Schools: What is Early Catholic Family Life?

Guest columnist 

Early Catholic Family Life (ECFL) is a program designed by Joanne and Alan Foley with the support of the Office of Marriage, Family, and Life of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Its purpose is to highlight the significance of incorporating faith into family life. This engaging program serves as a valuable resource for parents and their young children, fostering their spiritual growth and integrating them into the parish community. 

ECFL specifically caters to parents with children aged 0-5 years, a group that is often overlooked but essential in every parish. The program consists of eight sessions, each lasting two hours, and offers flexibility in terms of scheduling. Each session includes a blend of early childhood activities, faith-based experiences, and enjoyable engagements for the entire family. 

The core components of ECFL encompass interactive parent-child activities, a Circle Time for group interaction, a designated Children’s Time, and a dedicated Parent Discussion period. 

These elements provide parents with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Catholic faith, engage in meaningful conversations with other adults, and establish supportive connections within the parish community. 

This past fall, Stella Maris Academy in Duluth piloted this program. Other parishes in the Diocese of Duluth have also included ECFL into their programming options for families. The families that attended at Stella Maris Academy were overjoyed that ECFL was available in the Duluth area for parents with children aged 0-5 years. 

“The class was great! There was so much to think, talk and pray about in each session.” 

“It was a great way to determine methods of introducing the faith to our kids.” 

“It was an opportunity to socialize with other kids, do crafts and experience Jesus and the Catholic faith with my young child.” 

In the initial hour of every session, parents and children engage in faith-centered tasks. This collaborative playtime concludes with a circle led by the teacher. In the subsequent hour of the session, the children and parents go their separate ways. The parents participate in a designated time for discussions, while their children remain in the early childhood classroom under the supervision of a qualified adult volunteer leader and assistants for The Child Play Together Time. 

For more information on ECFL visit www.earlycatholicfamilylife.org or www.stellamaris.academy/ecfl. 

Julianne Blazevic is principal at Stella Maris Academy in Duluth.