Our Pastor’s Message
Growing Young Disciples, Part II

As you know, the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport has embarked on a journey to reimagine, rebuild, and restructure our youth faith formation programs. After much prayer, research, and consultation with parents and catechetical leaders from across the country, we concluded that the traditional way of teaching our children and grandchildren about Christ and His Church (the classroom model) is no longer the most effective way of sharing the faith or forming young disciples. We also learned that a consensus is growing throughout the Catholic Church that we should focus our energies and resources on sacramental preparation, family-friendly liturgies, lifelong faith formation, and creative ways of welcoming people of all ages and generations back into our parishes. Earlier this month, I shared with you that we have reimagined the way that we will prepare children for the Sacraments of First Penance & Reconciliation (Confession) and First Holy Communion. It is now time to share our program of preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

For too many teenagers, Confirmation has sadly become a kind of graduation from the Church, rather than the joyful beginning of life as an adult disciple in the Church. We hope to end this tragic ambivalence by transforming sacramental preparation into an engaging process for the whole family. First, we will continue to place primary focus on attending Mass. For more than a century, the Church has required every parish to provide some kind of religious education for children. During recent decades, we have asked parents to dedicate one hour each week to their child’s religious education by enrolling them in a classroom-based faith formation program. Unfortunately, we failed to remind parents of their baptismal promise to be the first teachers of their children in all matters related to faith and morals; and that the most important component of that responsibility is attending Mass as a family. In our increasingly busy, stressful, and over-scheduled world, its has become common for parents to entrust their children to us for an hour of instruction but not join us for Mass each weekend. So, we will continue to ask parents to dedicate one hour each week to their child’s religious education — by bringing them to church!

We also will no longer ask teenagers to spend countless hours in a classroom in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Beginning in the ninth grade, all high school students will be invited to participate in our two-year program of formation that will prepare them to receive the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation. During the first year, our students will participate in a series of interactive workshops about the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. These sessions will be scheduled on Sunday mornings to coincide with our weekend Mass schedule. During the second year, our students will participate in six additional workshops (and a four hour mini-retreat) designed to help them grow in prayer, fellowship, and service; to prepare them to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit; and to jumpstart their lives as faithful and faith-filled young adult disciples.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus gives his disciples the Great Commission and says to them: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).” Ever mindful of the Lord’s promise, let us renew our dedication to the Great Commission by celebrating the sacraments, teaching our children and grandchildren, and growing new generations of disciples that will pass on on the beliefs and traditions of God’s Church until the end of the age.

Change is never easy. I truly appreciate and understand that this new approach to youth faith formation may be difficult for some parishioners to accept. In my heart, however, I am convinced that our mission is not to make “theologians” by teaching our children about just the doctrines and practices of the Church. Our mission must be to make, grow, and nurture “disciples” by engaging our children in new and creative ways, by teaching them to pray, and by helping them to build lifelong relationships with Jesus Christ, with God’s Church, and with their brothers and sisters in faith. Thank you in advance for your ongoing encouragement, prayers, and support of our youth faith formation programs at Holy Family Parish and Our Lady of Good Voyage Parish. Please continue to pray for me and our pastoral team, for our children and grandchildren, and for all who live, work, and worship in the Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport!

Peace and blessings to all,
Father Jim

Reverend James M. Achadinha, Pastor
Catholic Community of Gloucester & Rockport
Contact: frjim@ccgronline.com

CCGR Weekly Newsletter (8-28-16)
Bringing Home the Word (8-28-16)

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