05/19/2026
The Christian Family Movement - USA is returning to Resurrection this fall! Thank you to parishioners Charles and Sarah Sisovsky for spearheading this effort!
In case you missed it in last weekend's bulletin, you can read about CFM and Charles and Sarah's story below.
If you're interested in signing up to be a part of CFM at our parish, you can sign up here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdZWuVOauNYaQusLf3tbKhgeC-GTpk33WT7ErIl2E61xetvDQ/viewform
Charles and Sarah are also hosting information meetings at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th and Wednesday, July 22nd, both in the cafeteria, for anyone who wants to learn more.
Sarah (Sweeney) Sisovsky has fond memories growing up in the Christian Family Movement in the mid-90s. She recalls camping trips, picnics, bowl-a-thons, and community service projects with other Resurrection families.
After years away from Evansville, Sarah and her husband, Charles, a native of Michigan, returned to the River City with their kids in tow.
They joined the parish, and their oldest son is preparing to start kindergarten at Resurrection next year. They are planting their roots here.
“We’re working to strengthen our faith while building friendships and creating a stronger sense of community in our parish home,” Sarah said.
As they explored ways to engage here, Sarah wondered what happened to the Christian Family Movement that was so integral to her childhood. When they learned it disappeared with the next generation, she and her husband decided they wanted to help bring it back. They’ve been working with Deacon Ed the past few months to prepare for a fall launch of the program at Resurrection.
So what is the Christian Family Movement? It is a Catholic lay movement of families and individuals that gathers in small groups to strengthen marriage and family life through faith, friendship, and action. Groups of four to six families gather monthly to pray and reflect on Scripture, share the realities of daily family life, support one another in living the Catholic faith, and take action to serve their parish and community.
Generally, the adults meet once a month in a family’s home, at a restaurant, on the campus of their parish, or wherever they feel comfortable to discuss a topic related to faith and lean on each other as they navigate the challenges of raising children in today’s world. Then, once a month, adults and children gather together to bond and serve their community. Sarah remembers all the fun she had on yearly camping trips, chili cook-offs, bowl-a-thons to raise money for charity, and even serving together at a soup kitchen. She developed close friendships with the other kids in the Christian Family Movement. Her parents formed even deeper bonds with the other adults in their small group. Her parents are still close friends with these couples more than 30 years later.
That’s exactly what Sarah and Charles want for themselves and their children now… which is why they’re bringing CFM back.
“We’re craving that community,” Sarah said. “We want support, and we want to support others. When you’re raising kids, you want other people with the same values to be role models for your children.”
They said the time is right to bring CFM back to Resurrection. We are a growing parish with a booming population of young families. While we have many ministries serving men, women, and children here, Sarah and Charles noticed we lacked a ministry designed to help parish families grow together in their faith.
“People want this,” Sarah said. “They just don’t want to organize it. But we’re happy to do that!”
Charles and Sarah are hosting informational sessions in June and July for anyone who might be interested. They want people to know that this program is for everyone: young families, older families, single parent homes, blended families, grandparents who want to lean on each other in supporting their adult children and grandkids.
“It’s meant to bring us all together,” the couple said.
Starting now, families can officially begin signing up for the program. They would love to see 50 families join them, but even 10 families would be great. That would allow us to create two small groups.
In August, Charles and Sarah will sort the families into small groups. They will try to pair families together based on their needs and interests.
Charles and Sarah are hosting a picnic on the soccer field at Resurrection in September for all the families who sign up, and small groups will begin meeting in October.
Sarah said her family was so close to the other families in their small group that they could call on these couples in an emergency, and any one of them would drop what they were doing to help. That’s what she wants for the new generation, especially families new to Resurrection or the westside community. She wants all families to feel supported.
“If you’re craving that connection and want to create lasting friendships and bonds, please join us!” Sarah said.
Charles added: “We’re very excited for this. With how young our parish is, we don’t see a downside!”
