Families must assume the responsibility for the faith formation of children. Dunlap encourages parents to pray with their children, talk to them about God, read stories that build faith, and reflect with them. Parents must be involved in the process, whether at the parish or at home or school. They can no longer just send their children to Catholic schools as a substitute for religious instruction at home. Extended family, godparents, close friends, and other adults in the parish can and ought to assist parents.
Parishes can provide practical resources for the home.
The big challenge now is for parishes to give parents what they need, affirm them, help them to network with each other, and convince them that they can do it. They educate and nurture the faith of adults, including parents and catechists, enabling them to foster the faith of children. Parishes also celebrate the liturgy, a formative experience for all Catholics. Many parishes encourage children to participate actively in singing, praying, kneeling, genuflecting, crossing themselves, and joining in the collection of money or food for the poor as they take in the entire ritual action. Some parishes celebrate the Liturgy of the Word especially for children, using the Lectionary for Children.