Often our parishes, schools, and ministries can seem like silos that do not connect or communicate with each other. It is critical for the family, parish, school, and ministries to work in concert to fulfill the Great Commission of Jesus. It is especially important that parishes and families that are not part of our Catholic schools work together to establish a faith formation plan for each member of the family. A real partnership is essential in conjunction with a personal relationship with a parish disciple or disciple family (accompaniment). Too often families are not invited to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. How are we interacting with families? Are we providing opportunities for our families, adults, youth, and children, to experience the love of Jesus Christ – to encounter him, to follow him, to become disciples and disciple makers?

 Imagine parishes and schools working together with families regarding the faith formation of their children with a faith formation plan and accompaniment over a period of years. Imagine parents working with priests and teachers to empower each young person to encounter Jesus Christ and grow in his or her faith. Such efforts would enable us to respond to each individual and family and would provide opportunities for our parishes and schools to minister to them and call them to discipleship! 

1. What does it mean to say that oftentimes our parishes, schools, and ministries can seem like silos?
2. Is our parish, family, school, or ministry providing families, adults, youth, and children opportunities to experience the love of Jesus Christ, to encounter Him, to follow Him, to become disciples and disciple-makers?
3. How can our parish, family, school, or ministry work with families to build a faith formation plan toward discipleship?
4. What needs to change in order to enable partnerships of families, parishes, and schools in evangelization and disciple making?

Continue the discussion:
Catholic Education as Evangelization

 Youth Ministry as Evangelization

 Stewardship as Mission

 Communication of Evangelization