Pop-Up Catechesis: How Parents Witness Faith to Their Children

I'll never forget the image. I was about eight years old, and I got up in what I thought was the middle of the night to go to the bathroom (turns out it was only about 11:30 p.m.), and as I passed my parents' bedroom, I saw my dad on his knees saying his prayers. I knew he was a man of faith who went to church every Sunday, but I had not witnessed this very personal side of his faith. I guess I was very lucky: some kids catch their parents doing something bad, while I caught my dad in the act of doing something inspiring. Neither of my parents really sat me down to teach me Catholic doctrine. (I got that from Catholic school.) However, by their witness, I learned what it means to live as a Catholic.