Adult Formation in your Parish? - A Poll

[fide]

Please do the attached poll, and add any comments you’d like.

Thanks.

 

[ccmcmg]

Some of our catechism studies have been led by a Deacon, others by well formed members of the diocese. Our diocese as a whole has great adult formation (bible studies and catechisms, as well as special events, for low costs of under $50 or even free), and our parish as a whole has good adult interactions. There are also retreats like ‘Christ Renews His Parish’.

Our neighboring diocese also offers weekly classes for adults, up to 2 or 3 every weeknight across the diocese.

 

[tangled]

My parish will begin classes twice a week, end of this month. I’m planning to attend. No further info, but I think it’s badly needed. I’m thrilled this is starting up.

 

[judynurse]

My Parish has no formal Adult Formation Program. Most of the members are Senior Citizens, the next town over (same Priest) has a very active Teen and Children’s Catechism, as well as a program for adults wishing to become Catholic.

We do have some programs for both men and women, such as a multi-week program based on a Saint’s teachings for spiritual growth, a women’s prayer group, etc… We have not had any new Catholics trained in our Parish in several years. The past 3 Pastors have never set up any programs, although we do have an adult teacher for converts, but she’s had no students in about 7 years or so. The very few young adults who were interested (usually one every year or two) are sent to the much larger classes in the next town 10 miles away. Same for children’s catechism. I’d love to teach catechism again, but we have few children to teach here, so they go to the other Parish.

 

[fide]

Some of our catechism studies have been led by a Deacon, others by well formed members of the diocese. Our diocese as a whole has great adult formation (bible studies and catechisms, as well as special events, for low costs of under $50 or even free), and our parish as a whole has good adult interactions. There are also retreats like ‘Christ Renews His Parish’.

Our neighboring diocese also offers weekly classes for adults, up to 2 or 3 every weeknight across the diocese.

Thank you, ccmcmg. Could you private-message me with your parish website address? I’d like to get more info on the offerings there.

 

[fide]

My parish will begin classes twice a week, end of this month. I’m planning to attend. No further info, but I think it’s badly needed. I’m thrilled this is starting up.

That is (I hope) very good news! What classes, exactly? Can you say more about it? Please update this post and let me know how it goes, after it gets going.

 

[fide]

My Parish has no formal Adult Formation Program. Most of the members are Senior Citizens, the next town over (same Priest) has a very active Teen and Children’s Catechism, as well as a program for adults wishing to become Catholic.

We do have some programs for both men and women, such as a multi-week program based on a Saint’s teachings for spiritual growth, a women’s prayer group, etc… We have not had any new Catholics trained in our Parish in several years. The past 3 Pastors have never set up any programs, although we do have an adult teacher for converts, but she’s had no students in about 7 years or so. The very few young adults who were interested (usually one every year or two) are sent to the much larger classes in the next town 10 miles away. Same for children’s catechism. I’d love to teach catechism again, but we have few children to teach here, so they go to the other Parish.

The members who come to our programs are mostly “seniors” - but not entirely. There are a few in the 20’s and 30’s. I’m happy to see anyone of any age come to learn more of the Faith, and our Lord.

Would you be comfortable leading a catechism study for adults? It is a beautiful thing when a “senior” discovers becoming like a child, and hearing the Good News as for the first time.

 

[asia53]

Adult formation at our parish is decided by the adults. Currently, our parish has no DRE, and when we had a DRE, their focus was the children and youth; which was fine. However, Adult formation suffered.

We formed a committee with Father’s approval. We vote on the studies. Father reviews our choices: looking for Biblical references, CCC references, and must be solidly Catholic—yeas or nays the choices.

Participants are usually women, 30’s on up.

Currently, for the Fall, 2014, and Spring 2015, we are doing:

Epic-The first 500 years history of the Church-Ascension Press
The Gospel of Luke
A Walk With Mary-Ascension Press
Father Michael Gaitley’s Wisdom and Works of Mercy

In addition:
ENDOW-St Catherine of Siena
Men’s Bible Study-Saturday mornings

Starting this Sunday, at noon till 1 PM, one hour classes on various Catholic teachings-Redemptive Suffering for 6 weeks, then, Surrendering to the Divine Will for 3 weeks. I’ll have to let you know about these after Mass classes, they are new.

