Office of Catholic Schools

45 living the Christian life, and to engage in mission. Faith will come alive when the family prioritizes it together and commits to spending time together for meals, prayer, common work, and fun activities. Faith must guide the use of technology and media in the home, overcoming negative influences that would pull children away f rom what is true, good, and beautiful. A Catholic school will greatly benefit in all aspects of its life by having a strong group of disciple-parents. Students will also blossom in their faith more fully when their parents actively live the life of a disciple. For discipleship to grow, the school must find ways of partnering more directly with parents. There are a number of key touchpoints throughout the year that can be used to engage parents in the mission of discipleship including school Masses, sacra - mental preparation, Confession, beginning of the year meetings, sporting events, and other school activities. Other creative ways can be found, such as asking parents to complete formation hours that could count alongside of - or in place of - volunteer hours, inviting them to attend a retreat, introduc- ing parents to Families of Character, or asking com- mitted parents to form small faith groups. Schools can engage both parents and students together through family retreats that focus on praying to- gether and living out the faith in the family more fully. This will make the Catholic school a place of mission that enables it to engage and transform the broader community and culture. American so- ciety needs stronger Catholic schools to serve as a source of hope, healing, and service. Schools can be marked by their ability to engage others, serving as an invitational community that proclaims the good news of the kerygma and forms true Christian fellowship that welcomes people where they are at and joyfully invites them to a life lived with Christ.

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