Families of Hope: Passing On the Faith
Marriage and family are under attack on many levels. Every day fathers and mothers face the challenge of raising their children to be wholesome, holy, productive citizens in a society that often de-values virtuous living, marriage and family, even the dignity of human life.
The past decades have brought about a steady decline in moral living, devastating changes in marriages and family life, and an escalation in challenges families face on a daily basis. In our present day, the devaluation of life itself, and the attempted social re-engineering of marriage and family life leaves many married couples and families fragmented and vulnerable.
The Franciscan Servants of the Holy Family, an emerging Religious Community within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas was founded to help families grow in holiness and unity. It is our mission to teach and empower parents to be, as Pope John Paul II referred to them as the “first educators of their children,” the first to introduce them to and teach them about God. We minister to married couples and families through prayer, understanding family role and mission, and catechesis via retreats (for families, women, men, teens), presentations, home visits, support groups, and serving in conjunction with other established ministries.
The primary ministry focus of the Franciscan Servants of the Holy Family is the parent education program “Families of Hope: Passing On the Faith.” This program promotes:
- parents as the “first and most important teachers of their children”
- family prayer
- teaching virtue in the home
- passing on faith traditions in the home
- restoring the “culture of life” within the family
- proper use of modern media
These presentations bring parents together, offering opportunities for discussion and picking up new ideas, which can alleviate some of the isolation experienced by many parents.
While numerous programs targeting parenting skills exist, this program includes, as has as its basis, the Catholic faith and its teachings regarding the beautiful role and responsibility of parents in teaching their children to live virtuous lives.