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Keep Your Kids Catholic: Sharing Your Faith and Making It Stick
Many Catholic parents are tempted to leave the religious education and spiritual formation of their children to their parish or Catholic school. Professional catechist, popular blogger, and father of two, Marc Cardaronella has a passionate plea for those Be your child's primary educator in the faith by what you do and say. This practical guide gives parents what they need to create a faith-nurturing environment at home. When Marc Cardaronella started his job as a catechist, he could empathize with parents who came to him to talk about how their now-grown children had left the Church because he had been Despite years of religious education and regular Mass attendance, Cardaronella never really practiced his faith and stayed away for twenty years. Now it's his mission to equip families like yours to hand on your faith. His passionate message is that the faith formation children need is not taught in standard religious education classes and probably never will be. Cardaron
142 pages, Paperback
First published April 8, 2016
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31 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 23, 2019
You suck, you are the reason your kids leave the Church. - A review that saves you $15. A quick confession for the rest of what I say: I don't have children yet, so this was a pre-emptive reading to try and not have to face the fear that they one day would leave the Church.
Honestly, I don't know what I expected after ordering this on Amazon, but was sadly disappointed. The first thing I noticed was the spacing between the lines of text in the book; this should not have come in at 142 pages, it should have been shorter. This isn't double spaced, but it doesn't seem to be single spaced either; it's the sort of shenanigans my students pull when trying to hit the page limit. The second was that the Reflect, Pray, etc. sections are actually the best done of any book like this that I've read. Third, Cardaronella is incredibly condescending at points, in assuming people don't already approach things the way he describes; at one point towards the end he boasts how he asks us to look at things a bit differently than we normally would...and it rings utterly hollow.
Overall, this book is filled with things that are, to me as a former Baptist, utterly common sense. Once again, avoid this book, and definitely don't pay the full cost for it as I did.
Honestly, I don't know what I expected after ordering this on Amazon, but was sadly disappointed. The first thing I noticed was the spacing between the lines of text in the book; this should not have come in at 142 pages, it should have been shorter. This isn't double spaced, but it doesn't seem to be single spaced either; it's the sort of shenanigans my students pull when trying to hit the page limit. The second was that the Reflect, Pray, etc. sections are actually the best done of any book like this that I've read. Third, Cardaronella is incredibly condescending at points, in assuming people don't already approach things the way he describes; at one point towards the end he boasts how he asks us to look at things a bit differently than we normally would...and it rings utterly hollow.
Overall, this book is filled with things that are, to me as a former Baptist, utterly common sense. Once again, avoid this book, and definitely don't pay the full cost for it as I did.
May 28, 2020
This is a simple, yet practical guide for parents about how to start and implement the family faith learning. Some might say it covers only the basics - and yet, these basics in reality are all that is needed! Because you can not "teach" faith as a school subject, its ways are both more mysterious and more simple. Learning by giving the honest example is often the most working way.
I would say that this guide covers all the main spots and its simplicity it actually addresses all what is basically needed to address (of course, for same concrete questions, say concerning the Catholic teaching about sexuality, one should refer to specialized book).
The language is warm and user-friendly and there are also recommendations for more resources in every chapter.
I would recommend this book as a basic yet working guide for all parents.
I would say that this guide covers all the main spots and its simplicity it actually addresses all what is basically needed to address (of course, for same concrete questions, say concerning the Catholic teaching about sexuality, one should refer to specialized book).
The language is warm and user-friendly and there are also recommendations for more resources in every chapter.
I would recommend this book as a basic yet working guide for all parents.
December 10, 2021
Good book
This helpful little book, is a fast read really but it was so full of good tips other resources I was always stopping to take notes and sharing parts of it with friends so it took me a while to get through it. This author recommended so many other books that I need up buying. So it actually increased my books to be read.
This helpful little book, is a fast read really but it was so full of good tips other resources I was always stopping to take notes and sharing parts of it with friends so it took me a while to get through it. This author recommended so many other books that I need up buying. So it actually increased my books to be read.
June 14, 2016
As an active member of my parish community, I encounter many different people at a variety of stages in their relationship with Jesus. To those who desire to build Christ's Kingdom here on earth I encourage them to read "Forming Intentional Disciples" by Sherry Weddell (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...). In it, she identifies five thresholds of conversion. You could consider them steps a person will take to travel from indifference to Christianity to a covenant relationship with Jesus:
1. Initial trust - any type of positive association with Jesus
2. Spiritual Curiosity - desiring to know more about Jesus, but not yet open to personal change
3. Spiritual openness - open to the possibility of change for Jesus
4. Spiritual seeking - moving from passively "to actively seeking to know the God who is calling"
5. Intentional discipleship - the conscious and active "commitment to follow Jesus in the midst of his Church ... and to reorder one's life accordingly"
To the many who identify as Catholic and have adult children who have left the Church, I encourage them to read "The Prodigal you Love" by Sister Theresa Altheia Noble (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...). Often, a driving reason their children have left the faith is because it wasn't authentically lived, made the core of the family's life, in the household their children grew up in. Sister Theresa's work is an excellent resource for those who are not yet "intentional disciples", but are "spiritually open" to reforming themselves for the sake of their children.
