Introduction
   Faithful Parenting is a faith formation and enrichment opportunity for Catholic parents sponsored by the Catholic Parishes in Waterloo. 
   Faithful Parenting is designed to prepare, encourage and support parents in their role as the “first heralds of faith."  Our goal is to help parents understand and fulfill their responsibility, shared with the faith community, for the faith formation of their child.

Goals
Faithful Parenting is designed to help parents:
• understand the experiential or catechumenal model of conversion, by 
  which children and adults come to know, understand and practice their 
  faith.
• recognize the developmental characteristics and spiritual needs of 
  children in various stages of growth from infancy to adolescence.
• appreciate the complementary responsibilities of parents and the parish
  in the religious formation and education of children outlined in the 
  parishes' Baptism Covenant.
• understand the fundamental principles of the Catholic faith which 
  parents must pass faith on to their children in word and deed.
• create “households of faith“ or "relationships of faith" in which children 
  see, hear, express and live their faith in age-appropriate ways.

Overview
   The Faithful Parenting formation process begins with preparation for Baptism and continues through a series of annual formation opportunities for parents of young children ages six months to five years old.  This chart provides a summary of the content for each session:

Baptism Preparation (Parents of Newborns and Infants)
   This session introduces parents to the role of faith in our lives and the Paschal Mystery; sacraments and the catechumenal conversion process; the role of parents as the “first heralds of faith” for their children; and the shared responsibilities of parents and the faith community outlined in theBaptismal Covenant.  There is an opportunity to discuss the Baptism ritual and Baptism policies in the parishes. Parents are invited to examine the health of their relationship and the impact their relationship has on the faith formation of their child.

Session One (Parents of Children 6 to 24 Months Old)
   This session introduces parents to the characteristics of the “Catholic Imagination” which is rooted in the doctrines of Creation and Incarnation; the four dimensions of faith formation (how we experience, learn, express and live our faith); typical stages in faith development; and the value of religious symbols and objects in the faith formation of children.  There is an opportunity to discuss the child’s developmental needs and practical steps for faith formation at this age, the expectations of the Baptismal Covenant and the health of the parent's relationship.

Session Two (Parents of Children 24 to 36 Months Old)
   This session introduces parents to the role of mystery and story encountered in both our lived experience and in Revelation; the Eucharist as the source and summit of Catholic faith and Catholic living; characteristics of “Imaginative Faith” and attitudes of the “Catholic Imagination;" and the value of story-telling in the faith-formation of children.  There is an opportunity to discuss the child’s developmental needs and practical steps for faith formation at this age, the expectations of the Baptismal Covenant and the health of the parent's relationship.

Session Three (Parents of Children 36 to 48 Months Old)
   This session introduces parents to the relational nature of faith rooted in the Trinity and experienced in faith communities: fundamentals of prayer, principles of Catholic moral teaching, guidelines for formation in human sexuality, principles of positive discipline and the value of family rituals and traditions, all of which arise out of the communal nature of faith.  There is an opportunity to discuss the child’s developmental needs and practical steps for faith formation at this age, the expectations of theBaptismal Covenant and the health of the parent's relationship.

Session Four (Parents of Children 48 to 60 Months Old)
   This session introduces parents to further implications of the communal nature of faith: the principles of good stewardship; the fundamentals of Catholic Social Teaching; the traditional Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy; the concept of developmental assets; and the prayer life of children.  There is an opportunity to discuss the child's developmental needs, practical steps for faith formation at this age, the expectations of the Baptismal Covenant and the health of the parent's relationship.

Session Five (Parents of Children in First Grade)
   This session introduces parents to the challenges and opportunities for children's faith formation as they enter into a new stage of faith development and enroll in the process of formal catechesis in a Catholic school or faith formation program: the shared roles of families and parish; the content and methodology of the catechetical program; and expectations for sacramental preparation and celebrations. There is an opportunity to discuss the child's developmental needs, practical steps for faith formation at this age, the expectations of the Baptismal Covenant and the health of the parent's relationship.

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Schedule of Faithful Parenting
The schedule of Faithful Parenting opportunities is pending.

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Registration
• By phone: call 319-234-9912
• By email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
• Online:

   Copyright Protected. The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo                                                                                      Last Update: 04.30.18