By Marie Mulvenna

Thirty-one families arrived at Our Lady of the Assumption cafeteria one Sunday evening last month for a unique religious education entitled “Family.” The program, developed by the Paulists, is a new approach to religious education and centers entirely on families sharing instruction, experience and celebration on a particular theme.

Sister Marie Carolyn Cutcliff, RSM, of Our Lady of the Assumption, described the initial response to the parish programs “very warming and responsive.” Close to 200 persons from 31 families are actively involved in the once a moth program at OLA which is sponsored by the religious education department of the parish and includes a staff of 13: three priests, six sisters, and four lay persons.

“We wanted to get the point across,” Sister said, “that religious development is for everyone, not just for the children.” She said, “So many seemed to be moving toward the fact that religion can be learned in a family environment, shared together and continued at the family level at home.

Sister Marie Carolyn said the Assumption staff was particularly pleased with the participation in the program, especially the fact that older children also took an active part in the evening theme.

The program is presented in a thematic way so that the entire family is studying the same topic, each on his own level of readiness and awareness. Much of the instruction for the parents is done through a slide-tape presentation followed by small discussion groups while the other members of the family are receiving the theme in smaller groups, geared for their age, ranging from nursery school to high school groups.

Following the instruction portion of the evening, which lasts for two hours, the entire family is reunited and takes part in a reflection and discussion of the theme they have each received, talking about the theme as it relates to them and setting up a short project which is symbolic of their new understandings. There are then specific suggestions for further family experience which can be done at home to follow-up on the theme for the month.

The third aspect of the program is that of celebration, either a para-liturgical prayer celebration or a Eucharistic celebration. The family experience is integrated into the celebration and the family “project” is brought forth as a response to the readings or in the procession for the presentation of the gifts.

The “Family” program has been designed to cover one theme per month and over a three-year period the families will receive instruction in the major beliefs of the Church, coinciding with the liturgical year with special emphasis given each year to Eucharist and penance.

“Family,” Sister Marie Carolyn said, said, “provides the three interlocking dimensions of message, community and services, described by U.S. bishops in their pastoral letter “To Teach as Jesus Did.” She spoke enthusiastically of the response at Assumption and the number of people who were anxious to share the monthly experience and participate in the specially designed format. “Their participation was excellent and very encouraging for us in religious education work.”

Sister Kathleen Regan of the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education said the archdiocese had been asked last year to conduct two pilot “Family” programs and then furnish feedback on its success or failure to the Paulists. “We had such positive reaction,” she said, “and we realized the exciting possibilities this whole concept had for us all.” The pilot programs were held at St. Philip Benizi in Jonesboro and at Sacred Heart in Griffin.

Sister Kathleen said she was “excited and enthused” about the program, saying it succeeded to help solve the dilemma of how to develop family programs that would not separate the family and make it difficult for parents to understand what their child was doing and how to follow up the material the child was receiving. “Now the child walks alongside his parent in the program and it has been such an asset and so adaptable.”

Sister said many parishes can adapt the programs to fit their particular needs, including older couples who have no children in the program, to parents without partners. She referred to one program at Mother of Our Divine Savior in Toccoa where an older couple were “adopted” by another family and were thrilled at being involved in the whole program.

“The program,” Sister Kathleen said, “is a catalyst to what can be done at home and the continuing aspect of further studying the theme the rest of the month is very important to all the members of the family.” “It’s really a faith sharing and how it’s growing,” she added.

Presently the “Family” program is now being utilized at Assumption, Our lady of Lourdes, St. Thomas the Apostle, St. Philip Benizi and two rural parishes – St. Francis Assisi in Cartersville and in Toccoa and Hartwell. It is as well, being used as part of the program for sacramental preparation at St. Thomas More by the religious education department and the parish school working together.

“The model of the ‘Family’ program is what’s so important,” Sister said. It shows we can pray, share, and participate as a family and then share this with our parish family in the faith community.”