Denver Catholic

14 SEPTEMBER 22-OCTOBER 12, 2018 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese Becoming 'The First Educators' of our children Dads organize speaker series for parents at St. Mary's Parish in Littleton BY VLADIMIR MAURICIO-PEREZ S eeing the need for a renewal of Catholic culture in families and society, and desiring to fulfill their vocations in the process, six dads from St. Mary's Parish in Littleton set out to implement the great treasures of Catholic thought in their own families, and help other families do the same, through a series of monthly talks titled "The First Educators," which began Sept. 14 and will continue through October and November. The Catechism states that par- ents "have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility first by±creating a home±where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disin- terested service are the rule." Thus, they create a home "well suited for±education in the virtues" (CCC 2223). They have the "privilege" of evangelizing their children and should educate them in the faith from the children's "earliest years" (CCC 2225-2226). "We started asking questions about how we can make our kids' formation more authentically Catholic, where we fit into that, how we fulfill our vocation as parents, and how we can harness the power that we have on our God-given role," said Bryce Carson, once of the six organizers, parishioner at St. Mary's, husband and father of five. "We were also looking at what the future looks like in terms of middle school and high school … It's easy to get critical about whatever schooling option you are part of, but, what are we doing in our own home to really fulfill our role as first educators of our children?" Supported by their wives and the Disciples of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the Madrid-based religious congregation at St. Mary's Parish, the six men — Bryce Carson, David Holman, Ashely Lessard, Tim Truck- enbrod, Tyler Kolden and Chris Meyer — put together a series of talks with world-class speakers to help parents obtain practical strategies to raise saints in todays' culture and maxi- mize their role in their kids' education, teaching them to love the pursuit of love and virtue, as stated on their website, thefirsteducators.com. "We've had great help from our wives and the Disciples, [who] have fostered this. They've met with us, they've hosted us and also pressed us spiritu- ally and intellectually on what does this look like and who is our audience," said Holman. "[Although], most immedi- ately, the fruits of this project will be intangible, I think parents reading to their children, parents maybe teach- ing catechism to their kids and leading an active prayer life, will help parents begin educating their kids in an authen- tically Catholic way." "I'd like to see the highest princi- ples of the Church — philosophical, theological — translated into practical things that we do in our homes," Carson added, "whether that is prayer or read- ing aloud great works of literature at an appropriate level, listening to music and performing music in our own home — just things to make our home more beautiful and reflective to Christ in our family." The purpose of education is a human person who understands his relationship with his Creator and the unity with his Creator that he seeks. Everything else is in the service of this end. CHRISTOPHER CHECK " PHOTO BY OLICHEL ADAMOVICH | PIXABAY

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