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[Growing Up Catholic Baptism Preparation] After the Plunge (eResource): Kit for Reaching out to Parents after Baptism

Growing Up Catholic Baptism Preparation After the Plunge Kit for Reaching out to Parents after Baptism

$18.00/parish
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subtitle:
Kit for Reaching out to Parents after Baptism
series:
Growing Up Catholic Baptism Preparation
title:
After the Plunge
eresource:
true
per:
parish
pricing:
$18.00/parish

A process for engaging, evangelizing, and coaching young parents • Available in print and as a reproducible eResource

Learn more about this process here.

by Ann Naffziger & Paul Canavese • Downloadable, reproducible eResource kit

Keep in touch with your parents after baptism...
Coach them and welcome them back!

While most children are no longer physically plunged into the water, the Church teaches that by baptism we are plunged into the paschal mystery of Christ: dying with him, being buried with him, and rising with him (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, #6). And becoming parents is a similar plunge: jumping feet-first into a new experience of dying to ourselves in self-giving love for another human being. This resource is a little tool to help with what comes next.

This resource was designed with the following goals and principles:
  • Maintain a connection between the parish and young parents during the first three to five years after baptism, a time when we often lose touch with families.
  • Coach parents to build households of faith and incorporate faith practices into the family routine.
  • Encourage parents to foster their own faith life and maintain healthy balances.
  • Offer information in a compact format that busy parents are likely to actually read.
  • Speak with friendly, accessible language that will not turn off outsiders.
  • Invite parents to Mass and other events in the parish.
  • Offer a tool that is simple and easy for you as a parish leader.
This kit includes editable letter templates (in Word) and tri-fold leaflets (in PDF) to send out quarterly to your young families:
  • Introductory letter and leaflet to be sent soon after initial signup. The leaflet is titled "Building a Household of Faith," with tips for setting a foundation, caring for oneself, and building simple rituals within the home.
  • Advent/Christmas: "Getting Started with an Advent Wreath," encouraging a great home tradition that even very young children can appreciate.
  • Lent/Easter: "Simple Ideas for Lent at Home" and a bonus insert ("Celebrating Easter: Ideas for Busy Parents").
  • Summer: "Exercising your Spirit in Summer," about trying some new faith practices at home
  • Autumn: "Tips for Bringing Your Little One to Church," with encouragement for them to return to Sunday liturgy if they aren't doing so currently.

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This is a downloadable, reproducible product sold with a lifetime parish or school license. Please read the full license terms below.

Product License

This reproducible eResource is sold with a lifetime license for use within a parish, school, or diocesan office. You are allowed to make unlimited copies for use within your own community. You may also email these to members of your team or participants in your program. If you serve more than one parish or school, each should purchase its own license. You may not post our eResources to any web site without explicit permission to do so. Please contact us if you have any questions. Thank you for cooperating with our honor system regarding our product licenses.

Format: eResource
Product code: PC155
Dimensions: 8½" x 11"
Publisher:
The Pastoral Center
Written by Ann Naffziger and Paul Canavese

Author

Ann Naffziger has her MDiv from the Jesuit School of Theology and MA in Biblical Languages from the Graduate Theological Union, both in Berkeley.  Ann has worked in a variety of parish roles, as well as serving as a hospital chaplain, spiritual director, scripture instructor, and adjunct faculty member at the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University. She has written articles in the field of spirituality and scripture for America, BustedHalo.com, Commonweal, The National Catholic Reporter, Spiritual Life: A Journal of Contemplative Spirituality, and other publications. Ann is the author of The Catholic Way, annual Advent & Lent bookets, and a variety of other pastoral resources published by The Pastoral Center, which she co-directs with her husband Paul Canavese. She is also a Master Gardener and girls' softball coach. She lives in Alameda, CA, with her husband and two daughters.

View all resources by Ann Naffziger

Paul Canavese serves as director of The Pastoral Center (PastoralCenter.com), author, frequent conference speaker, and pastoral consultant. He has his MTS from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley. He directs GrowingUpCatholic.com (focused on coaching parents) and GospelLiving.org ("intentional daily life Catholicism"). He has served in a wide range of parish ministries, most recently as a pastoral consultant at Corpus Christi Parish in Piedmont, CA. Paul also has 20 years of experience in software development and management with technology startups and social media. Along with his wife Ann, two daughters, and seven chickens, he lives in Alameda, CA, where they operate a mini-urban farm and looks for creative ways to build community in their neighborhood.

View all resources by Paul Canavese

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  • 5
    After the Plunge

    Posted by Robert Chaisson on Oct 25th 2021

    Our Parish is extremely pleased with this truly Catholic based program and the supportive materials to keep us connected with our newly Baptized and their family.