Copyright © 2011 St. John of the Desert Melkite Catholic Church. All Rights Reserved.
PARENTING
“An important part of a child's education is Story-telling, since good stories excite the imagination and strengthen the bond between parent and child. Stories from the Bible are preferred, and the child should repeat them often, to underscore full comprehension.” St. John Chrysostom
Who is raising our children? Television? Internet? Soccer coaches? Teachers? What are they learning and what is our role as parents and what should we expect from the church?
Each year we welcome into our community many new families. Some of them eventually enroll their children in our parish Eastern Christian Religious Education (CRE) program, at least for a few years. Some enroll them but seldom bring them. Some never enroll their children because of interference with sport activities or strongly disagree with the time of the classes or have other reservations that they allow to interfere with their decision. Some families just have a titular relationship with God or are used to a “pick and choose” religion and do not see the importance of faith in their life and the life of their children. Some families, realizing the wickedness of our world today, enroll their children in Catholic schools and Latin programs which lead the children to sheer confusion and lack of congruency. Unfortunately, because of all these situations, many children stop attending our Eastern Melkite churches and eventually walk away from all source of life.
Failure to convey the faith to our children jeopardizes the spiritual life of the
precious gift 
that God has entrusted to our care. What answer can we give to God
for failing to instill the gift of eternal life into the lives of our children?
Role modeling is the primary form of communication between parents and children. This starts by showing interest in learning, growing and celebrating our own faith. Transmitting our spiritual makeup does not require any effort on our part, children have the natural ability to penetrate and emulate us. If parents do not take their faith seriously and practice it in the home, they should not expect the children to maintain their relationship with God as they grow into adulthood. Values and faith come from parents’ lives not classrooms.
Many parents simply don't know how to practice their faith or they do not sufficiently cultivate their faith to grow it and make it an integral part of their life. What should they do when a course of correction is needed? They do not have to do it without help. St. John of the Desert’s Clergy and Catechists are ready and willing to help.
OUR CHILDREN MUST LEARN TO PRAY, TO WORSHIP IN COMMUNITY
AND TO LEARN CHRISTIAN ATTITUDES. ARE WE GROWING AND LEARNING OUR FAITH TO BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT IT TO THEM?
