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It was a "Girls' Night Out" recently at St. Gabriel the Archangel's religious education program in Rotterdam, and while Lise Dermody sat at a table cutting pictures out of a magazine, she reflected on what her daughter, as well as others, might take out of it.

"I think it shows that they're a lot like their moms -- more than they think they are."

Meanwhile, a roomful of mothers and daughters were also cutting out pictures from magazines that reminded them of each other.

One daughter cut out a picture of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"She always makes my lunch," she explained. Another daughter cut out the words 'good laughs,' explaining "because she loves to laugh."

One mother cut out a picture of a young girl talking on the phone. No explanation was needed.

Both generations 
The evening, which drew a dozen mother-daughter pairs, serves the twin goals of St. Gabriel's faith formation program: to educate youths in the faith and, through them, engage families in the parish and the Church. 

As at many religious ed programs, teachers find that many families send their children for training but do not necessarily attend Mass or participate in parish life. 
St. Gabriel's staff works to reach both generations simultaneously. 

"We find the need is to just bring people away from the routine and focus on their relationships with each other, with God, and with their community," said Clementina Carlin, pastoral associate for faith formation.

Ms. Carlin casts her gaze beyond just the youths. To her, the most important thing is to involve the parents as much as possible and create a family-friendly atmosphere.

"Parents are just welcomed and warmed," she said. "They really feel more at ease, I think. They're comfortable."

Their comfort was displayed at Girl's Night Out, when daughters and mothers came and participated together. The reports were positive.

"You have a better bonding experience," said 15-year-old Megan Dermody.

St. Gabriel's schedules many activities and retreats involving both generations. 

There is a "Boys' Night Out," which lets fathers and sons bond for the night, several parent/child retreats and an open house when parents could sit in on a class with their child.

Faith shared
"They seem engaged," said Ms. Carlin. "They seem to want to come - both the kids and their parents."

The focus goes beyond just children and their parents, however. Accompanying Bryttni Walter, 15, and her mother, Michelle, were Bryttni's 15-year-old cousin, Chelsea Willer, and her grandmother, Jacqueline Walter.

"It's good for bonding and to share your religion with your family," said Bryttni. Added her grandmother, "It's great for the girls and their family. It brings a good relationship - a real sense of togetherness."

Another reason the program stresses family involvement is to elevate the self-regard of teens, who are often full of doubt and insecurities. A useful antidote, teachers say, may be to see themselves through the eyes of God.

"We want to show them that God has a dream for your life," said Ms. Carlin.

To show this at Girl's Night Out, the daughters received tiara's and the mothers mirrors. The reason?

"You see what Jesus sees," said Ms. Carlin. "A beautiful princess."

Sue Ginter and her daughter, Danielle Robaz, considered whether the lessons on faith or on family were best served by Girls' Night Out. 

"It's a night to bring us closer," said Mrs. Ginter. Danielle quickly interjected, "Aw, I think they're the same thing, Mom!"[[In-content Ad]]

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