Catholic Adult Education Classes

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Where are you in Louisiana? I’m in Cajun Country.

All of the classes sound interesting. I’d probably have to look at the dates and see what would fit in the schedule. Having something for my kids to do would also be a factor. For a one night “don’t miss” opportunity, I could probably leave them with MIL, but there are very few things that I schedule in the evening hours if I will need to get a babysitter.
 
My parish collaborates with several neighboring parishes for a program called ACE (Adult Catholic Education). We take turns hosting different events.

We also do a lunch/dessert with Scripture and Tradition with our associate pastor. These are pretty well attended, but I’m the only one under 50 that shows up. We did an 8 week session in the fall on apologetics, and will do a Lenten series on the liturgical year.

Our parish also tried “A Parent’s Evening of Advent” during PSR time. I went, it was very interesting. They also decided to have the 7th graders attend this session, so I’m not sure if there was anyone beside us who wasn’t a 7th grader or a 7th grade parent. They are also going to try to repeat this with Lent.
 
Pardon me for saying, but the tone of this thread is somewhat disheartening. I’m in my early thirties and from a very small parish in the mountains of California. Currently I attend RCIA, and most of the folks there are around late forties to early fifties. That’s just in my Parish. Around my area, there is a growing trend with people my age to be well rounded in the area of apologetics, tradition and scripture being the focal point. People seem to be finding the road to Catholicism later these days, but embracing much more than the Christmas and Easter Catholics we see so often. I only know whats going on in my area and some of the surrounding parishes, but I can tell you that it is very inspiring and a great sign of things to come.
 
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Jon_S:
Pardon me for saying, but the tone of this thread is somewhat disheartening. I’m in my early thirties and from a very small parish in the mountains of California. Currently I attend RCIA, and most of the folks there are around late forties to early fifties. That’s just in my Parish. Around my area, there is a growing trend with people my age to be well rounded in the area of apologetics, tradition and scripture being the focal point. People seem to be finding the road to Catholicism later these days, but embracing much more than the Christmas and Easter Catholics we see so often. I only know whats going on in my area and some of the surrounding parishes, but I can tell you that it is very inspiring and a great sign of things to come.
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I agree John–there seem to be a lot of people who feel beat down by the lack of overall enthusuiasm in their particular areas. I can only speak for my area which seems so ripe for renewal it seems like all one needs to do is find the stopper, pull it out, and there will be a great outflowing. I have this strong spiritual sense that this will happen and I do believe these forums, and all of those who are called to be “The New Apologists” are part of that.

The people that seem to be the most discouraged are the ones who have weathered the storm of the silly 1960’s and '70s, and feel they have tried everything. I think it’s time to shed the familiar Big Program ways of teaching and sacramentalizing and really start thinking outside the box.
 
It’s all about the enthusiasm. I read “Salt of the Earth” recently and I agree with the good Cardinal Ratzinger (and a most inspiring man as Pope) that the Church will have to shrink before it can grow again. He doesn’t seem to be disheartened by current events and because of that, neither am I.
 
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Jon_S:
By the way, Fidelis, I really enjoy your web site. Good job!
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Thanks Jon. I’m hoping to add some new features and articles soon (including some by me), so stay tuned. 🙂
 
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axolotl:
My parish collaborates with several neighboring parishes for a program called ACE (Adult Catholic Education). We take turns hosting different events.

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Here’s the upcoming Winter/Spring Schedule:

Sunday Jan 22 2:00-4:00
Where Two or Three are Gathered:Sources of Hope for a Troubled World*
Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brecksville
Most Rev. John Kudrick, Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Parma along with a panel of speakers in Christian traditions.
*This session is both a forum of speakers and a prayer service celebrating the week of Christian Untiy.

