St. Richard

What an incredible gift it is to be able to teach children to love Jesus.

The 'a-ha' moment when they understand, it’s enough to make my heart burst. Do you ever have those moments? Sometimes I feel overwhelmed by the power of this vocation and that all the things we teach them that are oriented to the eternal. What a confusing time. They come from school understanding what is real, tangible and how to think with their minds. My job is to help them understand what is beyond and to get there you have to think with your heart.

Every year our catechists work with your children to help them understand, love and become closer to Jesus. We make every effort to develop creative ways to engage your children. But only discussing Jesus and praying once a week with us is not enough!  Here are some ideas to help them grow in faith.

• Pray as a family, let them see your love for God.
• Discuss with them when you knew God was with you and the miracles and gifts God has given you.
• Join us at Mass, allow them to celebrate weekly with the other families in our parish. Children are always learning by observation. They are watching you and what you do, help teach them through your actions.

Check out the links on this page to help you bring God into your home. I know that the work I am doing is all worth it when I see even one child all of the sudden realize how beautiful God truly is. It comes crashing over them like a giant wave; their eyes and face light up with amazement and understanding – what an incredible gift it is to teach them to love Jesus.

FaithFirst.com - Games, Gospel reflections, information for parents, questions and answers for children – a great resource

CatholicMom Sunday - Have a hard time with your kids understanding the Sunday readings and gospel? Or maybe just wanting them to listen. This link will allow you to print out a fun worksheet that your child will have to listen and fill in the blanks. Don't forget a pencil! 
Ages 7-11 or 12-14

HolyHeroes - This link will open a Sunday Mass prep for the younger children. Here they can watch a video about the gospel reading each week. Take a look at the other free activities.

Loyola Press - A wonderful website for parents to understand the Catholic faith further and how to work it into your family life and home.

CatholicIcing -  Do you have an active preschooler at home? It's never too early to start teaching them about God. This is a fun, crafty and educational spot for everyone!