Diocesan Givens    

• 30 hours of catechetical time
• Parent/Family participation required
• Regular Mass attendance expected
• We use the Diocesan Curriculum.  Texts and materials support this curriculum and are approved by the Bishop.

National Study of Youth and Religion Findings:

1. The single most important influence on the religious and spiritual lives of adolescents is their parents.
2. Spiritual and religious understanding are very weak among American teens.
3. Highly religious teenagers appear to be doing much better in life than less religious teens.

What we hear from feedback forms and listening sessions:

• Students are busy
• Families are busy
• Want to connect, not just be taught to
• Parents want resources to encourage and explore questions about faith and to be able to answer questions about faith
• Community service opportunities
• Hands on - related to life - faith experiences
• We want to go to Mass more, but…

Community Based Model

• Gatherings available each month in tandem with Mass at each church
• Monthly gatherings (Community faith) with adult partner
• Community faith sessions are hands on, give families resources, are experiences of faith, can include community service, are liturgical year based
• Additional catechesis using Pflaum Gospel Weeklies
• Faith community partners (mentors) to support families