FAIRFIELD COUNTY—With public Mass suspended indefinitely and children home from school, many are wondering what is being done about religious education.
Rose Talbot-Babey, director of Faith Formation here in the diocese reassures readers that directors of religious education and catechists are doing everything in their power to ensure that students will still receive instruction.
Maryjean DaSilva of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Stratford has been sending out weekly emails to families that include Pflaum lessons of the week. Pflaum is a Faith Formation program, which, due to coronavirus concerns, has made digital versions of their work available to families. DRE’s can download each week’s lesson and email them to parents or give parents access to the site so that they can print lessons from home (more information can be found at www.pflaum.com.)
DaSilva explains that families can access the Catechism handbook, weekly videos, seasonal activities and parent guides on how to teach. If the family cannot access the materials online, families are encouraged to pick up hardcopy lessons and packets in the church vestibule when it is open for private prayer. “If the family is unable to leave their home we have mailed the packet,” says DaSilva.
“With the weekly family email we also send our parish bulletin that includes links to Mass, our parish website, a variety of resources, activities and links from The Leadership Institute…and we always ask if there is anything they need during this difficult time,” DaSilva says.
Although there are some difficulties regarding access to technology, DRE’s are doing their best to keep families and students informed.
Michelle Curnan, of Holy Trinity Parish in Sherman is in regular contact with all families suggesting ways to stay engage in the faith by watching Mass on TV, praying the Rosary as a family and doing family service projects to help those in need.
Shari Garcia, director of religious education at St. Pius X in Fairfield has been sending home resources and materials to continue sacramental preparation at home, using Decision Point for Confirmation prep and curating different resources each week for First Communion students. Decision Point is a Confirmation program through Dynamic Catholic, specifically developed to engage young Catholics in a meaningful conversation about the genius of Catholicism (more information can be found at dynamiccatholic.com/confirmation.)
“The trick I’ve noticed is to keep the ‘homework’ minimal, explains Garcia. “A lot of our families are overwhelmed trying to get into the swing of the homeschool routine, so they’ve really enjoyed the video format —it does the bulk of the classroom-type catechesis for them and they are able to follow along and discuss the videos as a family.”
“I’ve also had the kids responding with 2-3 sentences of questions/comments about the videos each week as their assignment so they don’t feel too overwhelmed,” she says.
Garcia has been using Flocknote to send the materials each week because it allows for her to embed the YouTube links into the email easily, keeping everything in one place.
“Although these are challenging times for evangelizing the faith with our families and children for our Directors and Coordinators of Faith Formation, there is a great opportunity, now more than ever, with our plates being cleared by the Covid-19 virus, says Talbot-Babey. “By being asked to practice social distancing, with more quiet time and less distractions, our Lord may be asking us to refocus on what is important and possibly has been missing in our lives…a more deeper relationship with Him and our families! What a perfect time…the Lenten Season!”
By Elizabeth Clyons
