9 Ways Parents Can Live Out Pope Leo’s Call to Set Faithful Examples for Children

Susan Ciancio encourages parents with nine ways to nurture the Faith in their children.

In his homily during the Mass celebrating the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly, Pope Leo encouraged parents and grandparents “to be examples of integrity” to their children and grandchildren, “always seeing the good in them and finding ways to nurture it.” 

As parents, we have an enormous responsibility to lead our children to God and to teach them the Catholic faith. This requires not only devotion to the Faith and the desire to pass it down to our children, but it requires us to understand and love our faith so that we can help our children fall in love with it too. 

Of course, that’s often easier said than done. But we cannot teach our kids to sit silently and talk to God, to learn about and befriend the saints, and to foster and retain the moral courage necessary to become faithful adults, if we don’t lead by example. 

Pope Leo stated that “families are the cradle of the future of humanity.” Indeed. That’s why we must strengthen them by building faithfulness in our children. Below are nine ways you can serve as examples of integrity and nurture the Faith in your children so that they may become holy and faith-filled adults. 

Speak About Your Faith with Pride

Openly discuss your Faith at all times, never acting embarrassed or ashamed. Always speak the truth in love and without compromise.  

Let Your Children See You Reading Catholic Books

Put down your phone and open a book about a saint, a book that explains some aspect of the faith, or the Bible.  

Let Your Kids See You Caring For Others Throughout the Year

Food banks always accept donations. When you can, shop for some extra food. Donate toys, clothes, diapers, and other essentials to homeless shelters or pregnancy help centers. Assist an elderly neighbor with housework. Care for a friend who’s sick. There is always someone who needs your help. 

Read About Faith as a Family

Faith begins in the home. As the Catechism explains, parents are children’s first teachers. That’s why Culture of Life Studies Program materials are so integral. With our downloadable booklets, we make it easy to learn about the Faith as a family.  

Invite Your Parish Priest for Dinner

This gives you a chance to befriend your pastor, but it also gives your family a chance to have lighthearted and faith-filled conversations with him that you wouldn’t normally get to do after Mass. Plus, he gets a nice home-cooked meal! 

Turn Disappointments into Teaching Moments

Life is full of disappointments, but God can always help us create something good from them. Teaching your kids this valuable lesson will help them overcome negative feelings when things don’t go their way. 

Let Your Kids See You Joyfully Spread the Faith

Do little things to spread the Faith. For example, one popular trend now is to buy little Jesus figures and place them in random spots around town. This is a fun thing for kids to take part in as well! 

Enlist Others to Help Your Kids Grow in Faith

Ask grandparents and godparents to give birthday and Christmas gifts related to Catholicism. This could include books of saints, a beautiful new rosary, a scapular, a statue of a patron saint, or even cups or clothing. Kids feel part of something bigger when others reinforce the Faith. 

Offer Up Your Sufferings for a Soul in Purgatory

Doing so will help your kids understand that some good can come from our sufferings. Explain what purgatory is and why we should pray for the souls awaiting Heaven.

The Way You Live Matters 

Additionally, remember that what you don’t do matters and leaves an impression on your children. Refrain from saying God’s name in vain. Resist the urge to speak ill of people who wronged you. Avoid gossip.  

How you live your life matters. How you go through your day, how you talk to others, and how you live your Faith all serve as examples for how your kids will behave. 

In his homily, Pope Leo said,

In the family, faith is handed on together with life, generation after generation. It is shared like food at the family table and like the love in our hearts. In this way, families become privileged places in which to encounter Jesus, who loves us and desires our good, always.

Create that privileged and holy space within your home. Make your family a safe place where your kids encounter the love and glory of God every day so that they want to share it with others. 

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Copyright 2025 Susan Ciancio
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