HOLY CHILD 0-5 MINISTRY
This pamphlet is focused on a revolutionary approach to forming family prayer. Solid Catholic Christian theology is blended with the science of 0-5 child development with emphasis on age-appropriate use of actual Bible passages.
I am seeking 100 volunteers to receive a free copy of the pamphlet text. In return will come tremendous blessings! Plus I am asking volunteers to send a comment back to me within 6 months which will be included in the research necessary for the book version of Holy Child 0-5 Ministry. Some of the following information is taken from the pamphlet. Fill out form below to have the Word document sent to you.
The objectives of Holy Child 0-5 Ministry are to:
[1] introduce a creative and personal way to pray scripture
[2] facilitate increase of direct experiences of God's Love
[3] introduce and encourage the view of the holiness in a young child
[4] facilitate the use of tools that bring out and develop the highest good in young children
[5] integrate the child development science and young child neuroscience with Catholic Christian teaching
[6] provide increase for holy relationship between parents / caregivers and young children
[7] reduce negative interactions between parents / caregivers and young children
[8] encourage a growth in a holiness mindset and lifestyle
[9] promote greater awareness of the home as domestic church, and as such, as a sacred environment
[10] help build a better world for children, one where true honor, dignity and respect are nurtured for all
Holy Child 0-5 Ministry Information
What is the best way to facilitate a child's relationship with God through the church in the most intensely real manner as early as possible in their young life? This question has fueled my pursuit of answers for almost 20 years.
Some of the ministry work I have been involved with over the past 25 years, beginning in the Diocese of Monterey, include liturgical art and iconography, Eucharistic ministry, RCIA sponsor and core team member, set up of Catholic bookstore (twice), opened and operated a Christian art gallery (ministry of visual witness), ministry to the elderly, ministry to children, promoting prayer and ministry events, and writing informational leaflets.
Also, I have attended countless workshops and bible study classes in the dioceses of Monterey, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Fresno, and have considerable background in studying a vast amount of books and information about Jesus, church history and teachings, human spirituality, world religions, and many connected subjects including human behavior, child development and interpersonal relationship.
A little background on my journey in the direction of concern for children: in 2000 I began the child development curriculum at Fresno City College, earning an associate of science degree in May, '05, at age 49. I earned a bachelor's degree in Dec. '08 from CSUF, and will finish my first year in a pastoral ministries master's degree program in Dec. '09.
The ministry skills class from Jan. to Mar. '09 provided the assignment for designing a ministry framework. I was inspired to create Holy Child 0-5 Ministry, combining the 0-5 neuroscience with Catholic Christianity. In my prayerful imagination I could see a new wave of holiness sparked by this and like projects. As parents and teachers, we could further facilitate the work of the Holy Spirit, and give our children every possible advantage for spiritual flourishing.
Part of the reason I am in the pastoral ministries program is to help encourage links between the science of child development and our wonderful Catholic theology. With the "Holy Child 0-5 Ministry" parents will have a new tool to bring more experience of God's Love directly to the littlest ones ~ and older children too ~ plus a creative way to be more personally involved with scripture themselves.
Religious learning begins early, earlier than we might realize. I believe we must recognize this period of life for the importance that it holds. When we ask ourselves the question, what is the best way to facilitate children's relationship with God through the Church in the most intensely real manner, and as early as possible? we will find answers that will bring greater success in helping to raise faithful children who come to know Jesus more deeply.
What is the best age-appropriate method for engaging young children with the Bible? One of the common approaches, that of using a children's story bible, is, of course, a very good one. Especially from age three to five, children begin to understand what words are and how they form a story. While young children work to develop language skills and left-brained cognition they have greatest access to their basic instincts and feelings.
Most parents know that an infant can respond to love. A friend of mine has a beautiful example of this. He and his wife repeatedly told their newborn "I love you!" They made this a regular interactive practice, complete with warm lovingkindness towards the baby. At age nine months their tiny son said these words back to them. Infants typically string two or more words together between twelve and twenty-four months of age. It is the feeling behind the words to the child that made the impact.
There are many studies and media reports regarding progress in the scientific understanding of the development of a child's brain. It is becoming common knowledge about the explosive growth period in young children ages 0-5; almost all of the brain connective wiring is completed by age six.
The science of child development is taught in colleges primarily for the purpose of training preschool teachers and childcare workers. Research advances in neuroscience have clearly identified what each child needs between ages 0-5 to reach its full potential. The developmental window between conception and five years of age is critical because the brain growth forms specific connections that set the mental framework for future cognitive functioning.
PBS has programs on 0-5 issues, and there are supportive 0-5 chapters at the national, state and local levels. Efforts are being made on many levels of society to work towards greater positive impact on the development of young children.
With the science of child development more precise than ever on how the new human brain develops, it makes sense to address young children's 0-5 issues in the Catholic context. We have the Word, and we can utilize scripture to initiate infants, toddlers and preschoolers into the mysteries of God's Love. The challenge is how to do this in the most effective manner.
Scripture speaks to humanity as a whole, the Church specifically, and to each of us individually. I also learned about the Bible as a "Love Letter from God," and this has moved me most profoundly since becoming aware of this great mystery.
The Bible-as-Love-Letter is one of many ways to being involved with scripture. I believe that this is the best approach to use with small children. There is direct emotional impact created by using specific sections, especially those that teach about God's Love. Something extra special can occur when using Bible passages in a way that has immediate impact.
I call the following format "Personalized Scripture Prayer." When reading your bible, highlight a passage that seems to jump out at you. Write out the passage on paper. Use a thesaurus to replace words in the passage that seem to be a block with one that has more impact, retaining the original meaning. Write these in a "blank book" for future use.
The result will be a treasury of personal Bible prayers that blesses and brightens your spirit in a more direct manner because of the experience of God's Love. The personalized scripture prayers on God's Love are the ones that are most powerful to share with your young children. When the Bible passages have a deep affect on the parent they will be received with a similar affect for the child.