“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." ~ 3 John 1:4

Families Attending Mass
One of the great battles that can occur in our homes stems from the obligation to participate in Sunday Mass. As children become teens it is common for them to rebel at just about everything, Mass included. A parent's first instinct might be to argue from the rules or lay down the law. "While you are living in my house you will follow my rules - and that means going to Mass on Sunday." Another approach is the guilt one, "You will be breaking God's law and hurting Jesus if you don't go to Mass on Sunday." Something tells me these approaches are not very successful. Laying down the law rarely works because that is precisely what a teen is challenging in the first place; guilt sometimes works temporarily but it can quickly turn into anger or resentment - a far worse animal.

Perhaps when a teenage son or daughter objects to participating in Sunday Mass you may want to try an approach like this. "It really bothers me that you don't want to go to Mass. Sunday worship fills my life with meaning and purpose and direction. I really wanted to share that with you and pass it on to you. I feel as if I'm failing in that." A response such as this could at least open up a dialogue between parent and child, without resorting to disputes over keeping or breaking rules. In other words, share with your teen-age daughter or son what going to Sunday Mass means to you and how it has helped you in your life. I can't guarantee that it will bring your teenager back to Sunday Mass. It might, however, lead to some honest, heartfelt discussion that leaves doors open rather than slamming them closed.

By Fr. Randy Phillips as published in "The Flame", August 5, 2007

Family Faith

As I get older I am surprised how much my parents did for my faith that I did not observe then. I appreciate it now, of course, but as a teen much of it was lost on me. One of the things that helped build much of my faith's foundation during those turbulent years was the network of Catholic family friends and my parents built up around them.

Growing up, we often had families stop over for dinner that my parents knew from Church, families with children my own age or just a little older. I remember well the effect it had on me to see someone I could respect (i.e., another, slightly older teen) take his or her prayers and faith seriously. Later, They encouraged me to go on Catholic teen retreats after they'd satisfied themselves that I'd have watchful eyes on me while I was away. They also had me join the local Church youth group and encouraged my participation in student pro-life activities.

I learned a lot from their efforts. Most importantly, I learned that faith wasn't something you ignored until you turned thirty. Faith in God's Church was something great, alive, vibrant, relevant, and nothing to be ashamed of.

© 2001 John McNichol, used with permission