Parishes embrace Family Evangelizing Catechesis

Parishes in the Diocese of Camden are adopting Family Evangelizing Catechesis to involve parents more directly in their children's religious education. This approach, also called family faith formation, moves away from traditional models where children attend separate classes while parents remain uninvolved.

Father John Picinic, pastor of Christ Our Light Parish in Cherry Hill, said his parish is transitioning more fully to this model in the coming year. He noted that while older methods helped children build peer relationships, they offered limited opportunities to build a wider community involving parents and the parish. Father Picinic said this new approach allows parents to reclaim their role as the primary teachers of faith to their children.

Bishop Joseph A. Williams established a new role for Laurie Power to serve as the diocesan coordinator for Family Evangelizing Catechesis. Power is responsible for supporting priests and parish catechetical leaders who want to implement family-based models.