Imagine attending a concert featuring a solo vocalist accompanied by a keyboard player and, after the first song, the accompanist gets up and exits the stage and does not reappear for the remainder of the concert. So much for accompaniment!
Too often, in our faith formation efforts, our accompaniment is short-lived. A family shows up at the parish to have their baby baptized, and we accompany them at the baptismal prep meeting and the Baptism. And then, we exit the stage.
True accompaniment is ongoing!
Accompaniment begins with reaching out and inviting people rather than waiting for them to show up. Then, it means walking with people on their journeys and remaining present every step of the way. When it comes to our young families, we as a Church need to do a much better job of accompanying them, not only for the Baptism of their children, but through the early years of raising those children, leading up to school age. That means that we need much more than a “Baptism program.”
With that in mind, Loyola Press has created Springs of Faith, which is so much more than a perfunctory baptismal prep program. Springs of Faith, available in English and Spanish, is designed for young adults and families who long for a community of faith and are considering having their children baptized in the Catholic Church. The Springs of Faith experience is catechumenal in nature with an emphasis on accompaniment throughout three phases: Discover, Encounter, and Share. These provide an array of opportunities for participants to connect with one another as they grow in their own faith and embark on the journey of raising their children in the Catholic faith. The program also provides the parish with an opportunity to accompany young families in an ongoing way through the first years of a child’s life.
Let’s be about the business of truly accompanying young parents and their children as they take their first steps on this faith formation journey! For more information about Springs of Faith, contact your Loyola Press Educational Consultant.
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