Strong Catholic Family Faith
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Current Research, Resources & Articles

Electing a Pope

Electing a Pope, Information and Activities (The Catholic Toolbox)
Papal Conclave: How does the Catholic Church elect a new pope? (The Religion Teacher)
Pope Activities for Catholic Kids (Catholic Icing)
​Remembering Pope Francis​​ Use this download to talk to your kids about the late pontiff and the conclave ahead (OSV)
Talking to kids about Conclave (TeachingCatholicKids.com)

What is a Conclave video  English   Spanish  
(Catholic Kids Media)
Who was Pope Francis? A short bio of Pope Francis for kids outlining his life and mission.  (Catholic Kids Media)

Sacred Listening, Deeper Faith

​A National Research Study Exploring the Impact of Listening on Faith Formation (Future of Faith)
​Our research shows that listening is not just a tool for connection—it is a catalyst for faith formation. Explore findings from our national study below, download free resources, and discover how ministries that prioritize listening are building deeper, more meaningful faith communities.

Disaffiliation, Deconstructing, De-Churching

Recent research reveals that 40 million Americans used to go to church but no longer do… we hear about the Nones, the disaffiliated, those who are deconstructing, reconstructing and de-churching.

For the first time, in the 8 decades that Gallup has tracked American religious membership, more adults in the U.S. do not attend church than those who do. Church as we know it is changing. Read or watch the following leaders share their experience in what this means for us today. 
Smith and Bartkus presenting their research at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame: "Parents, the REAL Pastors".
The Great De-Churching: Jim Davis (co-author of The Great De-Churching) on Carey Nieuwhof's Leadership Podcast
"How to Keep Our Kids Catholic" from Word on Fire. Vogt and Bishop Robert Barron discuss "Handing Down the Faith" (Smith and Adamczyk).
Dr. Christian Smith's research:
"Ask your father and he will tell you." A Report on Catholic Religious Parenting.  (Smith and Bartkus)
This 2017 report begins, "The vast majority of children of the millennial generation fall well short of what the Church would consider the most basic requirements for active membership. Dour observations about the rise of the “nones” among millennials— those individuals who identify with no religious tradition at all—have become commonplace. In such conditions, do Catholic parents who wish to pass on their faith have to steel themselves against a high probability of failure? Is theirs but a blind hope, a “Hail Mary,” as it were?" Read the report to discover what matters most in the transmission of the faith. What things impact faith development?

Books, articles and a video related to that research:
  • Smith’s book (with Amy Adamczyk) - Handing Down the Faith: How Parents Pass Their Religion on to the Next Generation
  • Timothy O'Malley's article on the Smith and Bartkus presentation at the McGrath Institute: Empowering Parents-Symposium Day 1
  • Leonardo deLorenzo's "Breaking the Habit of Outsourcing the Ongoing Catechesis of Our Children"
  • Justin Bartkus' "The Home: A Catholic Subculture that Makes a Difference"

Pew research
  • Only 1/3 of Catholic Parents Say It's Very Important Children Share Parents' Religious Beliefs (Editorial from Catholic Review)
  • Less Than a Third of Catholics Say Marriage and Kids Are 'Very Important' to a Fulfilling Life (America Magazine)

Barna research
  • Who Is Responsible for Children's Faith Formation?​
  • Choosing a Church with Their Kids in Mind

NEW “Gen Z and Mental Health:
​Insights for Faith Leaders” with Josh Packard
NEW What Gen Z Needs from Us
with Josh Packard
NEW! NCCL Catholic
  • The Insights & Practices from Research and Theory Series  explores the latest research and thinking on forming faith with families and age groups, and suggests practical strategies for forming faith that reflect the current research and age groups, and suggests practical strategies for forming faith that reflect the current research and thinking.  
  • 2023 Family Survey Report - ​In the Spring of 2023, NCCL conducted a national survey to identify how  Catholic parishes are implementing family faith formation and intergenerational (all ages together) faith formation. A total of 303 Catholic parishes completed the survey. ​
Planning Faith Formation for 2022 and Beyond (Lifelong Faith Training)
This Guide to planning faith formation helps you think systemically about what we need to do in faith formation to address the challenges of today. 
​
“Called to the Joy of Love: National Pastoral Framework for Marriage and Family Life Ministry” (USCCB)
The framework is intended to assist dioceses and parishes as local pastoral planning and implementation continue to take place since the publication of the 2016 apostolic exhortation on the family, Amoris Laetitia. It provides guidelines for the pastoral accompaniment of married couples and families in every phase of life, drawing upon the teachings and recommendations contained in the apostolic exhortation.  Parish Inventory for Marriage and Family Life Ministry

