A “Mothers Conference” will run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the St. Mary Family Life Center.

This conference is for mothers of children in elementary grades and younger. Some of these mothers met with me to plan the conference.

They want to explore ways of communicating their faith to their children. I invited Dr. Nancy Ehret, former assistant superintendant of Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Lafayette, La., to lead this day of reflection and spirituality for this group.

I am delighted she is willing to do this for us. She suggested to the planning committee that the morning segment of the conference will focus on the spirituality of mothers, and the afternoon segment will focus on effective ways of communicating the faith to children.

Nancy Ehret grew up in a Catholic family in Greenwood. She received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Delta State University and served as teacher for the gifted in Mississippi and Louisiana schools.

She earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. Later she earned an education specialist degree in elementary education and a doctorate in education (professional studies) from Delta State. She retired from her post as assistant superintendant of the Diocese of Lafayette in June.

The title decided on, “A Conference for Mothers,” highlights a central teaching of the Church, namely, that “parents are the primary teachers of their children in the ways of faith.” The school and the parish are helpful, but the parents remain the most important influence in the lives of their children.

It is from the parents that children learn about life, about the created world they live in and about the creator, Himself. Sometimes, parents with the best of intentions feel inadequate in their role of passing on the faith and developing in their children a knowledge and trust in a loving God.

The planning group includes Jennifer Lambuth, Melinda Laird, Karen Verucchi, Mary Catherine McDonald and Marci Carlton. This group represents a larger group of mothers who organize the annual vacation Bible school and youth/children’s programs aimed at children.

The hope of the planning group is all mothers with elementary age and younger children will avail of this opportunity to strengthen their own faith and to find effective ways of teaching religious concepts to their children.

The program will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Mary Family Life Center.

The planning group is arranging details. Registration will be from 8:30 to 9 a.m., the morning segments will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Lunch will be provided for the participants at the Family Life Center from 11 to 11:30 am.

The second segment of the conference will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 pm. Pre-registration is encouraged. The cost of participating will be $20, and this will include lunch.

 

The Rev. David O’Connor is pastor at St. Mary Basilica.