A child's faith grows when the soul is being fed. Catholic Church teachings are nourishment for the soul. if fed properly, one's faith develops into a deep spiritual life along with sound intellectual reasoning. The spiritual faith will lead the individual to "obedience of faith" for love of God. Thus, fulfilling Catholic Church teachings such as the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes.

Living our faith with our children, by example, is a very important part of faith education. The strength of the message depends on the delivery and beliefs of the messenger. How we live our faith will influence our children's commitment to God and their faith. The destiny of our immortal souls depends on our faith, and St. Paul tells us, in the book of Romans, on our "obedience of faith".

The Second Vatican Council states that parents are their children's primary educators and that we have a duty to teach our children the Catholic faith and give them the best education possible. Our futures and our children's futures lie within our choices. Do we choose God?

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6)

1. Packaged Catholic Curriculum programs include:

a. Complete Catholic and academic curriculums.

b. Lesson plans and books provided.

c. Corrects quarterly tests for you.

d. Keeps transcripts of grades.

e. Teachers available for assistance via the telephone.

f. High School diplomas available, provided student is in their program for the 4 years.

g. Sign up for just one or two subjects is possible.

* - Seton and Our Lady of the Rosary (OLR) are excellent examples of this type of program.

2. Designing Your Own Catholic Curriculum

A book entitled "Designing Your Own Classic Curriculum" can help you get started in learning what might be available. Published by Bethlehem Books, it includes books and materials in all subjects for grades K - 12.

The Public Library is an excellent resource and this book highlights many of its hidden gems. For the purpose of enriching a Catholic Curriculum, the public library has many Vision books on the saints and other Catholic books. If the public library does not have the books you would like and they are in print, you can request they purchase it by title, author and publisher.

Garage sales, used book sales, used book stores and the donations of family and friends hold many hidden treasures.

A. The best in a religion book series are among the following:

1. The "Living My Religion" series, grades 1-8, by Benziger Bros. Rich in Catholic Church teachings, Bible stories and delightful to read. Available through Seton and OLR. May be purchased through Saints and Scholars (listed in the Catholic Homeschoolers of Western New York Resource List).

2. The "Faith and Life" series, grades 1-8, by Ignatius Press (resource list-RL). Rich in Catholic Church teachings with beautiful art masterpiece prints throughout each book.

B. The Bible - Catholics should be well versed in Bible readings. The Bible is a Catholic book as it was compiled by the Catholic Church. The best interpretation is the Ignatius Bible by Ignatius Press. This is the Catholic version of the Revised Standard Version. It is the most accurate English translation. If other Bibles are used, copyrights prior to 1991 are preferred for more accurate interpretations. The Douay-Rheims version is accurate and available from TAN (RL).

Bible History books should supplement in Bible study as they serve to provide a clear understanding of the Bible. The best in Bible History books are available from TAN.

1. Bible History by Schuster

2. A Child's Bible History by Knecht

Bible computer programs are also available (check Leaflet Missal Co - RL)

C. Catechisms - the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" should be in every home. Children's study catechism are published by Catholic Book Publishing Co. (catalogs are available, but you must order through a vendor). The best catechisms are:

1. St. Joseph First Communion Catechism - No. 0 (grades 1,2)

2. St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism - No. 1 (grades 3,4,5)

3. St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism - No. 2 (grades 6,7,8)

*All include Vatican II changes. There weren't many.

The Baltimore Catechism Vols. 1,2,3,4 are available from TAN.

Computer program catechisms are available from Rev. Robert Levis and Seton (check resource list).

D. Other Books in religion

My Jesus and I by Bishop Morrow (prek - K)

Jesus and I by Aloysius J. Heeg, S.J. (grades 1,2,3) Check with Stella Maris.

The Catholic Children's Treasure Box by TAN.

Leading the Little Ones to Mary - check with vendors.

Fr. Lovasik books - vendors.

Coloring books - TAN and Catholic Book Pub. Co.

Fr. Laux books - TAN.

Fr. O'Sullivan books TAN.

G.K. Chesterton books Ignatius Press.

Vision Books - Ignatius Press and the library.

Lives of the Saints I & II - Catholic Book Publishing Co.

(Vol., I follows the Church liturgical year)

The Church Visible - Leaflet Missal Co.

The Catholic Encyclopedia - Our Sunday Visitor

The Catholic Dictionary - Our Sunday Visitor

Code of Canon Law - vendor

Our Sunday Visitor newspaper and magazines

Ignatius Press magazines, especially The Catholic Faith as there is a section on Homeschooling

Sursum Corda - section on Homeschooling

The Catholic Hearth - fun for the whole family to read.

E. Reading Books - Catholic reading books are rich with Church teachings and stories of saints, wonderful family stories and moral values. They are a delight to read.

Among the best:

Faith and Freedom Readers - out of print, but available through Seton, OLR, worth looking for in garage sales, etc. Let TAN know you would like them reprinted.

Cathedral Readers (Catholic version) - out of print, worth finding. Ask TAN to reprint.

Cardinal Readers - Newman Press is reprinting.

John C. Winston Co. Readers for Catholic Children with titles like "The Catholic Child" and "The Catholic Youth", copyright 1929, out of print.

Misericordia Readers - out of print, 1934, by the Sisters of Mercy and originally published by Rand McNally.

* Bethlehem Publishers, Ignatius Press, TAN, and St. Paul Books and Media have excellent books to read.

E. English

Voyages in English (texts) Loyola University - grades 3-8 out of print - the ones with references to God, but available through Seton and OLR

F. Social Studies

Seton and OLR have History books with a Catholic perspective. They are out of print and stop about 30 or 40 years ago, but are easily brought up to date with supplements from the public library. Some are available for purchase from Our Lady of Victory.

TAN has new and reprinted History books which are excellent.

G. Music - Catholic music books are available through Seton, garage sales, etc.

H. Media - EWTN and WEWN and CCC Videos should be used as a religious supplement for parents and children.

* - Many items are for parent use as well in order to bring parents up to speed on the teachings of the Catholic Faith. Parents need to be educated, too.

3. Living the Catholic Faith we profess to believe can be aided with some of the following suggestions:

Daily Mass

Daily Rosary

Prayer - Morning, Evening, the Angelus and other structured prayers help us to focus

The Bible as prayer especially the Psalms

The Stations of the Cross - Fridays and especially during Lent

Daily Bible Reading - OT & NT

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - a number of local parishes have this - check it out

Frequent confession and communion

Family Prayer

Develop a personal prayer life

The list could go on. A small booklet that is excellent and highly recommended is "Counsel for Catholic Parents". This booklet is available through World Apostolate of Fatima (The Blue Army) in Washington, N.J. (see resource list).

May the teaching of a Catholic faith curriculum bring you the joy and peace of loving and serving the Lord.