Parents, Your Role in Catholic Education is Critical!

The home is the first school!

Fr. Hardon used to say that Catholic home schooling families were the monasteries of modern times. Why did he say that? Because education in the secular world is so corrupted that if real learning is to be kept alive the "schools" must be found elsewhere.

The Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of their children, and this is nowhere more true than in the parents' responsibility for the religious education in the home. As a long-time catechist, I can testify to the absolute truth that a CCD teacher cannot in one hour a week effectively instruct children in the faith. If the children's primary exposure to doctrine is in the after-school program that is continuously interrupted by weather, use of the building for other purposes, holiday performances, etc. the child will be a donkey in Catholic truth. The voice in the Church classroom will be drowned out by the much louder voices in the culture: TV, YouTube, sports and other activities, social media, etc. There's no contest. The world wins!

Teach Your Children about True Love and the Way to Preserve It!

While looking for information about Call to Action yesterday, I happened to come across this old article from a back issue of the Les Femmes newsletter. With college recently starting and young people going off into the dens of iniquity that our college campuses have become, I thought this Mom's Letter to Her Son was worth another look.

Parents, love your children enough to tell them the plain truth!

A Mother's Letter to Her Son at College

Do You Know What Your Kids are Learning in Public School?

If you love your kids, you'd better be on top of this!

Why You Should Avoid Sending Kids to Public Schools

Maybe all public schools aren't this bad, but I know that back in the 70s Fairfax County's sex ed program was anti-parent, explicit, and gave kids permission to have sex as young as middle school. "Just don't change sexual partners too frequently." I can only imagine what they teach now 40 years later. 

Everybody can't home school, let's face it. And how many families, especially large Catholic families can afford Catholic schools these days? Maybe it's time for a return to the "dame schools." And aren't there some retired folks out there who can offer to help tutor kids in math, science, foreign languages, and other skills that home schooling parents may lack?

There's always an alternative when innocents' souls are at stake!

Common Core will Undermine the Quality of Catholic Schools

Saving the Uncommon Core of Catholic Education

If You Can Read This, Thank Your Teacher: Mom!

Ever seen that slightly different message on a bumper sticker? It says "thank a teacher" without the "Mom."

But who are the first teachers, the primary teachers?

Moms and dads, especially stay-at-home moms who teach their children everything from how to play patty-cake, to saying their first words, to making the Sign of the Cross, to counting and learning colors, to brushing their teeth and putting their shoes on the right feet. And for teaching the virtues: honesty, modesty, kindness, prudence, etc.

Yup, moms are the best! Thanks to my mom today and every day! I'm praying for you today, Mom, in thanksgiving for life and all the joys and sorrows that go with it.

Some special memories crowd in today so I'll list some things I'm thankful for:

• that beautiful pink organdy graduation dress you made me for eighth grade. I was still wearing it in college!
•  for porcupine balls made in the pressure cooker (one of my favorite dinners) and all those endless meals you cooked and served for our large family, 
• for all the 6:30 a.m. morning Masses together at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 
• for cookie-baking and sewing lessons - I still remember that vest I made for my first project,
• for teaching me how to make a bed with hospital corners,
• for your cheerful disposition that continues to be reflected in all your children,
• for your impeccable English that helped us all score well on the verbal SATs by just picking the choices that "sounded right,"
• for all those years of faithful service to your family of twelve -- especially our dinners together every night -- they were the "Eucharist" of our family's "domestic church." 

Your legacy continues to bless us into the next generation.

Happy Mother's Day!