Parents and teachers can form faith through storytelling

'Year of Faith' calls us to find more opportunities for teaching

Published: August 18, 2012

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Schools

Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Catholic Schools

During the upcoming "Year of Faith" decreed by Pope Benedict XVI, Catholic school educators and parents, as the first teachers, are being called to examine the many opportunities to provide a deeper formation of our Catholic faith.

One of the most effective ways for both adults and children to reach a deeper understanding of faith is through storytelling. Just recall the many times that Jesus used stories (parables) to help people understand their call to faith. Hebrews Chapter 11 is sometimes referred to as "the faith chapter." In this chapter a big concept is put into a few words: 11:1 "Now faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." This chapter reverences the faith of our biblical ancestors but then calls us to reflect on the faith one has seen in their own family.

Parents and teachers reading and sharing stories provide a wonderful way to engage children in conversations that matter. When we speak of stories that deepen our faith, it is not only biblical stories. There are contemporary writers who have given us stories that cause us to exercise our moral imagination, and move us to compassion and conversion. Parents and teachers need to look for great children's literature that can tap imagination and draw forth responses that can be used to examine and understand in the light of our faith as they begin to develop skills for making their own choices.

During this "Year of Faith" parents and educators are called to find opportunities through storytelling both biblical and contemporary that will lead our children into a deeper understanding of our faith.

Here are some questions we might reflect on in discovering if we are being more effective in communicating with our children.

Do we share the stories of our own lives with our children and invite them to share their stories with us?

Do we take the time to contemplate the stories we encounter?

Are we alert to Gospel values present within a story?

Do we contribute views based on our Christian perspective to conversation about story, pointing to messages of redemption and love -- or their absence -- that we recognize?

You are encouraged as parents and educators to find the time to explore every opportunity to share stories that speak to our Gospel values, faith traditions and beliefs. Mary Margaret Keaton's book "Imagining Faith with Kids" is a great resource for selection of literature that develops faith through storytelling.

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