Homeschool leaders from the Florida Network of Catholic Home Educators (FNCHE) sponsored the 1997 Roundtable Meeting. Families from all around Florida and in other parts of the country spent time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament praying for the success of this meeting. Many who attended the conference were thankful for all the prayers and hard work that went into the weekend.
Catholic Curriculum providers from Kolbe Academy, Mother of Divine Grace, Our Father's House, Our Lady of Victory, and Seton Home Study were in attendance. The Catholic Home School Network of America (CHSNA) officers also offered insights into pertinent issues. Some leaders came from as far away as Washington State, Illinois, California, Arizona, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and many other places. Chuck Wilson from the St. Joseph Foundation was the moderator for the Round Table talks.
The main topic of discussion for the weekend was the issue of diocesan guidelines being implemented for homeschooling families regarding religious education and reception of the sacraments. Many homeschool families have educated their children in the Faith for many years. With the number of children being taught the Catholic Faith at home by their parents constantly increasing, some in the Church are now concerned about the large numbers of children not participating in parish religious education programs. Homeschooling families have taken seriously the many Church documents including Pope John Paul II's encyclicals that the "parents are the primary educators of their children."
Phil Gray J.C.L. and Fr. James O'Conner S.T.L., J.C.L., from the St. Joseph Foundation offered assistance pertaining to Canon Law on the guidelines issue. They reaffirmed to those in attendance, that parents do have the right to educate their children and to prepare them for the sacraments. However, they advised the Round Table that pastors do have the responsibility to assure that each child is prepared to receive the sacraments.
Other discussions of interest were: support group issues, effective networking, putting on conferences, using the Internet and computers in home education and for networking, and implementing the encyclical "The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality."
Several workshops were also presented: The officers of the Catholic Homeschool Network of America (Katie Moran Pres., Ed Gudan, V.P., Fr. Charles Fiore, Treasurer, and Ginny Seuffert, Secretary), discussed their upcoming trip to Rome to meet with Vatican officials; Dr. Mary Kay Clark (Seton Home Study Director) gave a talk on the "Challenges for Leaders in 1998"; Joe Barreras (Our Lady's Mantle from Seattle) presented a workshop on homeschooling and cable TV; Phil Gray J.C.L. (Steubenville, Ohio) from the St. Joseph Foundation, gave a presentation on forming lay associations of the faithful; Laura Berquist (Director of Mother of Divine Grace- Ojai, CA) facilitated a workshop on issues dealing with homeschooling highschoolers and college preparations; and Vicky Coughlin (Florida Network of Catholic Home Educators) presented a workshop on umbrella schools.
Throughout the weekend, everyone was spiritually nourished in a retreat like atmosphere by participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the recitation of the Rosary. Confessions were heard by the priests in attendance. Other devotions such as the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross were also prayed. St. Leo's chapel was available for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament during the weekend.
As the Round Table weekend drew to a close, homeschool leaders were renewed in their convictions to uphold the teaching of the Church in regards to educating their children. Many leaders were strengthened through prayer and new or renewed friendships. All were encouraged by the fact that the St. Joseph Foundation would be available to those who need advice and assistance on situations dealing with Canon Law. We as leaders need to keep in mind what is truly important in our homeschooling and always nourish our domestic churches in line with church teachings. It was an immensely productive weekend of meetings and all look forward to the next Round Table to be held October 1998 in Houston, Texas.
Submitted by Vicky Coughlin
