#3: A registration meeting? Again?

Why do I have to attend a registration meeting EVERY year (for 1^st-5^th grade), even if I have had other children through the program?  Don’t you realize how crazy, busy this time of year is?!?!

I was talking to a couple parents at our Parish Picnic a couple weeks ago and they expressed frustration about having to attend a registration meeting every year.  And I get that.  And we may very well make on-line registration available next year.  HOWEVER, we will always do our best to gather parents for this annual meeting.  Here is our thinking on the matter….

First, I want to say loud and clear that this one-hour registration meeting each year is NOT our effort to make your life more difficult.  I have three kids and I get it…life IS busy.   I think balance is an evil myth made to make parents feel guilty.  All our families are stretched, and for nothing more than TIME!  Our intent is not to coerce parents to attend but rather to have at least one opportunity (one-hour) each year to meet with parents face-to-face so we can strategize how to best work together in bringing the faith to our kids.  

Truth be told, parents are BY FAR (BY THE LONGEST SHOT IMAGINABLE) the primary catechists  of our CTR children.  Coming from 16 years of University Ministry, let me tell you not one college student who was involved didn’t have at least one parent who talked with them about his/her own personal faith life…NOT…ONE.   
A few students came for the pizza or to find a date, but the prayerful ones all had that one parent who extolled the value of a rich spiritual life.

Some of you are very comfortable talking about faith and religion with your kids, but I’m guessing some of you really aren’t (I’m thinking of my own husband here, don’t worry he never reads the bulletin).  Or maybe you are stumped for ideas and don’t even know where to start.   Teaching does not come naturally to every, or even most, parents.

Nonetheless, the fact remains that everything we do here in our Faith Formation program is absolutely ineffectual without at least a little bit of reinforcement at home.  So, I encourage parents to think of all of us in the Office of Family Ministry as your “Support Staff” – or maybe as your Pit Crew.  It is our job to keep your wheels on (hopefully straight), give you a fill-up when you are running on empty, enjoy and educate your kids for 3-hours a month and do our best to be good witnesses and back your play.  So please be direct in expressing your needs as parents doing this sometimes difficult but important work.

Our goal is to help “tool you up” as much as possible, so that even in our busy day to day lives of simply getting all our kids fed, bathed, dressed and all the rest, we can fit in a little wondering about God and a little sharing about the life and teachings of Jesus which we hold dear.  

We know that many of you barely have 5 minutes a day to put towards such an endeavor, but we also know how that 5 minutes with you can have a critical impact on your child and his/her faith development….Much (MUCH much MUCH) more than we can do in our few hours with your child each month!  So our hope is to make those 5 minutes each day as meaningful and easy to do as possible.   

So, we really do see forming our children in the faith as a strong team effort, with YOU -  as parents - squarely in the lead…or the driver’s seat so to speak.  That is why we really encourage parents to attend this one-hour registration meeting each year.   We also hope to begin sending out monthly emails with tried and true “rubber hits the road” practical ideas on how to engage your kids.  (email dre@ctredeemer.org if you would like to be added to this email list even if your kids are not in our program).

AND, to accommodate those who could not attend the last two dates, we have added ONE MORE Registration Meeting Monday, Sept. 22^nd at 7PM.    All are welcome and childcare is provided.     You might not hate it too much….we are thinking about serving wine & cheese next year.