School of Sainthood at Our Lady of Ransom
Family Formation has taken on a new meaning at Our Lady of Ransom Parish, led by Parish Missionary Colleen O’Dowd. Since 2019, O’Dowd has been instrumental in launching the parish’s School of Sainthood, an initiative that reimagines traditional religious education, focusing on empowering families to grow together in faith. O’Dowd describes the vision for this program as one that seeks to “engage, enliven, and empower our families of all kinds, ages, and wisdom—to encounter Jesus and learn how to live out the mission to Go and Make Disciples.”
From Religious Education to a School of Sainthood
The shift from traditional religious education to a holistic faith formation model began six years ago, “We never went back to classrooms after the pandemic,” O’Dowd says, reflecting on how the program’s evolution better met the needs of families. “For so long, we told people, ‘You are the first and best formator of your child,’ but we didn’t equip them for that. Instead, students were dropped off on Wednesday nights for classes. Now, we walk with families.”
The program’s name, School of Sainthood, reflects the parish’s commitment to nurturing holy families, who, in turn, build a community striving for sainthood. As O’Dowd explains, “If we did for faith formation what we do for professional athletes—gathering those who excel and training them to be the best—we’d be creating Schools of Sainthood. Holiness begins at home, and we want to help families become holy homes.”
A Focus on Family and Community Involvement
Unlike traditional religious education programs, where children are simply dropped off by their parents for classes, the School of Sainthood is a family-based, year-round program. ‘Everything we do is about family involvement,’ O’Dowd emphasizes. ‘Parents deserve to witness their children's spiritual growth, and we aim to provide them with opportunities to grow in faith together.’
Family Dinner Nights are one example of this community-building effort, where families come together to pray, eat, and engage in a faith-based project. “We usually have four to eight Family Dinners a year, and they’re liturgically based.”
Last year at the November Family Dinner, we built Advent wreaths, and Fr. John, a woodworker even helped carve the pieces for the wreaths,” O’Dowd shares. These evenings aim to foster conversations among families, allowing them to learn and share their traditions. “We hope that by the time these families sit at their Thanksgiving tables, they’re telling stories about making their Advent wreaths together.”
Walking With Families on Their Faith Journey
A key component of the School of Sainthood is O’Dowd’s personal connection with each family. “I meet with every family every year because it’s important to know their stories, understand their circumstances, and walk with them on their journey,” she explains. This individualized approach extends to sacramental readiness, as each child’s First Communion is tailored to their family’s needs. “Some children receive their First Communion on their birthday or on special feast days like Corpus Christi. It’s about making these sacred moments meaningful for each family.” This personal connection with families makes them feel valued and understood, enhancing their sense of belonging in the parish community.
O’Dowd has seen powerful transformations through this personalized approach. “Family healing and restoration are happening,” she notes. “Parents are being empowered to form their children in the sacraments.” The parish’s outreach has even attracted individuals outside of the Catholic tradition. O’Dowd recalls one powerful story: “A woman who came from a culturally Muslim family and community was never certain about who she was praying to while growing up. After seeing a crucifix at a wedding and realizing that Jesus was the one she had been praying to her whole life, she came to Our Lady of Ransom. After entering the Catholic church with her son, she brought another woman of the same background to Our Lady of Ransom who over the course of the next 3 years, would bring one of her daughters for baptism, and then herself, and then her husband converted from another Christian faith. Her husband says he had been praying and waiting for many years for her to fall in love with Jesus. We celebrated their sacrament of matrimony in August. And they are now bringing other families and friends of largely non-Christian backgrounds who seem to be seeking Jesus! It’s amazing! God knew our parish needed evangelists!”
A Future Built on Faith
The School of Sainthood is just the beginning for Our Lady of Ransom. “It takes time to change the culture,” O’Dowd says. We’re teaching people how to be together, how to introduce themselves, and how to have fellowship as families, and it’s starting to take root.” The program has inspired families to enroll their children in Catholic education and has drawn in adults looking to discern their own charisms.
“God has given me to a community that I am supposed to walk with,” O’Dowd concludes. At Our Lady of Ransom, sainthood is not a distant goal—it’s a journey that begins at home, supported by a parish dedicated to helping families grow in faith together.