 

[fide]

Adult formation at our parish is decided by the adults. Currently, our parish has no DRE, and when we had a DRE, their focus was the children and youth; which was fine. However, Adult formation suffered.

We formed a committee with Father’s approval. We vote on the studies. Father reviews our choices: looking for Biblical references, CCC references, and must be solidly Catholic—yeas or nays the choices.

Participants are usually women, 30’s on up.

Currently, for the Fall, 2014, and Spring 2015, we are doing:

Epic-The first 500 years history of the Church-Ascension Press
The Gospel of Luke
A Walk With Mary-Ascension Press
Father Michael Gaitley’s Wisdom and Works of Mercy

In addition:
ENDOW-St Catherine of Siena
Men’s Bible Study-Saturday mornings

Starting this Sunday, at noon till 1 PM, one hour classes on various Catholic teachings-Redemptive Suffering for 6 weeks, then, Surrendering to the Divine Will for 3 weeks. I’ll have to let you know about these after Mass classes, they are new.

Thank you, asia53.

The content of the sessions on “books” seems straightforward. But the two Gospel studies:

• the Gospel of Luke
• the Man’s Bible Study
  Are these lay-led? Are guidebooks used and followed, or is it a “sharing” of what participants hear, or are they “taught” by a single person - or something else?

Again, I’d appreciate hearing what is happening in your parish…

Thanks.

 

[asia53]

Thank you, asia53.

The content of the sessions on “books” seems straightforward. But the two Gospel studies:

• the Gospel of Luke
• the Man’s Bible Study
  Are these lay-led? Are guidebooks used and followed, or is it a “sharing” of what participants hear, or are they “taught” by a single person - or something else?

Again, I’d appreciate hearing what is happening in your parish…

Thanks.

Hi fide,

Both are lay-led. There are very few qualified Bible study teachers, who will teach for free, at least, in our area. We have an agreement with Father. If we are confused, or disagree on a point–we email him. Either, he answers our question with an email, or comes to the study to help us understand. To date, we’ve never had to do this, in the 5 years, I’ve been taking classes.

The Gospel of Luke is a structured study, or as you put it, canned study. I don’t know the publisher.

The Men’s Bible Study. I don’t know–I’m not a man, and have never attended a session.

 

[fide]

Hi fide,

Both are lay-led. There are very few qualified Bible study teachers, who will teach for free, at least, in our area. We have an agreement with Father. If we are confused, or disagree on a point–we email him. Either, he answers our question with an email, or comes to the study to help us understand. To date, we’ve never had to do this, in the 5 years, I’ve been taking classes.

The Gospel of Luke is a structured study, or as you put it, canned study. I don’t know the publisher.

The Men’s Bible Study. I don’t know–I’m not a man, and have never attended a session.

Thanks asia53. Can I continue to press for one more time? 1) Would you say your pastor gives “strong support” to adult formation? and 2) Are you content with the adult formation opportunities that you presently have? If not, what would you want to add?

Thanks,
fide

 

[asia53]

Thanks asia53. Can I continue to press for one more time? 1) Would you say your pastor gives “strong support” to adult formation? and 2) Are you content with the adult formation opportunities that you presently have? If not, what would you want to add?

Thanks,
fide

1.) Very strong support from Father M. Last year, we did a book study, The Fulfillment of All Desire; a Journey to God Using the Wisdom of the Saints, Dr. Ralph Martin. BTW, excellent book, with a study guide. One of the chapters had quite a bit about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The group asked Father if he would do a lecture about this one evening. Father said, “Absolutely!”. He opened the lecture to the whole parish, gave an excellent talk for 2 hours with a Q and A session.

