A Letter to Parents

From the desk of the pastor for May 2026

A letter to parents.

Over the past weeks, our parish community has been blessed to celebrate the Sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation with the children of our schools and parish. These celebrations are always among the most joyful moments in the life of the Church. Working with the schools, the teachers, and especially the children themselves is consistently life-giving, uplifting, and deeply rewarding. Teachers genuinely seek what is best for the young people entrusted to their care, and the children approach faith with openness, curiosity, and sincerity. Very often, they surprise us with the depth of their questions, the honesty of their reflections, and flashes of remarkable spiritual insight.

We witnessed some of this during our celebrations of the Eucharist as we explored together what it means for us to gather each Sunday around the table of the Lord. Children are often able to see with clarity what adults sometimes overlook: that faith is ultimately about relationship, belonging, gratitude, and encountering Christ in community.

As we reflect on this year’s sacramental journey, however, it is also important to ask where we are being called to grow. One area that deserves our prayerful attention is the involvement and accompaniment of parents and families. The preparation of children for the sacraments cannot rest solely with the parish, nor solely with the schools. It is a shared mission. When parents first brought their children for Baptism, the Church welcomed them with joy and entrusted them with the responsibility of nurturing the faith life of their children. Sacramental preparation is, in many ways, a continuation of that promise.

In recent years, the synodal conversations within the Church have reminded us of the importance of dialogue, accompaniment, and walking together. These are not simply ideas or slogans; they are essential attitudes for meaningful pastoral ministry. Families today carry many pressures, responsibilities, and competing demands. If we hope to help children encounter Christ through the sacraments, we must approach parents first with understanding, respect, and compassion. We must listen before we speak, accompany rather than simply instruct, and create opportunities for genuine encounter instead of obligation alone.

At the same time, accompaniment is always mutual. A healthy sacramental process requires commitment from everyone involved. To ask for a sacrament is to recognize that faith formation matters and that there are both blessings and responsibilities connected to that request. The parish commits itself to offering preparation that is welcoming, meaningful, accessible, and never unnecessarily burdensome. We must continue striving to ensure that our programs respect the realities of family life and invite participation in ways that are engaging and supportive.

At the heart of this effort is a simple message we hope parents hear clearly: we need you. We want to make space to collaborate with you in this mission. The formation of children in faith is strongest when parish, school, and family work together, each offering their own gifts, insights, and witness. Parents should never feel that they are being judged or measured against an impossible standard. Rather, they should know that the Church desires to walk with them, encourage them, and support them as they seek what is best for their children.

Parents, however, are also invited to recognize the sacred role they play as the first teachers of the faith. No program, school, or parish can replace the witness of parents who pray with their children, attend Mass together, and speak openly about faith in daily life. Children learn most deeply not from lessons alone, but from the example they see lived out at home.

Moving forward, our goal should be to make every sacramental experience not simply an event to complete, but a genuine encounter with Christ and His Church for both children and parents alike. This means building stronger relationships with families, creating opportunities for conversation and participation, and helping parents feel that they truly belong within the life of the parish community.

Even if some parents are not regularly in our pews or may feel uncertain about reconnecting with parish life, we should never underestimate the quiet influence of those who continue to support this mission. A grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a godparent, an educator or a parishioner who shares a word of encouragement or extends an invitation can help open a door. Often, faith is renewed not through pressure, but through welcome, trust, and authentic relationships. Together, we can help shape a new culture and experience of sacramental formation, one rooted not simply in completing a requirement, but in building a lifelong relationship with Christ and His Church.

If we can continue to walk together with patience, honesty, and mutual respect, then these sacramental moments will become more than milestones. They will become foundations for a living and lasting faith that continues to grow long after the celebrations themselves have ended.