In light of the COVID-19 Pandemic in early 2020, we have had to adapt how faith formation takes place at Christ the King. It has become obvious that the in-classroom model of faith formation was not going to be possible for us this year. in light of this, perhaps it was time to re-think how faith formation was done, not just to help us get through the pandemic, but to help us grow into the future.
This is where family-based faith formation comes from. It became quite apparent that if faith formation was going to have to move into individuals' homes if it was going to continue in any meaningful way. Family-based faith formation empowers parents to make growing in the faith an activity that they also take part in and ownership of. Instead of families relying solely on the parish to educate their children in the ways of the faith, parents will be empowered by the parish to help their children grow in the faith.
Families will register for faith formation as per usual for any of their students in grades Pre-K to 12th Grade and pay the registration fee. They will then receive the books and supplies that they will need to help their students learn about the faith each week. Each week on Sunday morning, parents will receive a guide or "menu" along with instructions on how to help their children learn the lessons each week. They get the discussion questions, a reflection on each section, and any other outside supplemental resources necessary. The menu will have three sections. the first section is the "Main Courses" section. This is the required section that families will need to complete each week. The second section is the "Side Dishes" section. This section will have a series of optional activities that will cover a variety of topics; families will have to complete one item in this section minimum each week. The third section is the "Desserts" section. This section will have a few fun activities that families can choose from and do at least one. They will then compile an artifact that shows they completed the activities which will be turned in once a month. They will then have the whole week to cover any of the lessons that they chose and have to do and complete the artifacts.