9 Takeaways for Parents
 
Last week at the University of St. Thomas, we were invited to present at a conference on “Intergenerational Religious Transmission.” Nearly 50 diocesan evangelization, catechesis, and marriage and family directors from around the country—spanning from Portland, OR, to Tallahassee, FL—gathered for a spirited series of discussions.
 
Through no advance planning with Trinity House, the event’s principle organizer—Professor Mike Rota—presented a proposal for discussion that looked and sounded remarkably close to the Trinity House Community Groups model. In his language:
 
“Basic Proposal: The parish (or a group of parishes) organizes a series of regular gatherings that bring families and other parishioners together to live out Christian discipleship in community and engage in spiritual and intellectual formation.” Anyone familiar with our Groups model—now active in 14 states—will appreciate the overlap. 
 
But this week, we’re happy to share 9 quick takeaways from the event (all credit for these points goes to conference co-organizers Dr. Michael Rota, Univ. of St. Thomas, and Dr. Stephen Bullivant, St. Mary’s Univ., London, for their excellent presentations on the latest data on the transmission of faith). We hope you’ll find them practical, actionable, and encouraging as you build your own Trinity House:

1. We’re Facing an Unprecedented Crisis: The numbers don’t lie—only 61% of those raised Catholic still identify as Catholic today, down from 85% in the 1970s. And here’s the gut punch: only 11% both identify as Catholic AND attend Mass weekly. If these trends continue, the American Church will shrink dramatically in the decades to come. This isn’t a drill.
2. The Cultural Current Is Against Us: In just one decade, Americans who consider religion important dropped from 72% to 53%. Meanwhile, smartphones are hijacking our children’s social learning, drowning out family culture with influencers of questionable value. The secular consensus is so strong that anything less than total intentionality will fail.
3. Unity in Faith Helps: Children from families where both parents share the same Catholic identity have dramatically higher retention rates. Mixed religious messages can create uncertainty that children absorb like sponges. It’s more difficult to build a Trinity House when both parents are rowing in the same direction.
4. Your Marriage Models the Trinity: An intact, flourishing marriage isn’t just nice to have—it’s a powerful predictor of successful faith transmission. Your children’s first image of communion comes from watching how you love each other. Make it radiant.
5. Your Personal Faith Is Contagious: Children have built-in authenticity detectors. They know whether religion is truly important to you or just another obligation. Parents who live their religion and consider it genuinely important see their children follow suit. You can’t fake this.
6. Talk About What Matters: Parent-child conversations about religion are crucial predictors of retention. Don’t assume they’re picking up faith through osmosis. Be intentional about discussing God, prayer, and Catholic teaching in everyday moments—not just during car rides to Mass.
7. Isolation Is Faith’s Enemy: Children who have many supportive religious adults in their lives and faith-supportive peer relationships are far more likely to remain Catholic. We’re wired for interdependence in God’s image—families can’t go it alone and expect to thrive.
8. Catholic Education Is Worth the Investment: Attending Catholic high school significantly predicts faith retention. When peer influence peaks during the teenage years, you want your children surrounded by Catholic formation and friendship, not fighting the culture war alone in public school hallways.
9. Engagement Beats Attendance: Children who consider religion important in everyday life and are religiously active as youth—not just warming pews but participating in parish life—have much higher retention rates. Faith has to feel relevant and engaging, not like another obligation.

The Bottom Line

The research reveals what Trinity House has discovered through experience: successful Catholic parenting requires building thick Catholic culture in your home and community. It’s not enough to attend Mass and check the religious education box. You need authentic faith, strong marriage, regular faith conversations, deep Catholic friendships, and active parish involvement.

But here’s the hope: when family ministry shows the accessible relevance of faith, provides authentic community that meets felt needs, and has simple expectations that actually work, Catholic family life flourishes. The future of our Church depends on ordinary parents coming together for extraordinary communion—one family, one gathering, one taste of heaven at a time.

The data shows exactly what works. Now the question is: will we be intentional enough to implement it?