Young Family Ministry Holds Potluck Dinner to

Celebrate a Great Year of Faith and Fellowship.

By Steve Martin

     Raising a family in today’s society can be tough.  There are so many deadlines and tasks filling up the schedule of most parents today. Families can find themselves running constantly without a single minute being dedicated to connecting as a couple.

     Moms and Dads often forget that in addition to tending to the emotional, physical, and spiritual needs of their children it is important for them to prioritize time to reconnect as a couple. Spouses are called to support and encourage one another along the journey of life. Their bond of love must be nurtured and cared for.

     One vital piece of every healthy family is the relationship between Mom and Dad. There must be time in their schedule to speak to each other as adults. Especially during the early stages of raising children, parents have to be intentional about this.  Somehow they need to get away from the constant needs of their children and focus on nurturing their friendship.

     Another central part of the successful family is faith. Mom and Dad share the responsibility of raising up children of faith. It is their job to help them learn who God is. It is also essential for Mom and Dad themselves to grow and develop their own faith. They will teach children more about what faith looks like through their own actions and attitudes.  When they are committed to learning more about God and responding to the action of the Holy Spirit in their own lives, their children will catch the fire of faith.    

     St. Therese wants to help parents succeed. That’s why we started a discussion group last fall specifically for families with young children. Families met two Monday nights per month from October through April. 

     Parents spent a couple of hours interacting with other parents like themselves while their children played in the child play room. After watching a DVD by Christopher West on Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body teaching, there was time to discuss how the Church’s teaching applied to every day challenges of parenthood. 

     Spending this time together had an added bonus.  New friendships were formed and existing friendships were strengthened. During last week’s pot luck dinner, we asked group members some questions. They had many good things to say.

     When asked what he would say to encourage other young families to get involved, Eric Stenstrom, a parish dad said, “It creates a sense of community among young families in our parish.” Lia Brownell, a parish mom, pointed out that this ministry was, “good for our marriage… to spend time with my husband.” Wendy Snider, another parish mom, added some encouraging words about the

Christopher West videos. “These talks bring you to appreciate each other and see humans more deeply, as we’re so different. But, we compliment each other.”

     Even the children had something to say. We asked Rebecca Snider what she liked about the young family group. She smiled and said, “I liked playing with the younger kids.”

     Starting in June we’ll be hosting a discussion group based on the recent movie Fireproof. Fireproof will touch your heart and impact your marriage.  The movie highlights the challenge of being faithful to your wedding vows in a world that is very confused about the meaning of love and family.  Come and join us for a look at how we can live our vocation to marriage in a way that will strengthen your love for one another and ‘fireproof’ your commitment. Contact Steve Martin at 359-8621 for more information.