2.) Essentially content. The vote on the curriculum is “majority rules”. Sometimes, I am not interested in some of the choices. So far, the vote has gone my way, however, one day, it won’t go my way. I’d like to see more Catholic Spirituality book studies with study guides.

 

[fide]

1.) Very strong support from Father M. Last year, we did a book study, The Fulfillment of All Desire; a Journey to God Using the Wisdom of the Saints, Dr. Ralph Martin. BTW, excellent book, with a study guide. One of the chapters had quite a bit about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The group asked Father if he would do a lecture about this one evening. Father said, “Absolutely!”. He opened the lecture to the whole parish, gave an excellent talk for 2 hours with a Q and A session.

2.) Essentially content. The vote on the curriculum is “majority rules”. Sometimes, I am not interested in some of the choices. So far, the vote has gone my way, however, one day, it won’t go my way. I’d like to see more Catholic Spirituality book studies with study guides.

Thank you. It sounds as though Fr. M. is very accommodating to those wanting to grow in the Faith. Maybe he’d be willing to do such lectures with Q/A on other important topics for the parish - it might be worth pursuing.

Re: Catholic Spirituality - I know the book The Ordinary Path to Holiness has been used by some parishes. It gives some helpful wisdom from the saints on the path of growth toward the holiness to which we all are called. It does not have a study guide, however. The link has a detailed “Table of Contents”. You might be interested in looking into that as a possibility.

Thanks again for all your information.

Fide

 

[Avila123]

I couldn’t find the No button, so I didn’t do the poll. We don’t have a congregation large enough even to support anything other than Children’s liturgy and even that will stop soon unless one or two of the parents volunteers to be cleared for safeguarding.

The good news is that the Diocese has just run a well attended Bible Study, Called and Gifted Workshop and Catechist courses. All were well attended, but the sign up for the 24 week Bible study course is low so far. We are living in hope.

 

[fide]

I couldn’t find the No button, so I didn’t do the poll. We don’t have a congregation large enough even to support anything other than Children’s liturgy and even that will stop soon unless one or two of the parents volunteers to be cleared for safeguarding.

The good news is that the Diocese has just run a well attended Bible Study, Called and Gifted Workshop and Catechist courses. All were well attended, but the sign up for the 24 week Bible study course is low so far. We are living in hope.

I believe that strong, fervent, deep, faithful and consistent preaching from the pulpit would awaken what God has put into the soul of every baptized Catholic: a hunger for more and more divine Truth. That’s the power of living grace.

And therefore, adult formation sessions and groups filled with authentic disciples of the Lord! (A disciple is a learner - one under the discipline of the Teacher.)

 

[asia53]

Thank you. It sounds as though Fr. M. is very accommodating to those wanting to grow in the Faith. Maybe he’d be willing to do such lectures with Q/A on other important topics for the parish - it might be worth pursuing.

Re: Catholic Spirituality - I know the book The Ordinary Path to Holiness has been used by some parishes. It gives some helpful wisdom from the saints on the path of growth toward the holiness to which we all are called. It does not have a study guide, however. The link has a detailed “Table of Contents”. You might be interested in looking into that as a possibility.

Thanks again for all your information.

Fide

As a matter of fact, ours was the first parishioner request for a lecture. Father M during the course of the year will lecture on various subjects. Unfortunately, out of a 400 family parish-we only have about 50 people attend.

Thanks for the book recommendation.

 

[asia53]

… but the sign up for the 24 week Bible study course is low so far. We are living in hope.

We have the same problem here. People don’t want to do a 25 week Bible study course. Even the 10-12 week courses, we start off good–30 people in the day, 20 people in the evening; at the end of the course, maybe 12 people both days and evening will finish.

We have stiff competition here–Denver Biblical School, Augustine Institute. Even these fine schools are having low enrollment this year.

It would be wonderful if people would be inspired to study the word of God, however, I’m learning–there really isn’t a whole lot of us with the desire to learn. We have a core group here, we’ve done many studies together; others drift in, then drift right back out.

As Avila123 says: “We are living in hope.”