Faith At Home, the weekly online resource compiled by the Diocese to enhance the lives of the faithful and aid in catechesis, is inviting users to spiritually enter into Advent and prepare for the Birth of Christ.
“The busyness of our lives often gets in the way of the real reason for this time of preparation for Christmas,” said Denise Contino, director of the diocesan Department of Catechesis. “Our hope, especially during this year of great loss, is that … families of all sizes take time to add prayer, quiet time to reflect, [and] have open conversations and activities that focus on the faith.”
Faith At Home was introduced in April by the diocesan Departments of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, and Youth and Young Adult Ministries. It launched at the height of the coronavirus pandemic to keep faithful connected. Each week, families can download a pdf in English or Spanish with links to various Catholic websites and discussion questions related to each Sunday’s Gospel.
Throughout Advent, each downloadable pdf includes information such as encouraging families to create an Advent wreath and using the “Tip of the Week” as a guide for reflection, prayer and activities. Faithful are also encouraged to send in photos of their family with their Advent wreath to enable others to pray for their intentions. For more information, visit dioceseoftrenton.org/faith-at-home or dioceseoftrenton.org/fe-en-casa.
Fran Burke, parish catechetical leader in St. Anselm Parish, Wayside, noted that since the start, Faith at Home has been used to maintain the connection between young families and the parish.
“It virtually provides a guide for our families to prepare in celebrating Mass at home,” Burke said, “and to be another way to prepare for Jesus’ coming throughout the season.”
Reflecting upon the use of the program in his Maple Shade parish, Father Joel Wilson, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, said, “While we are all not able to gather as Church in our parish, we can gather as the domestic Church in family.
“My hope is that families will enter into a prayerful and peaceful Advent season with Faith At Home. I pray all our homes … will become little churches.”