Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

The Springfield Diocese is witnessing a significant renewal of Catholic faith within its schools and Parish Schools of Religion (PSR) programs. This effort is spearheaded by the diocesan Office for Catholic Education, which has initiated various projects to enhance the Catholic identity of educational institutions, aiming to prepare teachers, students, and parents as authentic disciples of Christ.

Dr. Mark Newcomb, Director of Catholic Education for the diocese, shared insights during an interview with Andrew Hansen, editor of Catholic Times. Dr. Newcomb emphasized that engaging parents in their children's spiritual development is crucial. "We are working hard to engage moms and dads in our parishes and in our schools," he stated.

Research highlights four key factors influencing faith retention among Catholics: participation in church life beyond Sunday Mass during childhood, personal encounters with God or Christ, mentorship from adults other than parents in spiritual growth, and having a father or male role model actively involved in family religious activities.

Misunderstandings about faith formation often arise when parents assume that enrolling children in Catholic schools or PSR programs completes their religious education responsibilities. Dr. Newcomb clarified that while these institutions support parental efforts, they cannot replace them entirely. "Our schools and PSRs can nurture anything a parent has planted in a child’s soul," he noted.

Concerns also exist regarding Restored Order sacraments leading to reduced engagement in devotional life at an early age. However, these sacraments provide necessary graces before many teenagers leave the faith by age 13.

Dr. Newcomb encouraged parents to become active participants in their child's religious education by attending school and parish events and utilizing available resources to integrate Jesus Christ into family life consistently.

Positive outcomes have been observed through initiatives like the Ruah Woods Theology of the Body program for elementary students and Father Spitzer's “Speak the Faith” course for middle schoolers. These programs foster understanding of theological concepts through engaging activities such as public speaking assignments on topics like the Shroud of Turin and St. Thomas Aquinas' arguments for God's existence.

Looking ahead, new religion standards will be introduced across all diocesan educational settings to unify Catholic faith formation efforts further. A version of Father Spitzer’s courses will also be available for Adult Faith Formation.

The Office for Catholic Education continues to prioritize relational work by assigning staff liaisons to each major region within the diocese. This approach allows closer collaboration with educators implementing new programs while gathering feedback on effective lessons that resonate with students and parents alike.

Dr. Newcomb concluded by affirming their commitment: "We are on the verge of a major renewal of Catholic faith vitality in the schools and PSRs."