Suggestions for adult faith formation program

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decn2b

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I posted this elsewhere but maybe this is the right place.

Not sure if this is the right thread but here goes.

I am a student of my diocesan ministry formation program (I am sure some of you know what MFP is and NO I am not fond of it either but it is a requirement for deaconate). Part of my assigment in this program is to participate in a “field service project”. I have decided that there is a great need in my parish for basic education of the faith for adults. I am capable of developing and teaching such a “program” but I am here asking for anyones ideas. I am guessing that his “program” would be held in a retreat like setting and likely be a few 2 hour sessions.

Some helpful suggestions would be:
  1. What type of format sounds good to you all.
  2. What would be good starting and ending points in presentation.
  3. Anyone know of good resources or models out there to use?
And any suggestions would be GREAT 😃 😃
Thanks in advance
 
We are using a video series called “What Catholics Believe”. It covers everything from individual sacraments to moral issues. We have a person who facilitates the discussion (which in your case could be you!) and supplements the subject with other information (such as from Catholic Answers :)). We have our sessions during the same time as the Youth Religious Education. Thus parents come with their children and also refresh their knowledge about the faith. Trying to stress that RE doesn’t end with 8th grade confirmation! Catholic Answers also has an Apologetics Series that has a facilitator’s guide.

Hope this helps! God Bless!
 
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decn2b:
I posted this elsewhere but maybe this is the right place.

Not sure if this is the right thread but here goes.

I am a student of my diocesan ministry formation program (I am sure some of you know what MFP is and NO I am not fond of it either but it is a requirement for deaconate). Part of my assigment in this program is to participate in a “field service project”. I have decided that there is a great need in my parish for basic education of the faith for adults. I am capable of developing and teaching such a “program” but I am here asking for anyones ideas. I am guessing that his “program” would be held in a retreat like setting and likely be a few 2 hour sessions.

Some helpful suggestions would be:
  1. What type of format sounds good to you all.
  2. What would be good starting and ending points in presentation.
  3. Anyone know of good resources or models out there to use?
And any suggestions would be GREAT 😃 😃
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Start with Our Hearts Were Burning Within US from the USCCB publications. Also get the *leaders guide to **Our Hearts Were Burning Within US, * with it.
 
Deacon2b:

Beginning Apologetics series. Very short and conscise books on apologetics, great and fun to read.

Theology of the Body when presented well is popular with teens…all around helpful for them.

Short talks on all the virtues.

God bless your deaconate. We need good men to help out the priests…Hope you are unabashedly orthodox—contrary to popular belief in the 80’s and 90’s kids given orthodox teaching of their faith become more enamored and committed to Christ.

in XT.
 
and I have come to the conclusion that those of my generation started out intrigued by the antiquity of our faith. It was a fascination of somthing we were deprived of in our religious formative years. This has resulted in a almost reflexive reaction towards orthodoxy. Believe me I am orthodox in my beliefs. I would not be afraid to stand toe to toe theologically with someone my age who was blessed enough to be reared in an orthodox parish. I personally know that I have at least an up on them. That is I know what the enemy sounds, looks and smells like…because I was there as far as liberal catechesis… With that in mind, there is still a liberal mileu to my diocese and I must admit that I daily pray to be innocent as a dove yet wise as a serpent. My orthodoxy could be my demise as far as deaconate formation goes. The drum I beat is…“trust the Lord and leave what I cannot control in His hands”
 
dcon2b:

Hello again! Great to know this.

Chesterton said that as of late, to be good and virtuous has all the exhiliration of a vice. We do live in a society where normal is vices and virtue is scoffed at. God bless your apostolate bountifully.

I guess one of the consolations of being orthodox is the guarantee that it will flourish eventually, like the many orders that are attracting young vocations because of their straight adherence to the Church…

Hope to read more from you here.

in XT.
 
Hey deacon2b,

My personal preference is to base catechesis around salvation history. I am developing a powerpoint presentation built around Jeff Cavin’s The Great Adventure and Cavins EWTN series with Scott Hahn, OUr Father’s Plan, and am using it presently for confirmation prep.

God bless your diaconal formation.

kordially

karl
 
decn2b said:
I posted this elsewhere but maybe this is the right place.

Not sure if this is the right thread but here goes.

