Faith Formation and Children’s Agency in the Context of Vietnamese American Catholic Families

Abstract

In light of the history of immigration during and after the Vietnam War, Vietnamese American families are struggling to live between two worlds: their old culture and nation and their new life in the United States. Parents face a dilemma in raising their children, either to maintain the Vietnamese tradition or to adapt to the new American culture. I propose a Family-Centered Faith Formation model to accompany immigrant children on their faith journey by naming false family narratives and rewriting family narratives using a practical theology approach.