How to help families connect with each other, build faith at home, and not start another costly parish program? I know about good programs a parish can buy and put on, but here is an idea that families can do for themselves, with your encouragement:
I have had success with helping young families gather by inviting them to join the Christian Family Movement, one of the first Catholic family organizations. The U.S. Bishops praise CFM in their family documents. Learn more about CFM at www.cfm.org. You can see a sample CFM lesson here http://www.cfm.org/ttmadch1.pdf
Here’s how CFM works in the parish or neighborhood: The families, in groups of 5-6 families, meet monthly. Adults use a program book provided by CFM as part of their membership ($40/family annually). The cost to the parish is $0. The children can join their parents for the opening prayer and then play nearby. The groups can meet in homes or in the parish facilities, whichever works. The group reflects on Scripture, looks at situations in family and community life, decides how a Christian should respond, and chooses an action to make a difference. The actions can be simple family-centered activities or service to others that includes the children in the action.
CFM has a Starter Kit with a program book, Taking the Time to Make a Difference, for the reduced price of $10/family (includes 4 books). The Starter Kit includes free instructions on how one motivated couple can invite others to try CFM for 6 meetings. If they like it, they become members of CFM and each family gets a program book with 10 meetings. Members receive a monthly newsletter ACT that shows actions other CFM groups around the country are doing to enrich their family life and build faith. A new program is produced annually by CFM. Some recent titles: Homemade Disciples; Intentional Christian Families; Discovering Jesus; Love Still Happens in Families.
My husband and I are the local contact couple in Baltimore and I am the program chair. CFM has been important in our family life. If you would like to invite families for an information night in the Baltmore/Washington area, we can come and tell about CFM.
View a short video introduction here http://www.cfm.org/cfmvideo.html
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Causes: Christianity, Family Services, Human Services, Religion, Religious Printing & Publishing, Roman Catholic
Mission: The Mission of the Christian Family Movement is to promote Christ-centered marriage and family life; to help individuals and their families to live the faith in daily life; to improve society through actions of love, service, education and example.