New Lessons

Two new lessons have been created for ECFL.  The materials include the Childhood Leader Guide and the Parent Leader/Workbook Guides.

Childhood Leader Guides:                     Parent Leader/Workbook Guides: 

Lesson 6: We Come to Know Jesus                  Lesson 6: Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy 

Lesson 7: Jesus Helps Us                                    Lesson 7: Discipline and Discipleship     

To receive any of these materials, please fill out the order form with your check payable to Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

About the Early Catholic Family Life Program

• ECFL is a parent-child program developed through the archdiocese and sponsored by the Office for Family, Laity, Youth & Young Adults, which is aimed at an underserved but essential part of all parishes – parents with children 0-5 years old. 
  
  
• ECFL is a 5 session 2 hour class patterned after the highly successful and popular Minnesota ECFE program (Early Childhood Family Education).
  
  
• ECFL consists of a parent-child interaction component, a parent discussion time, and a children’s time.
  
  
• ECFL gives Catholic parents an opportunity to learn more about passing their Catholic faith on to their children from the earliest years.
  
  
• ECFL gives parents an opportunity to discuss faith education with other Catholic parents and to have fun learning more about God together.

Where the Early Catholic Family Life Program comes from

The ECFL program was founded by Alan and Joanne Foley about three years ago. They developed this program in response to a concern by parents that the Early Childhood Family Education program lacked Catholic spirituality. Pilot programs were started in St. Bernard’s Parish in St. Paul, MN and St. Michael’s in Prior Lake, MN.

The ECFL program continues to expand in the Archdiocese.  More importantly, it continues to bring more and more parents and their pre-school children to Christ and into deeper relationships with one another, with the Church and with the parish community.

Modeled after the highly successful public school program for parents and small children, Early Childhood Family Education, ECFL brings young families together in the parish to learn from the program and from each other, what the Church teaches about bringing children into the life of the Church from the earliest stages.

1. To give parents the tools and skills they need to teach their children the Catholic faith.
   
2. To strengthen the faith of parents and enhance their commitment to the Catholic faith through active personal involvement in faith formation.
   
3. To instill in Catholic parents the need to evangelize within their families and to be true spiritual leaders of their children.
   

Expected Outcomes of the ECFL

• Parents receive hands-on guidance in bringing their Catholic faith to their children.
  
  
• Parents are assigned in their efforts to develop the spirituality their children were given at baptism.
  
  
• ECFL brings young Catholic parents together within the parish setting to become acquainted with one another and to share with each other their own deeply held beliefs.
  
  
• ECFL affirms parents in their faith and also strengthens the faith of the parents through the teaching and leadership role they will assume with their children.
  

Comments from Past Participants

Here are just some of the comments from the 2005 ECFL Training participants:

Childhood  Leaders Training

"The program was laid out really well to assist in implementation."

“The session materials and “hands on” activities were great!”

“This program is a great way to draw young families into parish life and religious education.”

Parent Leader Training

"Having people take turns in leading gave us tips and tricks on being a facilitator."

“Walking through the actual lessons and how to facilitate was extremely helpful.”

“I think the material was fantastic. I really feel this touches on some of the deep needs of parents with young children.”

“The instructor did a fantastic job of presenting information and nurturing a respectful learning environment.”

“Impressive Curriculum!  Thorough, detailed, easy to implement, user friendly.”

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carri Petronek, from St. Piux X in White Bear Lake, attended the trainings for ECFL in 2003.  She coordinated and set up ECFL in her parish and participated with her children.  Carri enthusiastically supports ECFL and shares these observations:

• ECFL provides a great opportunity to talk to other parents, who share your common values about     raising your children in the Catholic faith.  There are few occasions when adults have opportunities to discuss such questions as "How were you taught to pray?", as is done in the parent discussion portion of this parent-child program.
  
• ECFL strengthens relationships among the participants and therefore the parish community.  Now I can say 'Hi' personally each Sunday to those I never really knew before.
  
• The program gives parents a chance to hear from each other the things they are doing to teach children their faith.  One mom shared that she helps her 3-year old learn to pray through singing a prayer. 
  
• It helps children learn about their faith in God.  One time a mother of three children was surprised to see her 3-year old talking about God during playtime after having attended ECFL.  The child was telling herself, "God made this" and "God made that and that."
  
• The first ECFL session is great for kids.  They get a double dose of all that God has made.  And the tour of the church with our priest was great during the second class.  Our priest was able to get down to the level of the kids and they have such respect for him.  Now our preschooler says, "There's Father Mike" whenever he sees him.
  

• ECFL helps children feel a part of their parish community.  Our 3-year old want to know, "Are we going to the church program today?"  Our older child even helped with preparations and took pride in doing that and said, "I'm going to work."
  

Here are some additional comments from past participants:

• “My son looked forward to attending each week. He learned different things and would share what he learned with other family members.”
  
• “It made me think about my faith and how much of a role my faith plays in my life.”
  
• “(I learned that) I need to show my children that I do believe and need to show them that I have faith in God.”
  
• “(This class) made me appreciate more my parents own faith and how they lived in the way of faith.”
  
• “It gave us new perspective on how others teach about God and the Catholic faith in their homes.”
  
• “It was nice to hear other couples thoughts and perspectives on raising Catholic children. I think St. Mike’s could offer a program for families with young children once a month and discuss topics on raising young children.”
  
• “I am walking away after each session not only with new information but most importantly that spiritual energy I most need to be a good mother.”
  
• “It (this class) reminded me that I am a role model to my children and if they see me praying and practicing my faith, that is very powerful to them.”

For More Information

If your parish is looking for a program that fills the gap between Baptism and First Communion and has proven to be successful, the Early Catholic Family Life program is what you are looking for. 

If you would like more information about the program or how to start it in your parish, call 651-291-4489.

ECFL leadership training is available.  Training dates take place annually in June at the Hayden Center, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, Minnesota 55102.