I am a student of my diocesan ministry formation program (I am sure some of you know what MFP is and NO I am not fond of it either but it is a requirement for deaconate). Part of my assigment in this program is to participate in a “field service project”. I have decided that there is a great need in my parish for basic education of the faith for adults. I am capable of developing and teaching such a “program” but I am here asking for anyones ideas. I am guessing that his “program” would be held in a retreat like setting and likely be a few 2 hour sessions.

Some helpful suggestions would be:
  1. What type of format sounds good to you all.
  2. What would be good starting and ending points in presentation.
  3. Anyone know of good resources or models out there to use?
And any suggestions would be GREAT 😃 😃
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
CATHOLIC ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM
zuserver2.star.ucl.ac.uk/~vgg/rc/aplgtc/hahn/overview.html

Theology – Dr Scott Hahn
salvationhistory.com/St Paul “Center for Biblical
 
responding more to OPs question about format, yes the resources cited are great, see if anyone has ever done a survey in your parish about what adults are looking for. Decide on if this is going to be a lecture-style presentation–(rows of chairs facing a speaker or screen)–or seminar style–(around a table) or small group style (chairs in a circle or around individual tables). If your style is going to include small-group discussions make sure each group has a trained facilitator who can keep the discussion focused on topic, moving, and prevent people from monopolizing the discussion. Nothing turns people off more than having to endure a one-man-band in what is supposed to be sharing of ideas.

keep meetings short 1 hour, 1.5 hours tops esp. on a weeknight. Begin precisely on time, do not penalize those who come on time. Have everything set up, videos, power point etc. before you start. Nothing more annoying than a presenter fiddling with laptop or TV for 10 minutes. If you have an assistant to handle the AV details that is excellent. Have “handouts” in an easily usable format, such as in a folder, with a pencil already inside, that they can bring each week, so they have something to write on.

Make sure the room, chairs etc. are comfortable. Horrid for adults to sit in child-size desks and chairs in a school classroom, folding chairs in the parish hall are not much better. Turn A/C on in time to get the room comfortable. I would not bother with food, but bottled water is a nice hospitality gesture.

Make sure there is signage to direct people of the facility has other activities going on at the same time, or if people are coming who are not famliar with the facility.

Make sure to publicize as widely as possible, don’t rely on bulletin announcements along. for instance a phone call or post-card to recent RCIA “graduates” may be worth the time.

consider ordering a case of inexpensive paperback bibles to have on hand for use or re-sale.

begin and end with prayer. seems obvious but often overlooked, and it really does make a difference.

for a 6-8 week course, keep the topic very limited and focused. The video presentations of Marcello D’Ambrosio give a good idea what I mean. They are limited to one topic, and give organized detail, teaching, consideration of that topic, but don’t try to give a master’s level teaching in 4 weeks. In fact, his series are excellent for parish use. We have used Touching Jesus (as a follow-up to Alpha and for RCIA and HS CCD), and his 4-part video on the Eucharist for RCIA candidates and sponsors and for parent sacramental meetings.
 
ProudArmyWife said:
We are using a video series called “What Catholics Believe”. It covers everything from individual sacraments to moral issues. We have a person who facilitates the discussion (which in your case could be you!) and supplements the subject with other information (such as from Catholic Answers :)). We have our sessions during the same time as the Youth Religious Education. Thus parents come with their children and also refresh their knowledge about the faith. Trying to stress that RE doesn’t end with 8th grade confirmation! Catholic Answers also has an Apologetics Series that has a facilitator’s guide.

Hope this helps! God Bless!
Click to expand...
Is this the relatively new series by Dr. Ray Guarendi?
 
I am sure my parents would have loved an adult catechism program to go to while I was at youth group.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I am sure my parents would have loved an adult catechism program to go to while I was at youth group.
Click to expand...
we offered “CCD for Parents” for a couple of years concurrent with children’s classes, a series on the CCC, on the Eucharist and other sacraments, on How to Read the Bible, we had maybe 5 people for each class and no longer have the resources to continue. Some adults do participate in the post-Confirmation apologetics and scripture classes, but they are not parents.
 
Perhaps it was the name?
The church where I went to youth group started out calling it High School Catechism. No one came. Changed it to youth group, we had 30 people each night. Same thing with the middle schoolers. We also had a young adult group that had abotut he same number of attendants, sometimes more.
So, perhaps something that is not set lessons, but more of a topic with a discussion format. More “formal” presentations by the leaders (verses about the topic, handouts, video) and then open it up to the attendees. This was the style my youth group had and I loved it.
I went to another group that had a set theme/topic, and we got taught about it. Way too much formulation, no room for questions, and boring as all get out.
 
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