Ministry Leaders
Overview
The SacredTable initiative by NFCYM seeks to strengthen the domestic church by uniting it with parish ministry through encounter, dialogue, and collaboration.
Recognizing today’s shifting cultural landscape, the initiative takes a three-pronged approach: training parish leaders in generative listening and strategic planning, inspiring parents to engage with parish leaders, and fostering dialogue with U.S. Catholic bishops through a Champion Bishop and Advisory Council.
Why SacredTable for Leaders?
Through the Strong Catholic Families Program, we have gained valuable insight into the cultural challenges that can make it difficult for parents to pass on the faith to their children. In today’s world, consumerism influences many families, shaping their priorities and sometimes making church participation seem optional.
At the same time, parishes often focus on traditional programs—worship, religious education, and youth ministry—without always having the time or resources to support nurturing faith in the home. We also recognize that no single session, presentation, website, publication, sermon, or pastoral message can create lasting change on its own.
Instead, what is needed is a comprehensive, long-term initiative that integrates all these elements and supports families in their faith journey over time.
Naming the Problem
Now more than ever, families are facing a crisis of passing on the Catholic faith to the next generation. Recent research shows that 85% of kids raised Catholic will not practice their faith as adults.
The Directory for Catechesis says, “‘The Church is called to cooperate with parents through suitable pastoral initiatives, assisting them in the fulfillment of their educational mission’ to become above all the first catechists of their children (DC 124).”
The future generation of Catholics depends on our collaboration with parents. Now is the time to act!
A Path Forward
SacredTable offers practical solutions to empower you to transform the lives of families in your community.
Diocesan Collaboration
The SacredTable Initiative launches at the diocesan level with the Deep Dive Process, a three-hour session for parish leaders serving parents and families.
- Participants reflect on ministry experiences, explore church documents and research on family ministry, and practice generative listening.
- The session equips leaders to engage parents in conversations about faith formation.
- Following the Deep Dive, a coach collaborates with diocesan staff to support parishes in building ministries that meet families’ needs.
Dedicated Coaches
SacredTable coaches work to assess, train, and mentor one of 20 cohorts over a two-year implementation process.
This includes leading an in-person Deep Dive training on generative listening, hosting monthly online cohort gatherings for continued formation and strategic planning, providing written progress reports, encouraging regular feedback from parish leaders and parents, and participating in team meetings to ensure ongoing support and development.
Parish Workshops
After completing the Deep Dive, leaders receive resources to strengthen their partnership with parents. Parishes can also access two years of coaching support from SacredTable, including:
- A parent session outline for dialogue with parish ministers
- A parent resource guide
- A website with curated ministry resources
- A parent-focused marketing campaign
- Coaching to help parish leaders understand and meet families’ needs
- An online space for parishes to share insights and best practices
Ongoing Support
Parish leaders will receive ongoing support and resources to ensure success in leading families to Christ including:
- Gateway page to “NFCYM Connect” with curated resources to support your ministry
Join a Deep Dive
The Deep Dive sessions include reflections on experiences of ministering with families, a presentation on the context for family ministry today in church documents and current research, and the opportunity to practice generative listening skills.
The Deep Dive will prepare ministry leaders to engage parents in their community in dialogue about partnering in children’s faith development.
These Deep Dive sessions will be provided in either English or Spanish as needed.
Upcoming Sessions
*Don’t see your diocese listed? Contact your diocesan director