Putting Parents at the Center of Our Ministry Movement (Dr. John M. Rinaldo, Parish Success Group, posted at USCCB)
Videos based on the above linked article:
  • Part 1: Build Relationships with Parents
  • Part 2: Evaluate Current Adult Faith Formation Activities
  • Part 3: Let Parents Do the Formation

Combatting Racism (USCCB)
  • Articles (USCCB)
  • Pope Francis and U.S. Bishops Respond to George Floyd's Killing (video) (Catholic Mobilizing Network)
  • Bishop Shelton Fabre on the Death of George Floyd (video) (USCCB)​
  • Pope Francis prays for George Floyd and for peace and justice in US (video) (EWTN)
  • The assumptions of white privilege and what we can do about it (National Catholic Reporter)

Alpha evangelization program for youth
Alpha is an online program that introduces people to Jesus. They offer a program especially for youth which is very dynamic.  It is non denominational, completely free of charge and available online. Alpha is also run for people of all ages. It originated in England in 1991 and is currently available in 120 countries and 60 languages. Follow the easy directions on the website to create an Alpha for your parish or youth group.
​
Lifelong Faith Associates Related Research (Lifelong Faith Associates)
  • Family Faith Formation resources, practices, workshops, and more
  • Faith Formation with a New Generation - Read Chapter One 
  • Families at the Center of Faith Formation Research Summary

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.

CARA Report on Catholic Women in the United States (National Catholic Register)
Beliefs, Practices, Experiences, and Attitudes. A study by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA), commissioned by America media. 2018. 

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".

See Bob McCarty talk about this topic in this webinar series (NFCYM, NCCL, NCEA, and NACFLM)
  • Thirteen: Engagement or Exodus?​
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.
​
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 
  • 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​​
  • Home
    • About this Project
    • New
  • Faith Practice
    • Learning the Faith
    • Prayers & Praying >
      • Traditional Catholic Prayers
      • Praying
      • Prayers During Times of Stress
    • Reading the Bible
    • Catholic Social Teachings >
      • Life and Dignity of the Human Person
      • Call to Family, Community, and Participation
      • Solidarity
      • Care for God's Creation
    • Celebrating Rituals & Milestones >
      • Celebrating Rituals
      • Celebrating Milestones
    • Sharing Faith/Forming Disciples/Discerning Gifts
    • Serving Others
  • Church Year
    • Mass/Sunday Worship & Lectionary Resources
    • Advent >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Christmas >
      • For Families
      • For Parishes/Schools
    • Ordinary Time >
      • January/ February
    • LENT >
      • Lenten season resources
    • EASTER >
      • Easter Season Resources
      • Breaking Open the Word- Cycle C
    • Current Events >
      • Eucharistic Revival
      • Synod on Synodality
  • Sacraments
    • General
    • Sacraments of Initiation
    • Sacraments of Healing
    • Sacraments at the Service of Communion
  • Family
    • Parenting >
      • General
      • Young Children
      • Adolescents
      • Special Needs
      • Empty Nest
    • Partnering with Parents
    • Parent Faith Formation
    • Grandparents >
      • Grandparent resources
    • Meaningful and/or Difficult Conversations >
      • Addiction
      • Divorce
      • Death, Loss, Grief
      • Mental Health Issues
      • Transforming Hate into Love >
        • Racism
        • Combat Hate Conversations
      • Loving Relationships and Safe Environment >
        • Really Tough Topics
      • Violence, Tragedies, Disasters, and Pandemics
  • Media
    • Movie Reviews & Reviewer Resources
    • Programs on Streaming Services
    • Using Media and Technology
    • Videos for Faith Formation
  • Leadership
    • Learning New Approaches
    • Current Research, Resources, and Articles for Leaders
    • Webinars, Workshops, Conferences & More >
      • Archived Leadership Webinars, Workshops, & Conferences
    • The Church on Putting Families at the Center of Faith
    • Presentation Tools & Tips for Leaders
    • Initiatives
  • Submit a Resource