These best practices are designed to give parishes resources that are successful in responding to the needs of all people in their various stages of faith development. Before delving into the ministries below, parish leaders should take time to identify the common questions and challenges of their parishioners. This is most effectively done by using the parish self-assessment tool, which can be accessed here, but can also be done through parish surveys or informal conversations.
The best practices are listed by their name, followed by the question or challenge that ministry addresses at a particular stage of life (see Seat at the Table here for the comprehensive list of questions for each stage of life). Some ministries answer more than one challenge or question as indicated by the primary and secondary lists below. We include a summary of each practice, and more information is available by clicking on the practice name.
The Diocese of Erie is committed to lifelong faith formation. We recognize that all people, from birth to death, are called by God to an ever-deepening relationship with Him.
For a more comprehensive overview of the vision behind these best practices, click here.
Best Practices
| Primary: | Am I safe, comfortable, and loved? Ages 0-2 |
| Secondary: | Is being with God and His people a safe and happy experience? Ages 0-2 What is real faith and why do I need a Church? Ages 19-35 How should I live my values? Ages 19-35 How do I love in different seasons of life? Ages 35-50 How do I find new ways to give of my time, love and resources? Ages 50-70 |
Summary: Early Catholic Family Life (ECFL) is a program that welcomes young families and empowers them to “raise their children confidently with Jesus.” The eight-session program connects parents with their
peers and helps them learn best practices in early childhood faith development. It has proven to be an organic starting point for small Christian communities within parishes and schools that serve young children.
| Primary: | Is being with God and His people a safe and happy experience? Ages 0-5 |
| Secondary: | Am I safe, comfortable, and loved? Ages 0-5 What is real faith and why do I need a Church? Ages 19-35 How should I live my values? Ages 19-35 How do I love in different seasons of life? Ages 35-50 |
Summary: Catholic Family Night brings together families with young children for intentional community and the opportunity for faith sharing. It is a weekly, two-hour Friday night evening gathering of families with young children. “The night includes prayer, focused discussion [in men’s and women’s groups], and time for parents to connect with their children.”
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
| Primary: | What is God like? Ages 2-5 |
| Secondary: | What does it mean to be in personal relationship with God? Ages 13-18 |
Summary: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd recognizes that the Holy Spirit is the true teacher of the Faith. Its presentations, environment, and catechist training focus on providing the space for children to tap into their own religious potential, becoming familiar with the voice of God and growing in the most foundational truths of faith. Joy and intentionality mark this mode of Montessori-like catechesis.
| Primary: | What is God like? |
| Secondary: | Is it good to be me? Ages 2-5 What is the world like? Ages 2-5 What does it mean to be in personal relationship with God? Ages 13-18 How should I live my values? Ages 19-35 |
Summary: Parishes offer specially structured Holy Hours for families and children. The adoration leader guides children through age-appropriate reflections and gestures that help them recognize Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, develop a relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist, and recognize that their love for Jesus is very important to Him.
| Primary: | How can I be part of a larger community? Ages 6-13 |
| Secondary: | What does it mean to do the right thing? Ages 6-13 What are my gifts and talents and how can I use them? Ages 13-18 How do I live my values? Ages 19-35 |
Summary: Parishes match groups of willing parishioners with needs within their parish and local community.
| Primary: | How is God present in the world and in my life? Ages 6-12 |
| Secondary: | What does it mean to do the right thing? Ages 6-12 What does it mean to be in personal relationship with God? Ages 13-19 What does it mean to be part of a larger community? Ages 6-12 |
Summary: “Edge is a Catholic middle school youth ministry program. It provides a safe fun place for youth to find solid Catholic community, to get answers to their questions about faith, and, most importantly, to experience Jesus in a profound and personal way.”
| Primary: | What does it mean to be in personal relationship with God? Ages 13-18 |
| Secondary: | What is real faith and why do I need a Church? Ages 19-35 |
Summary: “Divine Mercy Encounter (DME) is a three-day retreat program. Each day has a different focus: Friday is the Day of Invitation, focusing on how God is inviting us into relationship. Saturday is the Day of Encounter, where we encounter God through the sacraments, Adoration, and others. Sunday is the Day of Commission, where we as a community are empowered to evangelize and share our faith. The weekend includes talks, exposure to different types of prayer, Mass, community, and much more. The weekend runs from 10am on Friday to 5pm on Sunday, and retreat participants stay onsite for the weekend.”taken from https://www.divinemercyencounter.com/
| Primary: | What should I do with my future? Ages 19-35 |
| Secondary: | How do I love in different relationships? Ages 13-18 How do I live my values? Ages 19-35 |
Summary: Samuel group is a seven-month journey which accompanies young who seriously desire to discern God’s will for their lives. The program provides the tools for how to discern properly with peace, joy, and confidence. Participants are called to discover whom and what they are truly made for, and how to embrace God’s call in every stage of life.
“The Chosen” Virtual Small Groups
| Primary: | How do I experience God’s presence with increasing demands on my time and attention? Ages 35-50 |
| Secondary: | Where is God in the places that I need to surrender? Ages 50-70 |
Summary: The Chosen is a critically acclaimed mini-series about the life of Jesus Christ told through the stories of the people He called to follow Him. This model involves an 8-week series, in which people watch the episodes (available for free on The Chosen app or YouTube) on their own and then come together for a one-hour discussion over Zoom. It was especially successful during the pandemic, where there has been a poverty of in-person gatherings for faith-sharing and fellowship. This project also helped build relationships across multiple parishes.
Wisdom Bible Study from Ascension Press
| Primary: | Did I do a good job living my life so far? Ages 50-70 |
| Secondary: | Am I on the right track in life? Ages 35-50 What are my gifts and talents and how can I use them? Ages 13-18 What should I do with my future? Ages 19-35 |
Summary: The Wisdom Bible Study with Jeff Cavins (from Ascension Press) is an eight-week study of Wisdom literature as it relates to areas of everyday life. Each session focuses on an area of wisdom in life – finance, family, faith and more. Discussion questions challenge groups to spend in-depth time considering past actions and changes they can make going forward.
| Primary: | How do I find new ways to give of my time, love and resources? Ages 50-70 |
| Secondary: | How do I love in different seasons of my life? Ages 35-50 |
Summary: “Welcome is an overnight weekend experience for your parishioners given by men or women who have previously attended Welcome at your parish. Through fellowship, faith sharing, hospitality, music, individual and group activities, Mass, and more, participants have the opportunity to step back from the everyday to reflect on their lives and their spiritual journeys and build meaningful relationships with other men or women in the parish. Men and women attend separate weekends.”
Aging Gracefully During the Pandemic Study
| Primary: | Where does my life find value? Ages 70+ |
| Secondary: | How do I find new ways to give of my love, time, and resources? Ages 50-70 |
Summary: Aging Gracefully During the Pandemic is a six-session small-group based discussion and study that addresses topics including fear, legacy, regret, hope, love, and joy.
Senior Spirituality Day & Training
| Primary: | Am I ready to see God face to face? Ages 70+ |
| Secondary: | Where does my life find value? Ages 70+ |
Summary: The Senior Spirituality Day and Training is a one-day senior spirituality conference which focuses on topics of special interest to seniors. The day is fashioned after a typical conference with guest speakers and includes sessions that allow seniors to be trained to feed back into their parish life and spirituality.