Joe Masek
Fifty-four percent of children reach their 17th birthday without a married mother or father in the home. About 72% of U.S. churches lack substantive marriage and family life ministry to engage those families.
Joe Masek shared those statistics as two examples of threats to the family in an interview on an episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio program that airs Feb. 12. Masek is executive director of the Cana Family Institute, which partners with Catholic parishes, schools and diocesan leaders to implement integrated marriage and family life ministries designed to engage and transform the family.
Research shows that parents are the “real pastors” of their children, Masek said. “And that’s not to undermine or devalue what so many of our pastors and parish and school leaders are doing time and time again to invest in children today, but … statistics prove … that if the parents aren’t stepping up to lead in faith, particularly the father in the home, the outlook for the next generation of children is bleak.”
The family is the school of faith for the kids, Masek said. But pastors tell him that many parents don’t embrace or live the faith themselves, and leave the work of transmitting that faith to parishes or schools.
Program host Patrick Conley asked Masek to describe some of the resources offered. The Cana Family Institute, partnering with a parish or school, runs a four-year, deep formation course that runs through the heart of the Church, Masek said, “engaging the Catechism, daily Scripture readings and … papal documents that … carry with it the heart of the Church, and puts into action in family life husbands’ and wives’ journey.”
Masek said the institute also offers retreats, family and milestone events that help build community, develop relationships that cross over small group barriers, and create rich family and marriage culture, and life within that parish or school community.
Asked about “Cana Experience” offerings, such as “The Temperament God Gave You,” Masek said small groups meet in eight sessions in the spring to help unpack the dignity and uniqueness of each person. He also described a Lenten morning of reflection, a self-guided retreat, coming up Feb. 27.
To hear more of Masek’s thoughts on the family, tune in to this episode of the “Practicing Catholic” radio show at 9 p.m. Feb. 12, 1 p.m. Feb. 13 or 2 p.m. Feb. 14 on Relevant Radio 1330 AM. To learn more about the institute and upcoming events, visit CanaFamilyInstitute.com.
“Practicing Catholic” is produced by Relevant Radio and the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. Other guest interviews on the Feb. 12 show are Archbishop Bernard Hebda, who discusses faithful citizenship, and Bridget Busacker, who describes natural family planning.
Listen to their interviews after they have aired:
soundcloud.com/practicingcatholic
Practicing Catholic on Spotify
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