Current Research, Resources, and Articles for Leaders
NEW! One Day Against Hate - Make it a Movement!
Numerous resources (conversation starters, articles, and prayer services) for teachers, catechists, and catechetical leaders.
NEW! CARA Report on Catholic Women in the United States (CARA and America media)
Beliefs, Practices, Experiences, and Attitudes. A study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), commissioned by America media. 2018.
NEW! Going Going Gone (CARA and St. Mary's Press)
This book by Robert J. McCarty and John M. Vitek looks at the phenomena of the Disaffiliated Catholics. St. Mary's Press commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate to study why are young people "going, going, gone".
Find more information about the topic in this article:
See Bob McCarty talk about this topic in a webinar series for NFCYM, NCCL, NCEA, and NACFLM.
A Report on American Catholic Religious Parenting (Justin Bartkus and Christian Smith)
Receive a copy of this 2017 report on American Catholic Parenting.
Evangelization and Faith Formation of Families 2017 - Report / Webinar (John Roberto for the NCCL Evangelization Committee)
In the winter of 2017, the NCCL Evangelization Committee conducted a survey to understand how parishes and schools are involved in the evangelization and faith formation of families and parents/grandparents. The survey asked leaders to identify their approach to families, the ways they evangelize families and engage them in faith formation, and the ways they reach families at home. The survey concluded by inviting leaders to describe the challenges they face in the evangelization and faith formation of families. The Family Survey Report presents the research findings from the 468 parishes and schools that responded. The respondents came from across the United States, representing over 400 zip codes. This webinar, co-sponsored by NCCL and the Catholic Apostolate Center, presented 10 key findings from the survey including the most important ways that parishes and schools are engaged in evangelization and faith formation with families, and the significant challenges facing leaders.
Faith in the Family: A Survey of U.S. Catholic Parents (2015) (CARA)
In fall 2014, Holy Cross Family Ministries commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University to conduct a national poll of adult Catholics, ages 25 to 45 who are parents of a minor child to measure the practice of faith and use of media in families. Special Reports will be released from the study:
June: The Catholic Family: 21st Century Challenges in the United States Click here for the Report
July: The U.S. Catholic Family - Demographics Click here for the Report
August: Practice of Faith in the Catholic Family Click here for the Report
September: Catholic Families and Media Usage Click here for the Report
5 Reasons Millennials Stay Connected to the Church (Barna Group 9/13)
This research illuminates what is working—and what churches can do to engage these young adults.
Numerous resources (conversation starters, articles, and prayer services) for teachers, catechists, and catechetical leaders.
NEW! CARA Report on Catholic Women in the United States (CARA and America media)
Beliefs, Practices, Experiences, and Attitudes. A study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), commissioned by America media. 2018.
NEW! Going Going Gone (CARA and St. Mary's Press)
This book by Robert J. McCarty and John M. Vitek looks at the phenomena of the Disaffiliated Catholics. St. Mary's Press commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate to study why are young people "going, going, gone".
Find more information about the topic in this article:
- Why Are They Leaving? (The Valley Catholic)
See Bob McCarty talk about this topic in a webinar series for NFCYM, NCCL, NCEA, and NACFLM.
A Report on American Catholic Religious Parenting (Justin Bartkus and Christian Smith)
Receive a copy of this 2017 report on American Catholic Parenting.
- The Basic Claim and The American Catholic Household as Cultural Project
- Four Components that Produce and Shape the Religious Household & Snapshots of Effective Transmission
- Key Takeaways
Evangelization and Faith Formation of Families 2017 - Report / Webinar (John Roberto for the NCCL Evangelization Committee)
In the winter of 2017, the NCCL Evangelization Committee conducted a survey to understand how parishes and schools are involved in the evangelization and faith formation of families and parents/grandparents. The survey asked leaders to identify their approach to families, the ways they evangelize families and engage them in faith formation, and the ways they reach families at home. The survey concluded by inviting leaders to describe the challenges they face in the evangelization and faith formation of families. The Family Survey Report presents the research findings from the 468 parishes and schools that responded. The respondents came from across the United States, representing over 400 zip codes. This webinar, co-sponsored by NCCL and the Catholic Apostolate Center, presented 10 key findings from the survey including the most important ways that parishes and schools are engaged in evangelization and faith formation with families, and the significant challenges facing leaders.
Faith in the Family: A Survey of U.S. Catholic Parents (2015) (CARA)
In fall 2014, Holy Cross Family Ministries commissioned the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University to conduct a national poll of adult Catholics, ages 25 to 45 who are parents of a minor child to measure the practice of faith and use of media in families. Special Reports will be released from the study:
June: The Catholic Family: 21st Century Challenges in the United States Click here for the Report
July: The U.S. Catholic Family - Demographics Click here for the Report
August: Practice of Faith in the Catholic Family Click here for the Report
September: Catholic Families and Media Usage Click here for the Report
5 Reasons Millennials Stay Connected to the Church (Barna Group 9/13)
This research illuminates what is working—and what churches can do to engage these young adults.
