Adult faith formation

[vince2paul]

Is there any adult faith formation program in your parish? How is it? I think that there is a need for such thing in the Catholic church. But I just don’t know how the program should be.

The reason is because there are many ignorant Catholic, whom do not know what the true Catholic teaching is. But they do interested attending when there’s such even.

Last year, my parish priest did a presentation about one of the vatican document (or encyclical, not sure). It’s just unfortunate that I was unable to attend it, but according to my friends, it was great.

At the moment, I doing it to a small scale. Usually, I write about the church teaching or summary of books that I’ve just read and share (by email or conversation) it to the members of the Legion of Mary in my praesidium, once of twice a month. So far, the feedback is good. If summary of a book, usually someone will borrow it.

But now, I’m starting to think of a large scale. Any suggestion?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Is there any adult faith formation program in your parish? How is it? I think that there is a need for such thing in the Catholic church. But I just don’t know how the program should be.

The reason is because there are many ignorant Catholic, whom do not know what the true Catholic teaching is. But they do interested attending when there’s such even.

Last year, my parish priest did a presentation about one of the vatican document (or encyclical, not sure). It’s just unfortunate that I was unable to attend it, but according to my friends, it was great.

At the moment, I doing it to a small scale. Usually, I write about the church teaching or summary of books that I’ve just read and share (by email or conversation) it to the members of the Legion of Mary in my praesidium, once of twice a month. So far, the feedback is good. If summary of a book, usually someone will borrow it.

But now, I’m starting to think of a large scale. Any suggestion?

Begin by studying Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us from the US Bishops. Get the LEADERS Guide also. Different people want different things. Many different approaches are needed. Every opportunity needs ot be looked for and Small Christian Communities is also a good means.

 

[vince2paul]

Begin by studying Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us from the US Bishops. Get the LEADERS Guide also. Different people want different things. Many different approaches are needed. Every opportunity needs ot be looked for and Small Christian Communities is also a good means.

Erm… I’m not in US, so not sure whether it can be used here.
Can you explain further about SCC? I attended parish assembly last weekend, and the priest said that there are SCC in the church, but many parishioners are not aware of, because its for chinese and Indian community, so he didn’t explain further what it is.

 

[puzzleannie]

we have a full time director of adult evangelization, one of the few parishes to devote resources and energy in that direction. Currently we are implementing Disciples in Mission, which is a diocesan-wide evangelization program that begins in Lent.

Most publishers of RE textbooks and RCIA resources also have programs for adult faith formation: reviews of the catechism teachings, bible studies etc. You could start be seeing what is already used in RE in your parish, and see what is available. If you have a multi-ethnic parish, see if the publishers provide the resources in several languages.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Erm… I’m not in US, so not sure whether it can be used here.
Can you explain further about SCC? I attended parish assembly last weekend, and the priest said that there are SCC in the church, but many parishioners are not aware of, because its for chinese and Indian community, so he didn’t explain further what it is.

You know I’m going to need to get into the habit of looking at the “Location” more often. I still think that if your Bishops do not have anything on Adult Catechesis. That the US documents can give you some ideas. SCC is an idea that is popular in other cultures. A Parish in my opinion does not set out to establish SCC’s. But uses opportunities to allow them to form themselves. For instance here, after RCIA there is a year of monthly or bi-weekly gatherings (away from the parish building) of the RCIA group (12-15) for that year. It is part social and part ongoing catechesis. It is totally taken over after the first few gatherings by the group itself and the RCIA team moves into the background. After the year some of these groups continue to meet, others form two or three smaller groups that continue to get together at each others homes to pray and talk about their new Catholic life.

Groups can also be formed by inviting parish commissions and committees to meet once a month for prayer, social interaction and possible study of Church teachings or documents relating to their commission or committee.

It’s not an additional meeting for the Family Life Commission to work on the details of the Parish Picnic. It about the members praying together, getting to know each other, and maybe learning what the Church teaches about the “Christian Family in the Modern World.”

 

[kage_ar]

We have an adult class that meets every week during CCD time. This past summer, we did the “Great Adventure” Bible Study for 12 weeks - our Parish hall was packed every week, if I recall there were 120 registered adults in that session.

Beginning in Lent, Father will be teaching a course on the CCC - to hold all the people we will be meeting in the Church weekly for these lessons. Following this 6 week series, there will be Small Groups formed using the “Why Catholic” series. This is actually a 3 year plan of 6 week lecture series followed by 6 weeks of small groups.

