Generations of Faith

A Parish Story

Imagine a parish that is embracing this vision of faith formation and preparing the entire faith community for Lent…

Lent is coming and the entire community of Holy Family Parish is preparing to immerse themselves in the Lenten season through liturgy and prayer (Ash Wednesday, the Sunday liturgies, Holy Week, Stations of the Cross), justice and service (food and clothing collection, Operation Rice Bowl), and community life activities (Lenten meals)—in the parish and at home.

The Holy Family catechetical ministry has designed a variety of ways to prepare all of the generations for their participation in the Lenten Season. Their goal is to prepare everyone in the parish community for Lent focusing on the theme for the year: “The Three Practices of Lent: Fasting, Praying, and Almsgiving.” Preparation programs guide people of all ages to understand the meaning of Lent and the three practices, to appreciate the significance of Lent and the three practices in our Catholic tradition, to participate actively in the Lenten season, and to live the three practices at home and in the world. When people are prepared for an event they feel confident, comfortable, and competent to participate in the events of church life.

The Lenten lectionary readings will be a primary resource for preparation. The music director has selected special Lenten songs, one for each week of Lent, that express musically the Lenten theme. These songs will be used in parish programs and at Sunday worship. 

The week before Ash Wednesday, on a Wednesday night, Friday night or Saturday morning, all ages—from families with children through older adults arrive at the parish center for a light dinner or continental breakfast, followed by the feature activity—learning how to live the three practices of fasting, praying, and almsgiving. The program moves through several stages of activities:

• Everyone gathers together for a meal—a great time to build community.

• The program begins with prayer and song inspired by the Lenten season and the three practices.

• An all-ages opening experience introduces everyone to the focus of preparation—the three practices of Lent.

• The in-depth learning component of the program helps everyone to explore the meaning of the event through age-appropriate learning groups. Families with children explore the Lenten practices through three activity centers—praying, fasting, and almsgiving/service. The adolescents explore the Lenten practices and create  contemporary ways to live the three practices today. A guest speaker presents an overview of the Lenten Lectionary and a contemporary interpretation of the Lenten practices for adults. 

• The entire group gathers again to share their learning from the in-depth sessions.

• One of the leaders reviews how to use the Lenten Home Kit which provides resources for families and individuals to experience Lent at home: a Lenten Calendar with daily activities and Scripture passages; a Lenten journal for teens with daily readings, prayers, and activities; a daily Lenten prayer guide for adults; placemats with weekly table prayers; suggested local service projects and Operation Rice Bowl; several learning activities on Lenten themes; and a copy of the parish’s Lenten calendar.

• In family groupings and adult groupings, everyone develops a Lenten Pledge to live the three practices at home and in the world.

• The program closes in prayer and song.

Young adults—those at home, in college or in the military—receive, via e-mail, a special Lenten Journal with a daily Lectionary reading, a reflection written by young adults, and a prayer. All of the adult faith sharing groups in the parish dedicate a session on the “Three Practices of Lent” by exploring the meaning of Lent and reflecting on the Lenten lectionary readings. Each participant receives a booklet of daily Lenten reflections to guide their journey through the season. All of the parish committees and councils that meet prior to or at the beginning of Lent open their meetings with a special prayer service on the Lenten theme. All of the adult participants receive a Lenten Home Kit and a copy of the parish’s Lenten calendar.

In addition to the Lenten Home Kit, Holy Family On-Line, the parish’s web site, features the parish Lenten calendar, prayers and reflections for all ages on the Lenten Scripture readings, and the entire Lenten Home Kit. A special bulletin insert for each week of Lent is distributed at all of the Masses.

Wherever you go in the Holy Family community people of all ages and generations are united in a common endeavor: to prepare for Lent, to experience Lent fully at home and in the parish, and to integrate their learning into their daily lives as Catholics.

Faith formation at Holy Family Parish is in the midst of a transformation. They are moving toward a curriculum that is centered on the formative events of the Church community and the participation of all ages and generations in the shared experiences of Church life. Holy Family Parish has embraced the Generations of Faith approach to faith formation.