There's a sea change going on in the landlocked churches of La Purisima Concepción in Lompoc and St. Anthony of Padua in Gardena.
As catechetical Sunday approaches Sept. 19, these two congregations --- like a growing number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles --- have made the decision to forgo traditional children's religious education classes in favor of whole community catechesis.
It's resulted in a parish paradigm shift well worth the occasional days of stormy weather, say leaders from both churches.
Changing direction
Over three years ago, La Purisima pastor Father Richard Vega was concerned that the religious education program at the church wasn't doing a good job of evangelizing the participants or their families. Too many parents, the pastor noted, had a "drop-off" mentality when it came to faith formation. "We were supposed to do everything," he said.
In the CCD classes after first Holy Communion preparation (grades three through six) only six students were enrolled. Father Vega decided things just weren't working and "called a halt" to business as usual.
The pastor and his new director of faith formation, Sister of Charity Mary Denise Diethrich, decided to start from square one. They invited parishioners to a spaghetti dinner and were delighted with the turnout of 300 families. Sister Diethrich deduced that families will come out if there is "something here for them."
Taking inspiration from the book "Whole Community Catechesis in Plain English," authored by Bill Huebsch, Sister Diethrich gathered six families who were interested in participating in intergenerational faith formation by attending "Family Fun Days" scheduled throughout the year.
"They learned things they didn't know, and they had fun with their children," said Sister Diethrich. Positive word-of-mouth reports circulated in the parish, and family days such as the annual summer picnic, "All Saints Parade" and "Bethlehem Journey" started drawing hundreds of participants.
Today, "we feel we are on the right track," said Sister Diethrich. "You have to do what's good for the people." Whole community catechesis, she said, has helped to make the parish a friendlier place where people are connecting with one another.
Admittedly, the "whole community" concept did have a little difficulty catching on at first. Initially, some parishioners thought Father Vega was "crazy" for disbanding the traditional classroom model.
"Some people accused the church of not caring about children," noted Father Vega. "We had to weather the storm. He chalked it up to "a real hesitancy" to share faith because "people don't remember much from their own religious education.
Now, however, family day sessions have become highly anticipated events, drawing participants, and volunteers, from all segments of the parish community. "People get excited and contribute," said Father Vega. For example, at this summer's Hawaiian-themed children's "Bible Camp," parishioners donated all kinds of items, including leis, grass skirts and palm trees. "So far, it's worked," said the pastor.
The program has been deemed such a success that the parish elementary school is incorporating whole community catechesis into its curriculum. "The spiraling curriculum deepens as we go year by year," declared Father Vega.
Not just for children
"This is our deliberate attempt to make adult catechesis a priority in our community," said Giovanni Perez, director of faith formation at St. Anthony of Padua. With the support of the pastor, Father Edward Dover, Perez is starting whole community catechesis this month at the parish following a year where parents taught their children at home using materials provided by the church.
"There's been a spectrum of reaction," said Perez. "Some people really like the idea of whole community catechesis and others are reluctant about it and prefer the traditional program." He acknowledged there has been a drop in registration, but is thrilled that 150 families have signed up to attend a "Faith and Life Assembly" in September.
At St. Anthony, adults will gather together for the assembly, while any children who come will have their own track conducted at their particular developmental level. Participants have a choice of four different dates scheduled over the next two weeks. To accommodate busy schedules and bilingual households, the assemblies will be offered at two different times (morning or evening) in either English or Spanish.
"I'm excited about this," said Perez. He said whole community catechesis gives parents "the time and structure" in which to teach and share faith with their children.
"We've never enabled the parents to be primary educators of their children," said Father Dover, who cancelled the traditional religious program at his parish due to declining numbers of volunteer CCD teachers. He decided to implement the whole community catechesis model because "it seemed consistent with the Synod's call to evangelization." Also, according to Father Dover, it has the added advantage of giving parents the tools to share faith with their children.
"We're doing everything we can to make parents 'heroes' in their children's eyes," declared Father Dover. The parish seeks to strengthen families "and let them know they're worth the investment." Like the program at La Purisima Concepción, St. Anthony of Padua will not charge a fee to participants, and, in fact, will provide food (breakfast or dinner) at the assemblies.
"The quality of what we're giving to people will be its own attraction," explained Father Dover. "God's people are good --- when do we start trusting in that goodness?"
Catechist support
"Directors of religious education are very open to whole community catechesis," said Ida Miranda, a 20-year veteran DRE who holds a master's degree in religious education from Mount Saint Mary's College and a certificate in Hispanic Pastoral Ministry from Loyola Marymount University.
Interviewed at the Catechist Prayer and Commissioning Ceremony held Sept. 12 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels where approximately 600 catechists, 17 master catechists, and 13 youth ministers were formally commissioned after months of formation, Miranda said she is confident about the future of whole community catechesis.
"It's going to take a while for people to get on board, but it's the way to go, especially in the Hispanic community," she declared. In the coming months, The Tidings will regularly feature articles on parishes and individuals involved in whole community catechesis.
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