So, yes - we do have adult study

 

[kell0618]

Begin by studying Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us from the US Bishops. Get the LEADERS Guide also. Different people want different things. Many different approaches are needed. Every opportunity needs ot be looked for and Small Christian Communities is also a good means.

I was just speaking with my husband that I am prayerfully considering moving on from being on our RCIA team at the parish and speaking with our Pastor about beginning an adult Catechesis program. I searched the forum and landed on this post. I just ordered the book and leaders guide so that I may study up on the program before meeting with our Pastor. Thank you for leading me in the right direction! We have a small parish by comparison to many who post here (around 700 families registered) and many are starving for a good program for adults.

God bless you!

Kelly

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was just speaking with my husband that I am prayerfully considering moving on from being on our RCIA team at the parish and speaking with our Pastor about beginning an adult Catechesis program. I searched the forum and landed on this post. I just ordered the book and leaders guide so that I may study up on the program before meeting with our Pastor. Thank you for leading me in the right direction! We have a small parish by comparison to many who post here (around 700 families registered) and many are starving for a good program for adults.

God bless you!

Kelly

Most parishes are starving. You could have saved a bit of money by ordering only the leaders guide because it also contains the full text of the document in the back. But now you have one to share with the pastor.

 

[Eileen_T]

You can listen to the Fundamentals of Catholicism online
trueteaching.net/

It covers:
1-God:Unity and Trinity (Part 1)- 1/8/04
1-God:Unity and Trinity (Part 2)- 1/8/04
2-Creation and Original Sin (part 1)- 9/20/01
2-Creation and Original Sin (part 2)- 9/20/01
3-Jesus Christ: God and Man (part 1)- 1/22/04
3-Jesus Christ: God and Man (part 2)- 1/22/04
4-Mary (part 1)- 1/29/04
4-Mary (part 2)- 1/29/04
5-The Church (part 1)- 2/5/04
5-The Church (part 2)- 2/5/04
6-Divine Revelation (part 1)- 2/12/04
6-Divine Revelation (part 2)- 2/12/04
7-Grace and The Divine Life (part 1)- 2/19/04
7-Grace and The Divine Life (part 2)- 2/19/04
8-Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation & Anointing of the Sick (Part 1)
8-Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation & Anointing (Part 2)- 11/1/01
9-The Eucharist (part 1)- 3/4/04
9-The Eucharist (part 2)- 3/4/04
10-Confession (part 1)- 3/11/04
10-Confession (part 2)- 3/11/04
11-Marriage and Morality (part 1)- 3/18/04
11-Marriage and Morality (part 2)- 3/18/04
12-Principles of Morality (cont’d.)-12/6/01

There are also other talks available there… I particularly like the Marriage Preparation talks.

 

[vince2paul]

You can listen to the Fundamentals of Catholicism online
trueteaching.net/

It covers:
1-God:Unity and Trinity (Part 1)- 1/8/04
1-God:Unity and Trinity (Part 2)- 1/8/04
2-Creation and Original Sin (part 1)- 9/20/01
2-Creation and Original Sin (part 2)- 9/20/01
3-Jesus Christ: God and Man (part 1)- 1/22/04
3-Jesus Christ: God and Man (part 2)- 1/22/04
4-Mary (part 1)- 1/29/04
4-Mary (part 2)- 1/29/04
5-The Church (part 1)- 2/5/04
5-The Church (part 2)- 2/5/04
6-Divine Revelation (part 1)- 2/12/04
6-Divine Revelation (part 2)- 2/12/04
7-Grace and The Divine Life (part 1)- 2/19/04
7-Grace and The Divine Life (part 2)- 2/19/04
8-Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation & Anointing of the Sick (Part 1)
8-Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation & Anointing (Part 2)- 11/1/01
9-The Eucharist (part 1)- 3/4/04
9-The Eucharist (part 2)- 3/4/04
10-Confession (part 1)- 3/11/04
10-Confession (part 2)- 3/11/04
11-Marriage and Morality (part 1)- 3/18/04
11-Marriage and Morality (part 2)- 3/18/04
12-Principles of Morality (cont’d.)-12/6/01

There are also other talks available there… I particularly like the Marriage Preparation talks.

Thanks!