Family Honor

08-25-2024Pastor's LetterVery Rev. Richard C. Wilson, VF, Pastor

Dear Friends in Christ,

Family Honor is a non-profit organization that presents parent-teen and parent-only programs on chastity, family communication, and Theology of the Body. They also provide half-day seminars and weekend continuing education courses and develop resources for parents and ministry leaders. Family Honor was created in 1988 in South Carolina by parents who envisioned something better for their children in the area of sex education other than the negative and harmful approach the current culture was offering. For over 30 years, Family Honor has provided a Catholic framework on the truth and meaning of sexuality, love, and family.

We are pleased to be offering a very special family program at St. Mary Help of Christians this fall. The program is called “Changes and Challenges” and it’s for parents along with their 5^th or 6^th Grade son or daughter.

“Changes and Challenges” is an introduction to puberty program. Their programs give a unique opportunity for parents and children to learn to communicate more effectively on important life values, with a special focus on the virtue of chastity.

“Changes and Challenges” will be presented at St. Mary’s Catholic School as follows:

Session 1: Wednesday, September 17^th 7:00-9:00pm (Parents only) This session will give some basics on child development stages and the virtue of chastity and will help parents focus and plan for the needs of their children at this stage. It also gives an overview of Session 2.

Session 2: Wednesday, September 24^th 7:00-9:00pm (Parents with their 5^th or 6^th Grader) This session will feature a skit on virtue, a video on fetal development, slides on fertility appreciation (including simple drawings of the male and female reproductive system) and a presentation on developing the “whole person” (spiritually, physically, intellectually, creatively, and emotionally).

We chose Family Honor to present a program here because they believe that parents are the first and best teachers of your children, and they want to serve parents by helping to build and enhance bridges of communication between them and their children. A recent parent shared, “(This program) gave me a chance to talk with my daughter about her sexuality in an age-appropriate way.”

There are lots of activities pulling families in many directions, but this is an experience that families look back on years later and say, “Wow – that really made a difference!” This is a chance to invest in one of your most precious assets – your child.

To register for this program, please visit our website HERE. May all of us continue to pray for the families of our parish.

St. Mary Help of Christians....pray for us!

All the best…in Christ,

Father Wilson