St. Rita of Cascia’s Growing Family Ministry

At St. Rita of Cascia Parish, family is at the heart of everything they do. From the womb to the tomb, St. Rita of Cascia accompanies families in their daily journeys of faith—in the cotidiano—seeking to nurture discipleship in every stage of life. Through gatherings, faith formation, pilgrimages, and community events, the Family Ministry, led by Olga Green (Family Faith Formation Coordinator), creates moments of deep encounter with Christ for all generations. “Faith, fellowship, food, fun, and family—that’s what it’s about,” Olga explains. “Our hope is that each family finds their forever home here at St. Rita.”

Blessed Carlo Acutis Inspires Young People

In August 2025, the parish hosted the Blessed Carlo Acutis Exhibit, an event that drew families and especially youth. The response exceeded expectations. “I was blown away,” Olga said. “God is seeing our efforts and sending blessings. Young people were spending three to five hours at the exhibit, taking notes on their phones, asking deep questions about miracles, and really pondering their faith.”

For Olga, the exhibit showed how relatable Carlo Acutis is to today’s youth. "One of the most powerful fruits of this ministry has been witnessing our young people openly express their desire to become saints—even sharing it on national television. This testimony is a living sign of the impact of family faith formation."

Accompanying Families in Every Season

The ministry offers a wide range of gatherings tailored to different family needs.

College Preparation Support: With pastoral accompaniment from Fr. Homero Sánchez, OSA, in collaboration with America Juarez (Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Evangelization), parents and teens participate in campus visits, prayer services, and workshops to prepare for higher education. At Dominican University, Sister Christin Tomy, OP, provides us with moments of hope and inspires our families to see a college career as an achievable dream.

Joyful Disciples: Meet twice a month to talk about faith and discover new ways to spend time together—inviting Jesus into those moments, both at parish gatherings and especially at home.

Young Family Gatherings – “Abuelita Theology”: Twice a month, on Saturdays, young parents and expecting couples gather to share stories, pray, and exchange recipes, with a special guest (an Abuelita) offering wisdom on raising children and caring for newborns. Reflection topics include:

• Adjusting to the new norm of family life
• Keeping the spark alive as a couple
• Integrating God’s love in daily life
• Overcoming loneliness by finding community
• Growing in love and patience with children and partners
• Trusting the process and embracing the chaos
• Financial literacy and stewardship for young families

The ministry also supports families preparing for sacraments such as First Communion and Confirmation, hosts Family Masses where children serve as lectors and bring up the gifts, and supports SPRED families, ensuring inclusion in parish life.

Transformative Experiences

This summer, families traveled to Notre Dame University for a week-long experience of faith formation at Notre Dame Vision. Teens and adults grew in discipleship, while parents learned practical ways to nurture faith at home. Every participant returned transformed, eager to inspire others in the parish with testimonies of following Jesus.

Looking Ahead with Hope

The mission is clear: to provide encounters with Christ that empower families to grow in faith together. As Olga reminds us, “Families are not alone—Christ walks with them. ”At St. Rita of Cascia, this vision is taking root—one gathering, one prayer service, one family at a time.