This is a great question!
The Church holds you, as parents, in very high esteem. Research tells us that the most significant influence that shapes the religious and spiritual lives of children is their parents. It’s the way you live and model faith in your conversations, practices and relationships that makes all the difference. That doesn’t mean you have to be perfect – none of us are – but it does mean we’re invited to have real, authentic relationships with God that witness to our children that they can have a relationship with God that’s real too. That’s why the Church calls parents the ‘first educators’ or ‘first heralds’ of the faith – not because of what you know, but because of who you are as you authentically live out your faith in the messiness of day-to-day life.
Of course, you’re not alone in this! The promises made on the day of your child’s Baptism remind us that the Sacraments of Initiation are not just private ceremonies between us and God. Through these sacraments, we are initiated into a community of faith in a way that can never be undone.
With that in mind, here are some practical ideas for nurturing your child’s faith:
Make prayer a part of your family life. This can start with something as simple as tracing the Sign of the Cross of your child’s forehead as you tuck them into bed. Perhaps you could give thanks in your own words before meals or use traditional prayers of the Church.
Mark the anniversary of your child’s (or godchild’s) Baptism each year in some way – a small card or faith focused gift, a meal with godparents might be ways to celebrate?
Display items in your home that remind the family about faith. Pictures, inspirational quotes and scripture verses, statues etc can create visual prompts that turn our hearts to God even in the messiest family moments!
Add bible stories to your child’s collection of books and enjoy reading them together.
Your child’s name is a special part of their baptism and a regular reminder that God knows them and calls them by name. In fact, Pope Francis said, “God allows parents to choose the name by which he himself will call their child for all eternity” (AL, 166). So, as they grow up, remember to tell your child what their name means and the story behind why you chose it for them.
Some parishes, and certainly in some families, there is a tradition of taking a saint’s name as your Confirmation name. If that is the case for your child, take the opportunity to read up on some saints your child might be interested in. A good place to start is to do an internet search for saints who are patrons of things your child is interested in.
Get involved in your local parish community. Many parishes include activities for children such as Children’s Liturgy of the Word during Sunday mass or other events to welcome and include families. If regular mass attendance is not something you are accustomed to, perhaps begin by taking your child to mass during special celebrations throughout the year. You might also ask another family to attend with you to support one another and make it more fun!
You can find lots of other resources and ideas on the Children and Families page on the Archdiocesan Ministries website. For resources and opportunities to nurture your own faith, check out all that the Adult Formation team has to offer also!