Marc Cardaronella's "Keep Your Kids Catholic" is the book these parents needed when their children were small. Parents of small children who are in the "Spiritual curiosity" through "Spiritual seeking" stages of their conversion need this book. These are people who believe enough to bring their family to mass somewhat regularly but perhaps do not understand the meaning of the True Presence. They know they want faith to be a priority in the lives of their children, but don't yet know how to live their lives to install that faith.
Showing up to Mass on Sunday and leaving all formation and catechesis to the parish's CCD or Religious Education program simply isn't enough for a child to internalize the faith of their parents and live it through adulthood. Marc does a fantastic job of bringing this reality to light in the early chapters of his book. A reality cemented in the teachings of the Magisterium throughout Church history. He emphasizes the importance of the faith of the parents through more than anecdotes, but also through statistics discovered by secular research.
Marc then focuses on the faith of the parent reader in "Part II: Is Your Own Faith Secure?". He dedicates this quarter of the book to reviewing the parable of the soil (Mark 4:4-20) and how we might live our lives such that we are fertile ground for God's Word. I especially appreciated this section because it is impossible for me to give something to my children that I do not yet have myself.
After laying the foundation for why it is important for parents to authentically live their faith the reader is given practical tools for passing on that faith with their children. Given the title, you might expect only the second half of the book to be the full content, but laying the foundation for why and how the parent's faith is so essential, give this second half significantly more meaning. The information here is easy to digest and includes bite-sized suggestions on what to implement in your home over time. This is the meat and potatoes of this book and every word is worth a read.
My favorite aspect of this book is the Reflect, Pray, and Live sections at the end of each chapter. You are given specific points to take to prayer to mull them over and ask God's guidance. The Live section contains practical day-to-day information that you can start working into your life right away, as well as additional resources to go further into depth regarding the contents of this chapter. I'm familiar with a few of the resources he suggests and consider them to be excellent; I really trust the judgement of this author.
Persons who are indifferent to their faith will reject this book out of hand (why should they care?). People who are already radically living their lives for Jesus as Catholics ("intentional disciples") will likely already be familiar with most of the content of this book and are probably already living it.
Disclosure: Marc Cardaronella mailed me a free signed copy of his book in exchange for an honest review of his work.
1. Initial trust - any type of positive association with Jesus
2. Spiritual Curiosity - desiring to know more about Jesus, but not yet open to personal change
3. Spiritual openness - open to the possibility of change for Jesus
4. Spiritual seeking - moving from passively "to actively seeking to know the God who is calling"
5. Intentional discipleship - the conscious and active "commitment to follow Jesus in the midst of his Church ... and to reorder one's life accordingly"
To the many who identify as Catholic and have adult children who have left the Church, I encourage them to read "The Prodigal you Love" by Sister Theresa Altheia Noble (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...). Often, a driving reason their children have left the faith is because it wasn't authentically lived, made the core of the family's life, in the household their children grew up in. Sister Theresa's work is an excellent resource for those who are not yet "intentional disciples", but are "spiritually open" to reforming themselves for the sake of their children.
Marc Cardaronella's "Keep Your Kids Catholic" is the book these parents needed when their children were small. Parents of small children who are in the "Spiritual curiosity" through "Spiritual seeking" stages of their conversion need this book. These are people who believe enough to bring their family to mass somewhat regularly but perhaps do not understand the meaning of the True Presence. They know they want faith to be a priority in the lives of their children, but don't yet know how to live their lives to install that faith.
Showing up to Mass on Sunday and leaving all formation and catechesis to the parish's CCD or Religious Education program simply isn't enough for a child to internalize the faith of their parents and live it through adulthood. Marc does a fantastic job of bringing this reality to light in the early chapters of his book. A reality cemented in the teachings of the Magisterium throughout Church history. He emphasizes the importance of the faith of the parents through more than anecdotes, but also through statistics discovered by secular research.
Marc then focuses on the faith of the parent reader in "Part II: Is Your Own Faith Secure?". He dedicates this quarter of the book to reviewing the parable of the soil (Mark 4:4-20) and how we might live our lives such that we are fertile ground for God's Word. I especially appreciated this section because it is impossible for me to give something to my children that I do not yet have myself.
After laying the foundation for why it is important for parents to authentically live their faith the reader is given practical tools for passing on that faith with their children. Given the title, you might expect only the second half of the book to be the full content, but laying the foundation for why and how the parent's faith is so essential, give this second half significantly more meaning. The information here is easy to digest and includes bite-sized suggestions on what to implement in your home over time. This is the meat and potatoes of this book and every word is worth a read.
