Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, a priest of the Peoria, Ill. diocese and a former professional soccer player, speaks during GIFT night at Notre Dame Catholic School in Burlington earlier this year.
By Lindsay Steele
The Catholic Messenger
Youths and adults from Divine Mercy Parish in Burlington/West Burlington have been growing together in faith since the beginning of the school year.
Once a month, parents — and sometimes grandparents — join religious education students and youth group members at Notre Dame Catholic School in Burlington for a meal and a program. “We’ve had a wonderful response,” said Tammy Bellrichard, the parish’s director of religious education. “My favorite thing is seeing families together.”
Divine Mercy Parish developed the family faith night after participating in the Davenport Diocese’s Youth+Family Engagement kick-off summit last summer, said parishioner Karen Marino. Youth+Family Engagement is the focus of year two of the diocese’s three-year journey to explore priorities identified in Diocesan Synod listening sessions in 2022.
Marino attended the summit with a group of parishioners, school representatives of Notre Dame and Father Jake Greiner, the parish’s pastor. The group learned about the success of family-oriented programming in other diocesan parishes and was inspired, she said.
After the summit, the parish formed a committee and settled on a schedule and a name: Growing in Faith Together (GIFT). They decided to host the event one Wednesday a month in place of that week’s religious education classes and youth group meetings, hoping that parents and grandparents who drop off their children would stick around for a meal and a program.
Committee members thought the GIFT nights could help families and individuals connect in a faith-based environment. “We have three churches but one parish; it can be difficult sometimes,” said Amanda Brent, Divine Mercy’s coordinator of evangelization and stewardship and director of music ministry.
GIFT kicked off in late September with a cookout, children’s games and music. Father Greiner gave an overview of the program and helped distribute schedules. The next month’s event commemorated the Month of the Holy Rosary. “We did a living rosary,” Bellrichard recalled. Participants held glow sticks representing different beads, such as blue for the Hail Mary, yellow for the Our Father and green for the Glory Be. Participants had an opportunity to remember deceased loved ones in preparation for All Souls Day.
Earlier this year, the parish hosted Father Chase Hilgenbrinck, a former professional soccer player who gave a witness talk, and a Mary’s Meals representative, who talked about hunger overseas. The April program centered on Blessed Carlo Acutis, whose April 27 canonization was postponed due to the death of Pope Francis. If a program or topic is better suited for adults and older children, catechists take younger classes aside for age-appropriate education on that month’s topic.
GIFT nights are not mandatory and committee members hope to encourage more parish and school families to participate in the future, Marino said. “We try to come up with activities that would engage and interest families and people of all ages.”
Bellrichard believes the program is a good, low-pressure way for uninvolved parents and those who have fallen away to “maybe step back in and not be afraid.” Brent added, “It creates a space where people can begin to explore (and) not be overwhelmed… They can build relationships so maybe a deeper (faith) connection can happen later.”
Brent hopes to build on the success of this year’s programs in next year’s offerings. The program will take a break after a closing Mass and an ice cream social later this month and resume in September. “I just think it’s a great way to bring families together to explore the beauty of our Catholic faith.”
