Ivy Hall to host program for parents

By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent

Kids need more than a few basic rules in order to survive the intense culture wars raging around them. They need character — the kind of inner resolve and commitment to goodness that will enable them to resist the clever seductions of the secular world.
How do parents go about forming their children in these delicate areas?
Beginning Jan. 29, parents will be given an opportunity to attend a series of lectures at historic Ivy Hall on Lancaster Avenue, titled “The Spiritual, Emotional and Character Development of Children: A Catholic Perspective.”
Sponsored by the International Institute for Culture, the lectures will be offered by experts in child development and will take place on Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Jan. 29, Feb. 26, and Apr. 16.
The first two lectures, both titled, “The Spiritual Development of Children,” will be presented by Patrick F. Fagan, the William H. G. FitzGerald Research Fellow in Family and Cultural Issues at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C.
A psychologist trained in Ireland who practiced in Canada, Fagan has devoted the last 20 years of his life to working in public policy on cultural issues that affect families, couples and children. His papers have influenced the national debate in Washington, and in the academic world.
“Parents who strive to live their vocation seriously, who have a sense of humor and a long-range vision for their children, will give them loads of affection, lots of corrections (cheerfully), occasional punishment when needed — but will become experts on introducing them to the interior life of love of Our Lord, first with the Baby Jesus at Christmas and gradually to other issues of Our Lord’s life,” Fagan said. “With this interior disposition and view of life, their emotional life is off to a fantastic start. ... as is their spiritual life.” His publications are available online at http://www.heritage.org/About/Staff/PatrickFaganpapers.cfm.
Rick Fitzgibbons, M.D., a child and adult psychiatrist who has practiced in Conshohocken for 27 years with a specialty in the treatment of excessive anger, will present two lectures on Feb. 26: “Anger, Anxiety and Selfishness in Children” and “Lack of Confidence and Sadness in Chidlren.”
“These conferences are designed to help parents grow in their ability to identify — and to address with confidence — the common emotional conflicts in children and teenagers,” Fitzgibbons said. “Advice will also be offered to parents in regard to understanding and resolving emotional stresses in their own lives. The role of the Catholic faith, the sacraments and virtues in overcoming character weaknesses and conflicts will be presented.”
Jim Stenson, an author, educational consultant and international speaker from Boston will present two lectures on April 16: “Parental Unity: How Husband and Wife Give Unified Leadership to Children” and “Teaching the Invisible: How to Teach the Great ‘Invisible Realities’ that Make for A Great Life.”
Those realities include “honor, integrity, self-mastery, courage, courtesy, dedicated service, conscience, sacrificial love,” Stenson said. “We will look at how parents understand these terms ... and how they use conversation, reading, and the media to clarify and reinforce their children’s understanding of the concepts.
“Special emphasis will be given to helping children make important distinctions in life — truth from falsehood, good from evil, the noble from the squalid and selfish,” he said. “Children must understand the real meaning of materialism: putting things ahead of people, not treating other human beings as objects.”
Lectures will be separated by a break and will afford opportunities for questions and answers.
The cost is $30 per person for each seminar, or $80 per person for the program.
For couples, the cost is $50 per seminar or $140 for the program. Registration is required and can be made on-line at www.iiculture.org or by calling 215-877-9910.

Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615