" lack of fidelity to Church teaching have been rather common across the country."
Can you elaborate with some examples so I don't read into that more than intended.
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Dad of 8. All went to Catholic School (PreK - 8th grade). It goes without saying that these are the formative years in a child's life. That many on here are actively ensuring their kids and grandkids receive a solid academic education and some level of spiritual formation - we can all agree.
I have to agree with DermDoc that the socialization aspect is hit or miss. All 8 were offered the chance to continue Catholic HS, only one chose- our youngest Carlos who is the QB on his 6 man football team- they have a game in B-CS at 7pm. For the 7 that found themselves freshman in a public HS- they each stated it was a shock. We enrolled them in the early college, AP, Honor classes- and little by little they made the transition into what I say is a normal teenage life. They didn't lose their thirst for truth and knowledge that was a big part of their Catholic school years. They kept reading like always, but now they were joining the HS band, baseball, softball, student government, and other clubs. Almost everyone of them were part of the National Honor Society, which involved service projects. Only one of them kept doing Scouts, my daughter Cat, who was a youth staff leader at the Lost Pines Scout Reserve here in Bastrop TX.
I write this not so much to brag on them- but a little- but to say in my opinion that we as Americans need to put more effort into building up our public schools. Especially K-5th grade. We didn't live in Westlake or Lake Travis- it would have been Blackshear or Travis, schools that struggled. So, thank God, we sacrificed to send them all to the Cathedral School of Saint Mary, two blocks from the state capital. It was an inner city school, but became home to all the parents, staff, and clergy that made it go.
We stayed just as involved in public HS. That to me is one of the differences I saw. There are a lot of reasons mom or dad can't be involved- it takes a village.
Hope that helps in some way! All 8 went to college, well Carlos is on his way… to the evil empire if he gets his wish!
ETA: I meant to say something about their ongoing spiritual formation after Saint Mary's. It reminds me of the parable Jesus gave about the sower and the seeds. For some it fell on rocky ground, for others good soil. They are all still young adults, so this is an on going story, but- 7 of the 8 continued their faith formation with Sunday school, getting the sacrament of confirmation in their Junior year of HS. The one that didn't inherited her mom's stubbornness and refused to go and "kiss the ring". We pleaded, but it was a no-go. However, she is probably the one kiddo that asks the most deeply spiritual questions and has the strongest sense of her faith than the other 7. She got that from me!
A parent's job is never over. We pray daily for all and they agreed to go with mom and dad once a year to mass and receive communion. It was all I asked. We actually do that on Christmas and Easter at their church of choice - yup, the Cathedral of Saint Mary in downtown Austin!
Can you elaborate with some examples so I don't read into that more than intended.
+++
Dad of 8. All went to Catholic School (PreK - 8th grade). It goes without saying that these are the formative years in a child's life. That many on here are actively ensuring their kids and grandkids receive a solid academic education and some level of spiritual formation - we can all agree.
I have to agree with DermDoc that the socialization aspect is hit or miss. All 8 were offered the chance to continue Catholic HS, only one chose- our youngest Carlos who is the QB on his 6 man football team- they have a game in B-CS at 7pm. For the 7 that found themselves freshman in a public HS- they each stated it was a shock. We enrolled them in the early college, AP, Honor classes- and little by little they made the transition into what I say is a normal teenage life. They didn't lose their thirst for truth and knowledge that was a big part of their Catholic school years. They kept reading like always, but now they were joining the HS band, baseball, softball, student government, and other clubs. Almost everyone of them were part of the National Honor Society, which involved service projects. Only one of them kept doing Scouts, my daughter Cat, who was a youth staff leader at the Lost Pines Scout Reserve here in Bastrop TX.
I write this not so much to brag on them- but a little- but to say in my opinion that we as Americans need to put more effort into building up our public schools. Especially K-5th grade. We didn't live in Westlake or Lake Travis- it would have been Blackshear or Travis, schools that struggled. So, thank God, we sacrificed to send them all to the Cathedral School of Saint Mary, two blocks from the state capital. It was an inner city school, but became home to all the parents, staff, and clergy that made it go.
We stayed just as involved in public HS. That to me is one of the differences I saw. There are a lot of reasons mom or dad can't be involved- it takes a village.
Hope that helps in some way! All 8 went to college, well Carlos is on his way… to the evil empire if he gets his wish!
ETA: I meant to say something about their ongoing spiritual formation after Saint Mary's. It reminds me of the parable Jesus gave about the sower and the seeds. For some it fell on rocky ground, for others good soil. They are all still young adults, so this is an on going story, but- 7 of the 8 continued their faith formation with Sunday school, getting the sacrament of confirmation in their Junior year of HS. The one that didn't inherited her mom's stubbornness and refused to go and "kiss the ring". We pleaded, but it was a no-go. However, she is probably the one kiddo that asks the most deeply spiritual questions and has the strongest sense of her faith than the other 7. She got that from me!
A parent's job is never over. We pray daily for all and they agreed to go with mom and dad once a year to mass and receive communion. It was all I asked. We actually do that on Christmas and Easter at their church of choice - yup, the Cathedral of Saint Mary in downtown Austin!
