Parish Faith Formation during the pandemic year

By Pat Lipperini

In the midst of winding down their 2020-21 Faith Formation programs, celebrating first Communions and confirmations, and planning for summer programs, parish catechetical leaders received a welcome affirmation of their efforts in Pope Francis’s recent Apostolic Letter establishing the lay ministry of catechist. His words provide insight and encouragement and are especially meaningful as we reflect on this extraordinary year.

At its heart, according to Pope Francis, the church engages in the work of catechesis “so that the faith might be an effective support for the life of every human being.” This year, when trust in so many aspects of our society faltered, the need to be an effective, life-giving support became even more apparent. Catechists, ministering on the front lines of parish life, saw the heartbreaking toll the pandemic took on families. Whether it was illness, financial hardships, relationship stress or profound grief, families needed their faith more than ever to help them through. But the limitations imposed by life during a pandemic meant that “catechesis as usual” was not an option. Thus, catechetical leaders wrestled with how to create programs that would be instructional and inspirational, providing the effective support that the pope describes. This required creativity, flexibility and openness to the Holy Spirit.

Parish catechesis has never been one size fits all so each catechetical leader designed programs based upon their parish resources, facilities and demographics. Their catechists studied, worked and adapted to the new demands imposed by the pandemic, whether it was leading socially distanced, masked children in a classroom or learning how to facilitate meaningful lessons on a remote platform.

Melissa Kiessling, CRE at the Parish of the Holy Cross in Bridgeton remarks, “As catechists we pushed ourselves to be creative and out of the box. The catechists challenged themselves and proved technology wasn’t going to defeat them.”

But weekly classes are only a small part of the catechetical efforts of a parish. Catechetical leaders also worked to create opportunities for parents and families to stay connected to parish life, especially with this year’s sparse in-person Mass attendance. Some parishes were able to offer in-person youth Masses or prayer services. However, most families remained cautious toward in-person activities. Remote sacramental retreats, parent meetings and family gatherings around such topics as the Liturgical year, the saints and the Epiphany became a mainstay of parish life. These combined virtual instruction, family activities, prayer and discussion.

Julie La Rosa, director of faith formation at the Church of the Holy Family,Sewell, describes one such event: “We had monthly sandwich making nights where families joined in for a guided session of prayer and presentations on Works of Mercy. Then as a group everyone virtually made sandwiches together, then dropped them off at the parish during a set time frame.”

Verna Mullen, CRE of Saint Clare Parish, Gibbstown, notes that over 80 families participated in monthly remote gatherings. These events provided content and desperately needed community.

Although remote instruction had substantial limitations, many catechetical leaders saw surprising benefits. Verna Mullen noted the improved interaction with her confirmation classes and plans to continue utilizing this option. “I want to make it [remote learning] available as an option because the engagement of students is higher.”

Others noted increased parental involvement and interest. Kiessling of Holy Cross Parish notes, “My parents actually said they learned so much from eavesdropping during the Zoom sessions and working in the books at home.”

As parents engaged more often in their children’s lessons and attended regular remote gatherings, catechetical leaders perceived a welcome shift in the focal point of faith formation, away from parish programming and toward reflection and practice in the home. Kimberly Feinsilver of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Galloway, notes that by bringing the classroom into their home, parents spoke about reawakening family prayer during the day. As these parents took on more responsibility for their children’s faith life, the “domestic church” was no longer a vocabulary phrase to learn. It became a lived reality.

Parish Faith Formation has been one aspect of the work of our church during this difficult year. It provided a vital lifeline of faith to many struggling families. It did so through the faithful and faith-filled commitment of parish DREs and CREs and most especially, through the efforts of volunteer or lightly stipended catechists. Pope Francis writes, “recognition should be given to those lay men and women who feel called by virtue of their baptism to cooperate in the work of catechesis.”

I know I speak for all catechetical leaders in the diocese in giving thanks for the women and men of our parishes who, out of the goodness of their hearts and their love of God, embraced the challenges inherent in our pandemic world and joined in the mission of catechesis. Their dedication and effort were clearly a response to a call, rather than a fulfillment of an obligation. These good-hearted people illustrate the vocational aspect of the ministry of catechesis identified and affirmed by Pope Francis.

Pat Lipperini is director of Faith Formation, Saint Teresa of Calcutta Parish, Collingswood. She holds a doctorate in religious education from Fordham University.