FAMILY MATTERS: PARENT/CHILD

SPRING 2022

“CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM THE LORD; THEY ARE A REWARD FROM HIM.” 
PSALM 127:3
 

OF ALL THE GIFTS GOD GIVES US, none is more precious than the most basic: life. Each of us receives it at our conception and birth. We receive it again with each new birth that follows ours, with each new life added to the human community.

For those blessed to be parents, there is no deeper gift than their own children, and there is no calling more profound than to love and nurture them, to keep them safe and guide their development, to seek to understand their individuality and help them find a righteous path in life.

As any parent can tell you, raising kids is no walk in the park. Life gets messy. Things can go wrong: family finances, medical conditions, learning disabilities, bad habits, bad behavior, flaring tempers, inappropriate language . . . At times, mothers and fathers need a little help – or a lot – as they steer their young ones away from pitfalls and dangers toward a life of faith and joy.

The Archdiocese of New York is dedicated to assisting Catholic parents, both through support of parish-based ministries and in programs offered directly by archdiocesan ministry offices. The Family Life Office provides parents with practical and spiritual information, training, and tools for taking care of themselves and their children. The Office of Youth Faith Formation educates children in the faith and affords opportunities to teens for Christian social activities and volunteering. The Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of New York provide a high-quality education in which all instruction is aligned with Catholic values. And Catholic Charities helps teens through mental health and substance abuse services, as well as athletic programs sponsored by the Catholic Youth Organization.

All of these archdiocesan efforts are in support of and collaboration with our parishes. There, young people receive the sacraments and are invited to participate in prayer, fellowship, and community volunteer projects, and parents can turn to one another for mutual support. In this way, we all witness the love and mercy of Jesus Christ for our children, our parents, and our neighbors.

Click below for more information and links to archdiocesan programs in support of parents and children of all ages.