that lets me know he has a plan.
Originally I was only planning to do it for 1 yearтАжтАж15 years ago.
You should definitely try it. If only because it makes you treasure the faith even more.
Not at my parish. Our middle school RE and confirmation programs, whatever its faults may be, do not come remotely close to treating kids and families like muddle-brained infants. The content, especially from the 7th/8th teacher is thoughtful, challenging, orthodox, and deep. Our paid confirmation coordinator manages to rope in many teens for additional years in the program after confirmation is administered. It still mostly whooshes right by and is not affirmed in the family.