Homeschool Ministry inaugural meeting a welcomed success

Members of some twenty different homeschooling families from the Diocese of Metuchen and surrounding areas attended the inaugural meeting of the diocesan Homeschool Ministry on the wintry evening of Jan. 14 at St. Theodore Church, Port Murray.  Led by Father Gilbert Starcher, parochial vicar at St. Joseph and St. Luke parishes, North Plainfield, and coordinator of the diocesan Homeschool Ministry, the meeting served to clarify the mission of the ministry, foster a discussion about future ministry gatherings, and introduce the homeschooling parents to the Franciscan at Home ministry platform.

Father Starcher explained that he had surveyed each parish in the Diocese to determine how many homeschooling families exist and where they worship. He then presented a chart that summarized the survey information.  According to the survey results, there are 112 homeschooled children in 55 families in 19 different parishes in the Diocese of Metuchen.  He emphasized how important it is for each family to make their pastor aware of their presence.
Father Starcher outlined the mission of the Homeschool Ministry in detail.  First, the ministry exists to provide support for homeschooling families and parish co-ops.  Father supplied a list of possible activities for the ministry, including several different trips and pilgrimages. The first two planned activities include an architectural tour of diocesan churches on St. Joseph’s Day, March 19, and a Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary devotional event on April 11. In addition to the activities and events geared toward children, potential activities for adults in the ministry include a homeschool curricula review and an informational event about the Homeschool Legal Defense Association.

Second, the ministry will serve as a resource for pastors and parish catechetical leaders as they work with homeschooling families in their parishes.  

Third, the ministry will help homeschooled children discern and respond to God’s call to their vocations.  As a product of a homeschooling family, Father Starcher will use his own experience as a means to guide and foster this aspect of the Homeschool Ministry.

As the meeting was winding down, Jill Kerekes, director of the Office of Discipleship Formation for Children, gave a brief overview of the resources available on the Franciscan at Home formation platform that may be of interest to homeschooling parents in particular, including  workshops focused on the ministry of parenting and forming faith at home.  In addition, the “Educating in Christ” program, an adaptation of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd methodology for homeschooling parents and Catholic schools, is also available on the Franciscan at Home platform.

At the closing of the meeting, several parents expressed their thanks to Father Starcher and to Bishop James F. Checchio for the creation of the Homeschool Ministry.  One mother voiced, “I am so happy that we are being noticed!  This is wonderful!”

For more information about the diocesan Homeschool Ministry, contact Father Gilbert Starcher at [email protected].

For more information about the Franciscan at Home formation platform, contact Jill Kerekes at [email protected].

For those Homeschooling families who wish to be informed about upcoming events, enter contact information on the Homeschool Ministry distribution list , and sign up on the diocesan website: https://diometuchen.org/homeschool-ministry-1 .