Special to the Register

Prince of Peace Parish in Great Bend recently concluded its first Early Catholic Family Life Program, a five-week presentation designed to "jump-start" the spiritual life of a child.

In April 2006, Prince of Peace parishioners Mary Bieker, Coleen Moore, and Michelle Moshier, DRE for kindergarten through eighth grade, attended a "parent leadership training session" for the Early Catholic Family Life Program.

The Dodge City diocese brought the founders of the program, Joanne and Alan Foley of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, to Dodge City to train those who were interested.

The couple trained individuals on how to offer a five-week, two-hour class patterned after the highly successful and popular ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) program. The program includes a parent-child interaction component, a parent discussion time, and a children’s time.

"We left the training so excited, making lists of things that needed to be done, and gathered to make this program a reality at our parish," said Moshier. "We had the right people in place as Mary and Coleen are the perfect volunteers for this program. Their professions include early childhood development and they are passionate about children and their faith, a perfect combination for this program. I look back on the success of this past year and see repeatedly God’s hand at work through the volunteers and this program.

"Joanne and Alan Foley have created a beautiful program which assists parents in their responsibility as primary educators of the faith for their children," Moshier said.

Through the ECFL program, parents experience the sharing of activities with their preschooler, who learn about God and the Church through dramatic play, crafts, songs, sensory tables and stories.

"We took what the Foleys had to teach us, and a year later Prince of Peace has offered two ECFL sessions giving 17 families an opportunity to grow together in their Catholic Faith," Moshier explained. "We had a fall and spring offering on Wednesday evening from 6-8:30 p.m. for five weeks. I have to admit I was a little selfish in wanting to get the program up and running by fall, October 2006. I really wanted my husband along with my two children to have this experience. My youngest child would be turning 6 in November."

The program is geared for parents with children three to five. "The program has had a wonderful impact on my daughter," Moshier said. "She still reads from the prayer book she created. She moves a prayer card as a bookmark through the book as she prays each night before bed and she never grows tired of starting over once she reaches the end. Her favorite prayers are the ones that have a ‘fill in the blank’ for her to insert a name or thought into the prayer."

Moshier said that parents and children "really enjoyed the creative toys and table centers prompting discussion about their faith. Hands-on familiarity with various aspects of our faith were well received by all involved.

"For example," she said, "in the first session, which focuses on the concept that God created everything, parents and their children draw something God made on a mural and talk about it using cue cards as a guide."

She said that children use small nets to catch minnows in a tub while parents are encouraged to talk to them about how God made the fish and the water.

"We are close by to offer guidance," explained Bieker, a trained facilitator, "but we allow parents to take the lead as much as possible."

Another popular session was the one on "Church." The children pretend to be a priest and altar server complete with vestments made to fit just their size (see the photo on Page 9). They also dramatize celebrating Mass with a miniature Mass kit, learning the names and purpose of the articles. Later, the families receive an up close and personal tour of the Church with a priest or sister. Some parents have shared that their child is more behaved and attentive in Church because of this experience.

"We have also heard from parents that their children love this program, asking when they can come again," Moshier said. "Parents particularly enjoy and appreciate spending time with other Catholic parents."

Discussions included sharing some of their own growth and development in faith, gaining new insights on how to communicate their own faith with their children, and discovering more about God together as they talk about what is important to them for their children.

"The volunteers are truly sharing a gift of faith with those involved in the program," Moshier said. "This program would not be possible without the generosity of these volunteers who shared their time. Thank you to Prince of Peace parishioners who volunteered with this program: Eric Haselhorst, Mary and Darrell Bieker, Coleen Moore, Ros Neeland, Leonard and Brenda Kaiser, Jody Erb, Cory and Casey Jording, Amanda Trembley and Anne Shaughnessy.

"We are very blessed to have supportive parishioners who donated religious and faith articles sewed costumes and provided much needed supplies. Through Him all things are possible."

Another session will be offered at Prince of Peace in 2008 for parents with children three to five.