CARBONDALE – Building strong families is at the heart of building a strong church.
The leadership team at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Carbondale recognizes that faith formation doesn’t end with the final hymn of weekend Mass.
That is why in early August, the parish’s faith formation activities spilled out into the parish parking lot with water ballons, face paint, grilled hot dogs – and the joyful sounds of children laughing, parents talking with one another, and a community building stronger bonds together.
With help from a $1,500 Faith Formation Grant from the Catholic Ministries Appeal, the parish hosted a Family Fun Day – a celebration designed to bring together parents, grandparents, and children to share in their faith and have a little fun at the same time.
“Family Fun Day was an opportunity for our young families in both our religious education program here at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish and also families who go to Catholic schools to come together to share a day of faith and fellowship,” Father Joseph Mosley, Assistant Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, explained.
The day began with Mass, where many children stepped forward to serve as readers, ushers, and gift bearers.
For many of the children, the experience was both memorable and formative.
“It was fun. I got to participate in Mass,” student Gwenevere Sheare said. “I read a reading. My brother got to pass the basket.”
“It was pretty cool. I liked other kids being in the Mass and the games and the food, families coming to Mass. It was a great experience,” student C.J. Lubash added. “I learned you can have fun at Mass.”
After the liturgy, the celebration moved outdoors, where families enjoyed food, games, and a lot of laughter.
Students say some of the most memorable highlights included wrapping their priests up in toilet paper to make a “snowman” and a spirited water balloon fight.
“The water balloons were awesome,” student Grayson Demchak said. Demchak also said he enjoyed playing games like Jenga with his friend Jack. “I liked spending time with him and the other kids.”
For parents like Nicole Shayka, the day was an excellent example of what parish life can and should be.
“They haven’t stopped talking about it,” she said of her children. “For me, it was amazing to see my children, who attend Catholic school at La Salle Academy, be able to integrate with children who attend the public schools – but we’re all one parish family.”
She also emphasized the importance of seeing money donated by parishioners to the Catholic Ministries Appeal return to the parish in visible, tangible ways.
“I think it’s important for parishioners to be able to see money coming back to the parish. We always have a calling to give, and to continue to give, but to have that be fruitful back in our parish, and to have it be specific to children and our families, I think it’s a beautiful example of that continuous circle of giving,” Shayka added.
Looking ahead, the parish is hoping to build on the momentum. Plans are already underway for future family events – including the possibility of a Christmas-themed brunch.
The Catholic Ministries Appeal makes events like Family Fun Day possible. And thanks to the generosity of faithful donors across the Diocese, more families – like those in Carbondale – will be able to grow in faith, together.