St. Therese of Lisieux in Shelby Township, Michigan: At-Home Program
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Thank you to Sue Juliano, Tracy Hood, and Barb Trojniak for sharing with us the difference you are making in the lives of busy families! |
St. Therese of Lisieux in Shelby Township, Michigan, has a very successful At-Home program involving approximately fifty-five families. Sue Juliano, the DRE at St. Therese, explains, “With the number of children in multiple activities, such as sports, band, and clubs, we felt we needed to address our families’ needs and work with the families’ schedules.” Sue and At-Home Religious Formation Team members, Barb Trojniak and Tracy Hood, responded to family needs with a unique At-Home approach.
To assure that families are prepared for At-Home formation, Sue begins by meeting with each family individually. She explains the curriculum and gives each family a Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then Sue assigns each family an At-Home catechist.
The catechists’ responsibilities are two-fold. They provide on-going support and guidance to families. They also assist the DRE with accountability and assessment. Families meet with their catechist at least twice during the year.
This At-Home program has been in place at St. Therese’s for eight years. This fall the formation team is looking forward to enhancing the program with Faith Festivals. These festivals will not only be fun for the families, but will also foster a sense of community.
