The Diocese of St. Augustine invites all homeschool families to the 7th Annual Blessing of Homeschool Families Mass and Reception on Monday, Sept. 15, at Holy Family Parish, 9800 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville.
Mass will begin at 5:45 p.m. and will be celebrated by Bishop Erik Pohlmeier. A reception will follow in the parish hall.
Homeschooling describes the work of parents who have discerned to educate and form their children at home. The Church teaches that parents are the first and best witnesses to their children in the ways of faith, and it has the obligation to assist them in this role through parish programs and other resources.
For many families, homeschooling provides the gift of weaving Catholic faith into every subject while fostering a close-knit home life. “The flexibility of a Catholic homeschool education provides the perfect opportunity to really build a grace-filled domestic church while nurturing young minds and hearts,” said homeschool parent Carrie Boyer in a 2023 article in the St. Augustine Catholic magazine. Others value the opportunity to grow in prayer as a family and celebrate Church traditions in daily life.
The joys of homeschooling come with challenges, including balancing multiple grade levels and managing time for both education and self-care. Yet, as one family shared, “We consider the opportunity to homeschool to be one of the greatest gifts God has given our family.”
All homeschool families are welcome, but advance registration is required. The deadline to RSVP is Monday, Sept. 8. Coordinating the annual Diocesan Blessing of Homeschool families is the Office of Christian Formation. For more information, email emcgeever@dosafl.com.