My favorite aspect of this book is the Reflect, Pray, and Live sections at the end of each chapter. You are given specific points to take to prayer to mull them over and ask God's guidance. The Live section contains practical day-to-day information that you can start working into your life right away, as well as additional resources to go further into depth regarding the contents of this chapter. I'm familiar with a few of the resources he suggests and consider them to be excellent; I really trust the judgement of this author.
Persons who are indifferent to their faith will reject this book out of hand (why should they care?). People who are already radically living their lives for Jesus as Catholics ("intentional disciples") will likely already be familiar with most of the content of this book and are probably already living it.
Disclosure: Marc Cardaronella mailed me a free signed copy of his book in exchange for an honest review of his work.
April 9, 2016
This is REALLY good. I got to read an advanced copy. I was so afraid I wouldn't like it and would have to fudge, but it is truly excellent. It's clean, concise, and chock-full of great ideas. I appreciate books that aren't all theory but give me some practical advice... "What do I do Tuesday at 10:00 a.m." sort of advice. I used to appreciate those so much when homeschooling.
This is the same, as we are all called to homeschool our children in the faith. I also appreciate many varied ideas, because we are all different. For some people, it's all about daily Mass, for others the Rosary, for still others books on saints... There is something for everyone at the various seasons of our lives. Try an idea that appeals to you. If it works, great. Keep doing that. Maybe build on it. If not, try another...
We have stumbled through like everyone else in raising our boys. And, who knows what the future brings, something we pray about all the time. However, I can vouch for the fact that Marc is serious about sharing the faith with the boys. He's the real deal. He shares what he's learned from being a dad committed to his children and from his work in parish- and diocesan-level catechesis, hearing both heart-breaking and heart-warming stories from others.
Let's all continue to hold one another in prayer, because this parenting gig is TOUGH.
This is the same, as we are all called to homeschool our children in the faith. I also appreciate many varied ideas, because we are all different. For some people, it's all about daily Mass, for others the Rosary, for still others books on saints... There is something for everyone at the various seasons of our lives. Try an idea that appeals to you. If it works, great. Keep doing that. Maybe build on it. If not, try another...
We have stumbled through like everyone else in raising our boys. And, who knows what the future brings, something we pray about all the time. However, I can vouch for the fact that Marc is serious about sharing the faith with the boys. He's the real deal. He shares what he's learned from being a dad committed to his children and from his work in parish- and diocesan-level catechesis, hearing both heart-breaking and heart-warming stories from others.
Let's all continue to hold one another in prayer, because this parenting gig is TOUGH.
Read
September 27, 2016I started to read this book (I got it for free on Netgalley), got about 25% of the way through it, then asked myself, "Why am I reading this book?" Well...it was free, number one. Seriously: free books! That's awesome.
Second, I am a Catholic(ish) sort of fellow, who--like the author--had a terrible religious education experience as a kid (CCD =s horrid), left church for a long time, joined the military, then went back to church after a long, long period of not-church. For me, it was 18 years.
Thing is, you can't fit a round peg in a square hole. For all the affection I have for Catholicism, and for all my identification with 'cultural' Catholicism...I just don't believe in much of it. Most of it, really. So why would I inflict this on my own children? A question I struggle with all of the time.
There are good things about religion, there really are. Mostly, though, it's illogical. How a person practices religion, or expresses their faith, is something deeply personal, and I respect that part of their identity. Over all, though, religion plays a smaller and smaller part of my life each and every day that passes. So "Sharing [My] Faith and Making It Stick" probably isn't going to be much of a priority.
Still: free books! How cool is that?
Second, I am a Catholic(ish) sort of fellow, who--like the author--had a terrible religious education experience as a kid (CCD =s horrid), left church for a long time, joined the military, then went back to church after a long, long period of not-church. For me, it was 18 years.
Thing is, you can't fit a round peg in a square hole. For all the affection I have for Catholicism, and for all my identification with 'cultural' Catholicism...I just don't believe in much of it. Most of it, really. So why would I inflict this on my own children? A question I struggle with all of the time.
There are good things about religion, there really are. Mostly, though, it's illogical. How a person practices religion, or expresses their faith, is something deeply personal, and I respect that part of their identity. Over all, though, religion plays a smaller and smaller part of my life each and every day that passes. So "Sharing [My] Faith and Making It Stick" probably isn't going to be much of a priority.
Still: free books! How cool is that?
June 17, 2016
This book is a must read for all Catholic parents. Marc takes the time to offer straight forward answers and guidance in many a parents quest to help their own children fall in love with Our Lord. He gives us not only a way to help our children to open their hearts to Our Lord but us as well. He arms us with the resources to deepen our own faith so as to better assist our children and whomever else God sees fit to put into our lives. Unless we make God a priority, they will not make Him a priority. God Bless .
May 31, 2016
Must read for parents and those who are in ministry with children and youth.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews