JONESBORO—Seven parishes from the Southside Deanery will join with the Archdiocese of Atlanta to host “Family: The Faith Lived,” for parents and catechists on Saturday, Nov. 12, at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. All are welcome to attend.

The day will begin with Mass at 8:30 a.m. followed by workshops through 3:40 p.m. The church is located at 591 Flint River Road in Jonesboro.

The program is the first to include both parents and catechists and will cover subjects ranging from parenting of teens, building a culture of peace at home, grandparents as faith formers, social media, and risky behaviors in adolescence.

The day will feature sessions in both English and Spanish to help parents with children across all stages of development with a focus on the changing family unit.

Spanish sessions will address communication and the cultural gap, the celebration of quinceañeras as a sacrament of faith, immigration and the family, and how parents and catechists can respond to the specific needs of Hispanic youth.

The English keynote speaker will be Lauri Przybysz, president-elect of the National Association of Family Life Ministers. She and her husband have spoken about encouraging “the Church in the home” at the Pontifical Council on the Family in Rome and at family life conferences worldwide.

Francisco Castillo, Ph.D., will deliver the Spanish keynote presentation. Castillo is a senior editor and multicultural specialist at RCL Benziger, a Catholic publishing company. He is a member of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States and the National Hispanic Institute of Liturgy.

Both keynote presentations will focus on Pope Francis’ exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”), and how God’s grace is available in the daily blessings and challenges of family life.

Other speakers will include Mary Plant, Olympic swimmer and gold medalist; Maggie Rousseau, director of the archdiocesan disabilities ministry; and several licensed professional counselors, experienced catechists and law enforcement representatives.

Sponsoring parishes are St. Philip Benizi Church, St. George Church in Newnan, Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree City, St. Gabriel Church in Fayetteville, St. James the Apostle Church in McDonough, St. Mary Magdalene Church in Newnan, and St. Matthew Church in Tyrone.

Early registration is $10 per person before Nov. 1. The registration is $15 after that date. Registration includes lunch. To register online, go to http://tiny.cc/southffd.

Daycare is available for parents attending with children 10 and under. Preregister for childcare by calling Lorraine Miller at 770-478-0178, ext. 114, prior to Nov. 5.