May 20, 2015 By Pam Ballantine I am always fascinated by the Gospel story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. The disciples speak intimately of Jesus’ death and their dashed hope that he was the Messiah. As they headed out of town, so frightened and hopeless, they do not recognize Jesus when they meet up with the stranger on the road. Jesus begins to walk with them, listen to them, converse with them. He met them right where they were on the faith journey. Without judgment, he drew closer and continued to give them what they needed. Jesus’ one hope for them, to open their hearts and see. When families gather for sacramental preparation, whether it is just adults or entire families, we can be sure that these people are in many different places on their journey. Some of these families are very active in the development of their spiritual life; some may not pay a great deal of attention to their own spiritual development. There are families who are deeply connected to the Catholic Church, while other families have not been inside the church for years. When friends and relatives gather for a child’s Baptism, First Eucharist or for a Marriage celebration, In Bishop LaValley’s Pastoral Letter: “Find you Home in Christ” the second priority is “Strengthening Faith Formation in Family Life.” The challenge that has been placed before the family catechesis committee is to “Provide Family Catechesis for the Seven Sacraments for every parish by February 1, 2016.” There are ten individuals who comprise the family catechesis team, who journey from across the diocese to gather, dream and brainstorm on the tasks they have before them. These dedicated individuals work and minister day in and day out with families in their own respective parish communities. The team members include two pastors, Fathers Chris Looby and Dan Chapin, Deacon Mark Bennett, St. Peter’s in Plattsburgh, St. Joseph Sister Helen Hermann, principal of Seton Academy; Jamie Burns, Catholic School teacher and Catechetical Leader at St. Mary’s in Canton; Karlene Gonyea, Catholic School teacher and Catechetical Leader, St. Mary’s Church in Ticonderoga; Tina Coryea, Catechetical Leader of the Roman Catholic Community in Brownville and Dexter, St. Joseph Sister Diane Ulsamer, Special Faith Formation, Watertown Catechetical Office, RoseAnn Hickey, Confirmation Catechist, St. Agnes Church in Lake Placid, also former Diocesan Youth Director, Summer Camp Director. Pam Ballantine, Assistant Director of the Faith Formation Office, Eastern Region is the Goal Point Person. The committee meets monthly to develop strategies and models for family catechesis and formulate resource guides for each of the seven sacraments, including a comprehensive catechesis for Marriage Preparation. The committee will also review the current certification requirements for catechists and catechetical leaders and explore various on-line possibilities for certification and the on-going formation of catechists. In closing, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin states, “As Church leaders we must also speak words of commitment to families. An important responsibility for the Church is to support families in their mission as a ‘church of the home.’ This is where our theological vison of Christian family gives way to far-reaching, even radical pastoral implications. Thus, our pledge to families should be one of partnership.”
Our roadmap has been laid out before us. As we continue on our faith journey, just as the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we will walk with the families of our diocese as they “Find Their Home in Christ:” Renewing their faith, Nurturing their Hope and Discovering their Love. |
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it would be a grave mistake to treat them all as if they are on the same faith level. At a recent World Youth Day, Pope Francis stated, “How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith!” 
Faith develops within the family, the domestic church. The Diocesan Offices of Education, Evangelization and Family Life support this mission by assisting parishes, families and individuals in lifelong faith formation. We have a responsibility as parish leaders to know who our families are, find out what our families need, continue to evaluate our parish programs and their impact of the families and build on family strengths. It is also important to remember to keep families involved in the planning process of family programing and to be vigilant in continual communication with parents especially those who disappear after their children have celebrated the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Eucharist and Confirmation.