Altoona parish celebrates 20 years of intergenerational faith

November 15, 2022

A number of years ago, the father of intergenerational Catholic faith formation, John Roberto, presented his model for lifelong faith in Des Moines.

The pastor of Ss. John and Paul Parish in Altoona was intrigued and asked his staff to consider it for their parish.

Twenty years later, Ss. John and Paul Parish celebrates two decades of bringing parishioners of all ages, with or without children, together to talk about God and faith.

The attraction to an intergenerational model of lifelong learning and practicing faith was the involvement of everyone.

 “There’s something for everyone,” said Jenni Lihs, director of Faith Formation.

The Altoona parish holds a gathering two times per month so parishioners can go on a Sunday or Wednesday night. Sessions begin with a meal and childcare is available.

A group activity and prayer kicks off the session. Some months, small groups break off with youth going to age-appropriate catechesis while adults grow in faith with a speaker. Other months, everyone stays together and experience various stations that relate to the topic of the night.

One thing the parish learned is that there are different kinds of households.

“We have a number of grandparents raising children,” Lihs said. “Whatever your household makeup is, we welcome and invite you in. There’s something here for you.”

Feedback from families indicates that parents like learning the same things their children do so they can go home and talk about the topics together.

“We always say it’s hard to explain it until you see it,” Lihs said. “Come hang out with us for a night just to see how we do things.”

Lihs was a teacher staying at home with her four young children when the opportunity to become the faith formation director arose.

“It was definitely a blessing I didn’t know was coming,” she said.

Her words of advice for parishes considering an intergenerational or family-based faith program: Find a team that’s all on the same page, that has the same goal in mind. She suggested parishes take small steps.

St. Joseph Evangelization Center consultant Paulette Chapman, whose expertise focuses on family and intergenerational catechesis, concurred.

“Several parishes in our Diocese are doing this,” she said. At a meeting of catechetical leaders in the western part of the Diocese, several parishes indicated they’re taking small steps toward family and/or intergenerational catechesis.