If you are a parent at St. Faustina, Emily Kucherka wants you to know that “Now is the time to continue watering the seed of Faith that was planted in your children at their Baptism”. As many children prepare to receive their First Communion, this message is particularly important. “First Communion and First Reconciliation are life-long Sacraments,” Emily tell us. In other words, the reception of these sacraments can be the “First” of many encounters with Jesus in the Eucharist and His Mercy in the Confessional. The sacraments are such an incredible gift to our lives--gifts we can return to again and again.
Emily Kucherka began her work in ministry twenty years ago when her own children entered Faith Formation. A fully certified Catechist for the Archdiocese of Galveston, she served previously at Sacred Heart Church in Richmond, TX, and joined our parish staff as Coordinator of Elementary Faith Formation, Infant and Children Baptism, and Sacrament Coordinator/RCIA for second through fifth grade. She is passionate about meeting children where they are and helping them delve into the richness of our Faith.
Emily explains that faith formation is not just education that takes place in the parish. Rather, our parish’s vision involves a partnership between our trained catechists and parents, working together to form the children of our parish in authentic Catholic living--at home, in school, and in the wider community.
The most intense period of Faith Formation for the children and parents in our parish is the year-long preparation to make their First Reconciliation and receive their First Communion. In addition to attending the weekly Faith Formation program, the children are also expected to attend preparation classes specific to the Sacraments they are about to receive. But it’s not just the children who bear the responsibilities of their preparation. “We encourage parents to attend Mass weekly while their children are preparing for the Sacraments, so that they can more fully understand what they are preparing to receive,” Emily says. “The Mass is a classroom in itself!”
As the primary educators of their children, parents have the opportunity to review the Faith Formation materials that their children bring home, get involved in prayer services, and participate in service projects alongside their children. This reminds the parents that sharing our Faith isn’t just about passing along information. It’s about forming their children in the uniquely Christian way of life. Additionally, parents are given free access to Our Sunday Visitor’s Alive in Christ online curriculum. This website gives parents all the resources, content, and links they could possibly need to dive deeper into the richness of our Faith with their children.
“In our very busy world,” says Emily, “so many other activities get in the way of sharing our Faith with our children. It’s my wish that parents would see and understand the beauty and richness of our Catholic Faith, commit themselves to learning more about it, and sharing it with their children as a way of life.” If you’re interested in deepening your own understanding of our Catholic Faith and how to live it in the modern world, then check out the opportunities available at https://saintfaustinachurch.org/faith-formation.