21st Century Evangelization (NCCL)
A National Conference of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) resource, this curated site equips leaders for evangelization by identifying and evaluating the latest in Catholic evangelization practices and resources.
Resources include:
A National Conference of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL) resource, this curated site equips leaders for evangelization by identifying and evaluating the latest in Catholic evangelization practices and resources.
Resources include:
- Research in Trends
- General Resources
- Vision: Church Documents, Articles and Journals
- Books, Articles, and Online Resources specific to Evangelization/Liturgy
- Articles on Practices and Approaches to Catholic Evangelization
- Articles on Approaches to Leadership Formation
Faith Formation Learning Exchange (Vibrant Faith)
This site is dedicated to helping leaders in all forms of Christian ministry develop Christian lifelong faith formation for all ages and generations that is informed by solid research, effective practices, cutting-edge thinking, real-world models and tools, and the latest resources.
How to Influence Your Pastor (Team RCIA)
A great article that reminds us that if we want to advocate for our ministry we need to put ourself in the other person's shoes.
Joe Paprocki on Catechists' Journey (Loyola Press)
Adult Faith Formation Needs to Focus on Brokenness Looking at programs that focus on healing our brokenness.
Parents Come First at St. Jude - a three part series on a faith formation program that focuses on parents.
Lifelong Faith Journal (Lifelong Faith Associates)
An excellent source of research, resources and challenging articles on every aspect of faith formation including data on effectiveness and best practices on inter generational, life cycle and family based approaches to faith formation. The articles are available for free download.
Reimagine Faith Formation (Lifelong Faith Associates)
It's time to Reimagine Faith Formation for a twenty-first century world. We need a “new conception” of faith formation that is faithful to our continuing mission of making disciples and promoting lifelong faith growth and that is designed for people in the twenty-first century. This resource center provides leaders with the vision, practices, approaches, design tools, and programming ideas to bring the new vision to life - to create a new faith forming ecosystem and design 21st century faith formation for the whole community.
Research on the Catholic Family: 21st Century Challenges in the United States (CARA & Holy Family Ministries) NEW!
Research on the challenges facing Catholic families today.
The Pope Francis Minute (Catholic Link)
Check out this effort to share Pope Francis' messages with families via animated video clips.
We Already Have All That We Need (DaveCsinos.com)
An article focused on the importance of family faith formation.
This site is dedicated to helping leaders in all forms of Christian ministry develop Christian lifelong faith formation for all ages and generations that is informed by solid research, effective practices, cutting-edge thinking, real-world models and tools, and the latest resources.
How to Influence Your Pastor (Team RCIA)
A great article that reminds us that if we want to advocate for our ministry we need to put ourself in the other person's shoes.
Joe Paprocki on Catechists' Journey (Loyola Press)
Adult Faith Formation Needs to Focus on Brokenness Looking at programs that focus on healing our brokenness.
Parents Come First at St. Jude - a three part series on a faith formation program that focuses on parents.
Lifelong Faith Journal (Lifelong Faith Associates)
An excellent source of research, resources and challenging articles on every aspect of faith formation including data on effectiveness and best practices on inter generational, life cycle and family based approaches to faith formation. The articles are available for free download.
Reimagine Faith Formation (Lifelong Faith Associates)
It's time to Reimagine Faith Formation for a twenty-first century world. We need a “new conception” of faith formation that is faithful to our continuing mission of making disciples and promoting lifelong faith growth and that is designed for people in the twenty-first century. This resource center provides leaders with the vision, practices, approaches, design tools, and programming ideas to bring the new vision to life - to create a new faith forming ecosystem and design 21st century faith formation for the whole community.
Research on the Catholic Family: 21st Century Challenges in the United States (CARA & Holy Family Ministries) NEW!
Research on the challenges facing Catholic families today.
- Related research - on the U.S. Catholic Family Demographics (CARA & Holy Family Ministries)
- Survey Shows Evangelizing Parents Can Strengthen Family Life - an article about the research above (National Catholic Register)
The Pope Francis Minute (Catholic Link)
Check out this effort to share Pope Francis' messages with families via animated video clips.
- Holy Father, Teach Us to Pray NEW!
- We Should Love the Virgin Mary
- The Year of Mercy
- The Recipe for a Happy Family
- More Pope Francis Minute videos on Catholic Links YouTube playlist
We Already Have All That We Need (DaveCsinos.com)
An article focused on the importance of family faith formation.