Tueday, Feb 7 7-9p
Sacred Art: Having a Spiritual Vocation in Contemporary Times
St. Joseph Byzantine Catholic Church, Brecksville
Christine Uvenges and Nicholas Loya, Iconographers

Mon Mar 20 7-9p

Living the “Good Life”: How Do WE FOrm an Adult Conscience?
St Matthias Church, Parma
The Rev Allen F Corrigan, M.A, M.Div.,
Administrator, St. Victor Church

Mon Apr 24 7-9
The Bible:Ever Ancient-Ever New
St. Basil the Great Church, Brecksville
Most Rev Martin J Amos, Auxilary Bishop of Cleveland
What is the relevance of the bible for Catholics today? How do we approach the Bible both as a piece of literature and as a prayer book? We will explore the formation of our Sacred Scriptures and some of the different literary forms t o be found in the Bible. We will examine Lectio Divina as one way to pray the Scriptures by using a passage of the Scriptures.

Thursday May 18 7-9
Eco-Spirituality: A “Household” Word?
St Victor Church, Richfield
Sr Joanne Buckman, OSU Director of Crown POint Ecology Center

Wed June 14 7-9
The Young and the Restless: Young Adults and the Catholic Church
St. Michael Church, Independence
Mr. Bill Miller, Campus Minister, College of Wooster

Some look interesting and some I’d rather take a pass at
 
For those that can’t get parishioners to come, I have a few ideas.

For a well-hyped and advertised event, sell tickets for about 2-3 dollars (proceeds of course going to something church or charity related). Usually, when something is mentioned at first, there is interest but other things seem more important when the event is upon them…but if they have paid money, then they want to at least get that money’s worth in the end.

Secondly, target your audience. I would think that RCIAers are the easiest target. New to the parish, many have come from actively involved nonChristian congregations. They also would want and seek the same sorts of adult education that was previously offered to them, and also be seeking a way to graft into their new parish.

You could also target the Confirmation class, they have to do community service right? Let part of their community service be helping set up this event, attending and helping out, maybe even writing a paper about what the topic was.

What about little party favors? Get those free Mary Foundation tapes and maybe order some CA tracts and put them in party favor bags in everyones seats.

Maybe after reading this you might have already started coming up with some ideas individual to your parish demographic.

Hey, don’t be above raffling off football tickets or something and advertising about it.
 
I have been coordinating an adult faith enrichment program in my parish for 10 years. From time to time, we have had a decrease in attendance (generally we have more people attend in the fall, and attendance drops off in the spring). Our schedule coincides with the children’s CCE program on Wednesday nights. We have had success with a VERY wide variety of faith building topics. Last year attendance averaged about 20 people per week. However in the past when I have invited special speakers, we have had up to 40 - 100 people attend. Our parish does not have a thriving and active community, so the fact that we are still having people attend after 10 years is exciting. I too have felt that maybe I should discontinue the program, but it is the only adult ed program in our parish. For now, God is still calling me to this ministry. If you are involved in adult education, DON’T QUIT! If we minister to 1 person, we are bringing about God’s kingdom here on earth.

Of the classes you listed below, I think you the most beneficial would be an overview of the Creed as it is the basis of the Catholic faith. Being more educated in the faith than the average Catholic, I would personally enjoy unraveling the parables.

Catholic Perspectives on Life and Health, Death and Dying
concluding with a study on living wills
Biblical History
Reconciliation & Eucharist
Bible study
Unraveling the Parables
Early Church History: Post Apostolic to Constantine
An Historical Development of the Eucharist
Scripture Study
Stages of Life, Stages of Prayer
The Imitation of Christ
“All Generations Shall Call Me Blessed”
Liturgical Space: Teaching Our Faith
An Introduction to the Rosary
The Creed
Overview of the Catechism
 
It’s always tough to schedule events in our own parish. We just celebrated our 125th anniversary this year. With all the parish mergers and closings going on, that’s no longer a guaranteed event. Even with that, we did not have a huge turnout for the Mass. In 1985, during our 100th anniversary, we had to put the overflow crowd in our school hall with close-circuit TV. Didn’t quite get that crowd this time.

I recently joined the Institute for Lay Ministry program for our diocese (Diocese of Allentown, Pa). I’ve been recently thinking of trying some adult ed classes at our parish. I would set my goal to have 5 people attend. If I get more, yippee! But if no one shows up, then at least the offer was out there.

I like the idea that someone else suggested here that they share adult ed with other parishes. That may be a possibility, too. Maybe a county-wide program.
 
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