by Jeanne Gorman
Special to The Leaven
“Now that I am old and gray, do not forsake me, God, That I may proclaim your might to all generations yet to come” (Ps 71:18).
LENEXA — The Old Testament reminds us of the important role grandparents play in passing on the Catholic faith to their grandchildren — and their great-grandchildren, if they be so blessed.
Dan Spencer is on a mission to teach grandparents about this role through Legacy of Faith, a 501(c) organization established for this purpose.
To that end, the parishioner of Church of Ascension in Overland Park, has been giving seminars and presentations at parishes throughout the archdiocese and elsewhere, usually titled “Grandparents Matter!” The program provides a glimpse into what he describes as “intentional Catholic grandparenting,” with the emphasis on “intentional,” and is endorsed by the archdiocesan office on evangelization.
On Aug. 10, with the assistance of his wife Linda, who converted to Catholicism after their marriage, Spencer conducted one such seminar at Holy Trinity Parish in Lenexa. His stated goal is to “help other grandparents understand why they are so critically important to passing on the faith in their families and how they might do that.”
Spencer has been deeply involved with the archdiocesan annual men’s retreat called Men Under Construction for years. In 2016, he began to look into grandparenting — intentionally and as a Catholic.
He discovered, to his surprise, that there was nothing to be found. So, he set out to fill the void.
A few years into it, his wife suggested he add a program for parishes. And thus began his commitment to instructing grandparents how to become intentional in handing down the faith.
Spencer does not suggest that grandparents displace the primary role of the parents.
Rather, because of the very significant influence grandparents have on their grandchildren, he urges them to support their grandchildren as they teach their children in the ways of the Catholic Church. He encourages grandparents to take an active role in shaping the faith lives of their grandchildren.
The Holy Trinity workshop was opened with a few words from Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, who shares with Spencer an appreciation for the special vocation grandparents have in helping their grandchildren get to heaven.
The archbishop offered his own experience as an example, explaining the important role his grandparents played in his life. And he closed his remarks with a prayer to Sts. Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus and the patron saints of grandparents.
In his presentation, which was sprinkled with visuals, Spencer first set the stage for why such teaching was critical. In his research into Catholic grandparenting, specifically from the Pew Research Center in Washington, he found studies that revealed that large numbers of young people no longer practice their Catholic faith. Spencer hopes to help turn that around through the assistance of Catholic grandparents.
The goal of his seminars is to show that Catholic grandparenting is a sacred mission and to demonstrate why grandparents are “critically important in the spiritual lives of their family.” Throughout his presentations, he describes the “tools and strategies” that assist grandparents build a “multigenerational Legacy of Faith.”
The presentation and accompanying written materials provide concrete ways in which grandparents can accomplish this mission. The seminar at Holy Trinity was divided into four sessions: “Wake Up,” which describes the state of the faith today, particularly among young people; “Wise Up,” which explains how the faith has been passed along throughout the ages and what changes must be made; “Stand Up,” which focuses on building a spiritual legacy for grandchildren; and “Step Up,” which provides guidance for becoming an intentional Catholic grandparent.
Terry Pierce, a parishioner of St. Joseph in Shawnee with seven grandchildren, was inspired to attend the seminar when she heard Spencer speak about it one day at Mass. In addition to finding it engaging, Pierce said she found the seminar very helpful.
Spencer will offer more seminars in the coming months in the archdiocese, the next one at St. Patrick Parish in Kansas City, Kansas, on Sept. 7. He also hopes to take the program nationwide. To that end, he and Linda will be appearing in December with Scott Hahn at Steubenville, Ohio, at a conference entitled “Legacy of Faith, Intentional Spiritual Grandparenting.”
For more information about Legacy of Faith, go online to: LegacyofFaith.org. Donations to support the ministry may be made through a link on the website.
Upcoming sessions
Sept. 7 — St. Patrick Church — Kansas City, Kansas
Sept. 28 — Holy Spirit Church – Overland Park
Oct. 1 — Corpus Christi Church — Lawrence
