Growing Up Catholic Faith Stories
This introductory, Scripture-based, kerygmatic approach helps families learn the basics of our faith through a multi-year process. It can be used for intergenerational family catechesis, children’s catechumenate, or catch-up catechesis.
Themes
The series is organized into three themes/years, each focused on a different set of stories and a different person of the Trinity:
1. God Calls introduces the Creator God and Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament).
2. Jesus Lives presents the gospel story—the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
3. Spirit With Us illustrates the work of the Spirit with stories from the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles, and the lives of saints and modern believers.
Features & Options
Editions
Each session is made available in a variety of formats to meet your ministry needs.
English Language
We offer a general English edition and a Commonwealth edition for our friends in Canada, the U.K., Australia, and beyond.
Spanish Language
Our bilingual edition has parent text in Spanish and child text in English. All-Spanish is also available.
Age Levels
Family handouts are available in editions for ages 5-10 or ages 11-14.
Print Options
Parishes can purchase the full-color printed booklets or licenses to print themselves.
Settings
The curriculum is designed to work well wherever your families will be using it.
Hybrid
Six sessions per theme/year are especially designed for parish use, with nine intended for at-home use.
Parish-Hosted
We highly recommend hosting the sessions in the parish where you can coach families and hold them in community.
At Home
Families can follow the sessions at home, with the support of booklet prompts and videos.
Components
The only required component is the family booklet, but we provide a number of options to offer a richer experience, whether at home or in a parish setting.
Family Handouts
These color booklets are the core of the curriculum, with parent instructions, activities, and question prompts.
Leader Guides
Thoughtful facilitator instructions guide you through how to best host sessions at the parish or prepare families for a home experience.
Four Extra Retreats
We provide extra retreat sessions on Sharing Stories (introduction); Advent; Jesus; and Signs, Symbols, and Sacraments.
Children's Catechumenate
The leader guide includes extra features and guidance for use with the children's catechumenate.
Session Walk-through
Every session has a similar format and rhythm that families will come to know and appreciate.
Introduction
Each booklet's front page introduces parents to the session theme and how to relate it to their children.
Scripture Reading
Families will read a Bible story—the core of each lesson—and discuss it together.
Activities
Interactive activities will prompt families to explore topics in a creative way.
At Home This Week
The last page of each handout prompts families to work on an at-home goal for the week.
Closing Ritual
Each session ends with a closing prayer and ritual.
Preview
Overview / Scope & Sequence Overview / Scope & Sequence (Compact)
Preview God Calls Family Booklets Preview Jesus Lives Family Booklets Preview Spirit With Us Family Booklets
Doctrinal Conformity and Review
The American English edition has a nihil obstat from Rev. David E. Staal, JCL, JD (Censor Librorum) and an imprimatur from Most Rev. Michael C. Barber, S.J., Bishop of Oakland, CA. The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
This resource has not been submitted for doctrinal review by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops because it is classified as a supplemental resource. It is not intended to be a comprehensive basal curriculum that covers all requirements from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Instead, it is a kerygmatic, evangelizing resource for use with both parents and children, to introduce them to the basics of our faith.
Ordering & Pricing
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Leader Kit.
Start by purchasing this resource, which includes a general leader guide, leader access to all versions of
family booklets, facilitator guides for six in-parish sessions, family retreat guides, and more. There are
two purchase options:
- Downloadable leader kit is $12/parish for a lifetime license.
- Four-binder leader kit (plus access to downloads) is $89, or $25 per individual binder.
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Family Booklets.
Once you begin using the program with your families, you will need to purchase a license or booklet for each
child using the program each year.
- Physical, full-color booklets cost $12 for a set of 15 for one theme/year, for use by each child.
- A license to print the booklets yourself costs $6 per child.