By Mary Stadnyk | News Editor

Understanding that the family is the domestic Church and reveals to the world a unique vision of God’s love will be central to the focus of a multipronged parenting workshop set for April 10 at 7 p.m. in Holy Cross High School, 5035 Route 130 South, Delran.

Sponsored by the Northern Burlington Deanery Regional Adult Faith Formation Ministry, the workshop, which has “Take 5 for Faith & Family” as its theme, will “provide information, resources and support to families, as well as an opportunity to reach out and get to know the needs and concerns of the parents who are the first teachers of the faith,” said Mary Neary, director of ministries in Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, and a member of the Regional Adult Faith Formation Ministry team.

Each topic is designed to be informative and interactive with time reserved for parents to ask questions and get to know others in similar life situations. Topics will include parents of young children/teens and single parents who feel alone and excluded at times from Church events due to being single, Neary said.

Workshop topics and presenters include: “Is this Normal?” which will focus on the growth and development of children from infancy to five years old. Presenter will be Susan McInerney, who has more than 25 years of pediatric nursing experience in St.

Christopher Hospital for Children, Philadelphia.

“Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home,” which deals with children ages five to 12. Presenter will be Megann Czekalski, a board certified assistant behavior analyst and owner and CEO of Interactive Kids, Marlton, and a consultant to numerous school districts and families in the area.

“Communication and Social Pressure with Teens.” Presenter will be Anthony Faltz, a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Riverton, and a crisis counselor in Cinnaminson High School “Keeping the Spark Alive in Your Marriage.” Presenter will be Peg Hensler, diocesan coordinator for Marriage and Family Ministries.

“The Challenges of Single Par­enting.” Presenter will be John Kalinowski, director of the diocesan Department of Pastoral Care.

The Northern Burlington Deanery Regional Adult Faith Formation Ministry was started in the fall of 2011 as a new approach to offering adult faith formation opportunities. Headed by Conventual Franciscan Father David Stachurski, pastor of Resurrection Parish, Delran, the concept of the ministry brought five area parishes – Resurrection; Jesus the Good Shepherd, Riverside; St. Charles Borromeo, Cinnaminson; Sacred Heart, Riverton, and Corpus Christi, Willingboro, together in collaboration with Holy Cross High School to offer a new, first-of-its kind approach to adult faith formation.

The focus of the ministry, said Father Stachurski, takes a “holistic approach to faith formation” in which a range of topics on the Catholic faith are offered. Topics that have been presented to date include the “Catholicism” series; reflections on Lent and Advent; the New Roman Missal, and Grieving through the Holidays. In addition, there have been sessions that are of interest or concern to people, such as financial planning, health and preparing wills.

A second component of the ministry features DVD Scripture series that are held on Thursday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m. in Holy Cross High School.

Father Stachurski noted that an added ministry component that has proved successful has been offerings geared for specific audiences. On March 2, a retreat was held for parish Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults candidates, sponsors and team members and on March 13, a Liturgical Ministers workshop was hosted for more than 120 parish extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, readers and music ministers, as well as a program for all deacons in Burlington County. Presenters focused on the theological backgrounds of the particular ministries as well as gave some practical pointers on how to exercise those ministries effectively.

On April 13, another RCIA offering for the newly initiated, their sponsors and team members will center on “Unpacking the Easter Vigil Experience.”

Looking to generate participation in the “Take 5 for Faith & Family” session, Father Stachurski said that “Let’s face it, today’s parenting is difficult. Families of today are dealing with issues that they hadn’t in the past. And this is a way for the Church to reach out and help them with these issues.”

To register for the “Take 5 for Faith & Family” workshop, contact Mary Neary at [email protected] or call 856-829-1836 or Pat Brooks at PBrooks110@ verizon.net or call 609-234-0628.