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| September 5, 2008 |
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Parents share faith, collaboration in effort to grow, bond
CHRISSY CUTTITA | FC PANAMA CITY | Raising children and praising Jesus are simple ties that pull parents together as Christian families at Panama City churches. Weekly Parenting With Christ gatherings hosted by St. Dominic Parish volunteers, combined with the biannual Ministry of Mothers Sharing, or MOMS, eight-week course at St. John Parish, provide resources for parents seeking spiritual growth and advice on daily living. “The exploration of fellowship and spirituality dually makes this so special,” said Mary Ellen Pozen, an active member of Parenting With Christ and a MOMS fall 2007 course alumna. “The big difference (between this group and other groups) is the level of intimacy you are able to achieve through a small group of women. It’s not just about being a mom.” While the MOMS course is offered for mothers, the parenting group is open to fathers as well. Parents meet every Tuesday morning at members’ homes. Activities include lessons on the sacraments, the Stations of the Cross, praying the rosary, group discussions on books and movies, and Scripture sharing to define what Catholics believe and why. According to its mission, the group seeks to help people become better parents, spouses, friends and servants of God. “We learn about our Catholic faith so we can turn around and pass it to our children,” said Cathy Vaden, Parenting With Christ facilitator and founder. “We meet the needs of whoever is in the group at the time, which is why our meeting places and activities vary.” In February and March, the group decided to assist in the spring 2008 MOMS course at St. John Parish, as well as meeting weekly. Most group members have attended the course before, and many return as prayer sponsors for new attendees and group facilitators. Before becoming involved with either group, many were in the same shoes as Jeanne Mousseau: new to the area and seeking friendship. “It came at a good time for me because I just moved here and this course helped me connect with friends of the same faith, morals, and values,” said Mousseau. Parents’ need for introspective time is filled by attending MOMS, she said at their recent end-of-course dinner. With busy lifestyles and continuous schedules, finding time to connect with God and look at life can be difficult, she said. Each week of the course focuses on different themes: self-esteem and self-acceptance, stress, everyday spirituality, feelings, personal growth, value in friendships, discernment and celebration. The course follows the guided direction of Benedictine Sister Paula Hagan’s book “Moms: A Personal Journal.” The book is not specifically Catholic in nature and the course is open to mothers of all faiths. Jennifer Gilley facilitates the course at St. John Parish and adds prayer rituals, discussions on God’s grace and talks about the ministry of motherhood to the experience. “We have different perspectives on things,” said Gilley. “Everyone goes through the same thing at some point in time. Seeing what other moms go through and learning to share with other mothers of all ages the stress, concerns and positive experiences that have influenced personal growth is what MOMS is about. Together, we experience the support of other women as we discover the depth of our spirituality.” Many women found themselves still meeting regularly outside the church-run groups and courses when the official meeting times are over. “It’s kind of like a support group,” said Christine Peaden, who is a member of both programs and served as a prayer leader during the spring MOMS course. “We worked on each step together and afterward it carried over.” With the support of others, Peaden said she learned how to put life into perspective, lessen the stress over the “small stuff” of life, understand her role as a mom in her family life and develop a common bond with other mothers. Going back to volunteer at MOMS and meeting regularly is what Pozen described as an “extension” of the course. “Dedication and devotion of leaders with added divine intervention made the right chemistry,” said Pozen, who said her discovery of the groups was a real “salvation” for her. Gilley said she hopes that other churches will get involved, and the ministry will grow big enough to host retreats in the future.
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