Adult Faith Formation and Family Catechesis in the 21st Century

Preview:

DESCRIPTION

From a presentation given to the lay ecclesial ministry students of the Diocese of Salt Lake City in February, 2014.

Citation preview

Adult Faith Formation andFamily Catechesis in

the 21st CenturyDiocese of Salt Lake City

Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation ProgramFebruary 8, 2014

About Jonathan

o Director of Catechetical Services, Diocese of Springfield in Illinois

o NCCL Evangelization Committee

o BA, Quincy Universityo MA, Aquinas Institute

of Theologyo Married 13 years, 6

children

Who is in the Room?

o Lay Ministry Students

o RCIA Leaders or Team Members

o Parentso Other?

o Directors of Religious Education

o Adult Formation Catechists

o Grandparents

On a scale of 1 to 5, how familiar are you with the Church’s teachings on adult faith formation and/or family catechesis?

1 = No familiarity3 = Could give the high points5 = You’re copy of Our Hearts Were Burning is wearing thin

Who is in the Room?

Adult Faith Formation

o AFF should be at the center, not the periphery, of our catechetical efforts (cf. To Teach As Jesus Taught no. 43)

o Three Goals of Adult Faith Formation (from Our Hearts Were Burning, nos. 67-73):1. Invite and enable ongoing conversion2. Promote and support active membership in

the Christian community3. Call and prepare adults to act as disciples in

the mission of the Church

The Primacy ofAdult Faith Formation

Peter [said] to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Acts 2: 38-47

They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Acts 2: 38-47

Acts 2: 38-47

o Proclamation of the Kerygma…

o leading to Baptism…o and the Christian life

characterized by:1. study of apostolic

teaching2. communal life3. the Eucharist4. prayer

o which in turn attracts others to Jesus

The Dos and Don’t ofAdult Faith Formation

DO

o Respect different learning styles

o Serve the needs and interests of the whole community

o Lead to faithful Christian living

DON’T

o Assume your preferred style is shared by everyone

o Neglect the needs of the “seekers and the curious

o Expect instant results

The Dos and Don’t ofAdult Faith Formation

DO

o Utilize the gifts of the surrounding culture

o Elicit storieso Give adults time to

process

DON’T

o Forget to proclaim the Kerygma

o Label or accept labelso Expect to lead adults

Break

Small Group Discussion

Each Group Assigns

o Facilitatoro Keeps conversation

on tracko Recordero Legibly writes down

responseso Reportero Accurately reports

responses to group

oHow well does your parish meet the expectations laid out by the Church concerning adult faith formation?

oWhat would it take (in terms of time, leadership, resources, etc.) to move your parish to fulfill those expectations?

Questions for Discussion

o Proclamation of the Kerygma…o leading to Baptism…o and the Christian life characterized by:o study of apostolic teachingo communal lifeo the Eucharisto prayer

o which in turn attracts others to Jesus

Acts 2: 38-47

Reporting

Lunch

Family Catechesis

Christian Family asDomestic Church

o Mirrors the Life of the Trinity

o Mirrors the Life of the Church Universal

o Ordinary Way we Experience Church

Raising Parents who Raise Disciples

o Parents are the primary educator of their children

o “…scarcely anything can compensate for their failure.” (Bl. Pope John Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, no. 36)

oHow has your family been a “domestic Church?”

oWhat practices helped your family to connect to Jesus Christ?

Reflection Question

Family Catechesis: What Works?

o Integrating families into regular catechesis

o Intergenerational formation

o Family faith activities

Break

Small Group Activity

Each Group Assigns

o Facilitatoro Keeps conversation

on tracko Recordero Legibly writes down

responseso Reportero Accurately reports

responses to group

You must have a

different role from the

morning session!

Come up with 3-5 ways to encourage families to engage in specific, family-based faith activities

1. Identify 3-5 “best” faith activities2. Develop strategies to encourage

families to actually do each practice

Small Group Activity

Reporting

JonathanFSullivan.comtwitter.com/sullijofacebook.com/JonathanFSullivan

connect with me at

Recommended