LIFELONG LIFELONG FAITH FAITH

FORMATIONFORMATIONEveryone’s Journey EverydayEveryone’s Journey Everyday

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

1.1. What What IS IS Lifelong Faith Formation?- a Lifelong Faith Formation?- a definition and descriptionsdefinition and descriptions

2.2. How did this “new way” come about?How did this “new way” come about?3.3. What happened to CCD?What happened to CCD?4.4. Nine Principles of Lifelong Faith Nine Principles of Lifelong Faith

FormationFormation5.5. Parish Resources: Areas and Contact Parish Resources: Areas and Contact

Info for LLF Ministries for ParishInfo for LLF Ministries for Parish6.6. Questions? Concerns? Challenges?Questions? Concerns? Challenges?

LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION is…LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION is…

an integrated journey of the entire an integrated journey of the entire Catholic-Christian community in response Catholic-Christian community in response to the baptismal call to holiness as to the baptismal call to holiness as members of the Body of Christ, the Churchmembers of the Body of Christ, the Church

““initiates in the parish a lifelong process of initiates in the parish a lifelong process of turning to Jesus, of falling in love with turning to Jesus, of falling in love with Christ, of putting on Christ like a garment Christ, of putting on Christ like a garment over and over again.” (Huebsch, over and over again.” (Huebsch, A A Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community CatechesisCatechesis, p. 5), p. 5)

LLFLLFNo single “program” describes what Lifelong No single “program” describes what Lifelong

Faith Formation is. It is:Faith Formation is. It is:Intergenerational/whole parish faith formation;Intergenerational/whole parish faith formation;Age-specific faith learning;Age-specific faith learning;Lectionary-based faith formation;Lectionary-based faith formation;Justice-focused faith formation;Justice-focused faith formation;Whole community catechesis;Whole community catechesis;Home- & Family-centered catechesis;Home- & Family-centered catechesis;andand it provides resources for individual it provides resources for individual learning in the context of daily life…learning in the context of daily life…

LFF is…LFF is…

A MAJOR SHIFT in religious ed, A MAJOR SHIFT in religious ed, faith formation, CCD; faith formation, CCD;

A PARADIGM SHIFT that causes A PARADIGM SHIFT that causes us to move from our faith us to move from our faith comfort zones to new, comfort zones to new, transformative faith possibilities transformative faith possibilities ““Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, what God has ready for those who what God has ready for those who love [and believe]…”love [and believe]…”

LLF: What SHIFTS?LLF: What SHIFTS?

Catechesis moves beyond the Catechesis moves beyond the schooling paradigm (while schooling paradigm (while maintaining its assets) to a maintaining its assets) to a community-centered approachcommunity-centered approach& SUB-SHIFTS:& SUB-SHIFTS:

beyond instruction to conversation;beyond instruction to conversation; beyond information to formation;beyond information to formation; beyond religious knowledge to spiritual wisdom;beyond religious knowledge to spiritual wisdom;- beyond children to all people;beyond children to all people;- beyond teachers and taught to communities - beyond teachers and taught to communities

sharing faith together (Groome)sharing faith together (Groome)

ITS ORIGIN?ITS ORIGIN?

Vatican Council II (1962-1965)Vatican Council II (1962-1965): :

general agreement that inadequate catechesis was general agreement that inadequate catechesis was being done in the Church, one that was mainly child-being done in the Church, one that was mainly child-centered, with facts being memorized verbatim w/o centered, with facts being memorized verbatim w/o understanding, reflection or continuing formationunderstanding, reflection or continuing formation

Council members called for “general directories” to Council members called for “general directories” to be drawn up to address the care of souls, pastoral be drawn up to address the care of souls, pastoral care of special groups, “care of special groups, “and a directory for the and a directory for the catechetical instruction of the Christian people (not catechetical instruction of the Christian people (not just children)…” just children)…” (Decree on the Pastoral Office of (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church)Bishops in the Church)

AFTER VATICAN IIAFTER VATICAN II

19711971 Pope Paul VI published the Pope Paul VI published the General General Catechetical Directory Catechetical Directory – provided a – provided a framework for catechetical renewal worldwideframework for catechetical renewal worldwide

19721972 U.S. Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral U.S. Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral message, message, “To Teach As Jesus Did,” “To Teach As Jesus Did,” gave gave more impetus for more growth in catechesismore impetus for more growth in catechesis

19751975 “On Evangelization in the Modern World,”“On Evangelization in the Modern World,”an apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI was an apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI was published; published; contained key formational contained key formational questions of faith: questions of faith: DO WE HAVE CONVICTION?DO WE HAVE CONVICTION?IS THERE FREEDOM OF SPIRIT?IS THERE FREEDOM OF SPIRIT?ARE WE EFFECTIVE?ARE WE EFFECTIVE?

19771977 Pope John Paul II wrote Pope John Paul II wrote “On “On Catechesis in Our Time” – Catechesis in Our Time” – emphasized that catechesis is emphasized that catechesis is

for for everyoneeveryone19881988 the the Rite of Christian Initiation of Rite of Christian Initiation of

AdultsAdults19921992 the the Catechism of the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic

Church Church 19971997 the the General Directory for CatechesisGeneral Directory for Catechesis19991999 Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us

(USCCB)(USCCB)

USCCBUSCCB

““We (Bishops) call the Church in We (Bishops) call the Church in our country to a renewed our country to a renewed commitment to adult faith commitment to adult faith formation, formation, positioning it at the positioning it at the heart of our catechetical vision heart of our catechetical vision and and practice…without weakening practice…without weakening our commitment to other our commitment to other essential educational essential educational ministries…” (OHWB, #6)ministries…” (OHWB, #6)

What ever happened to CCD?What ever happened to CCD?

= = CConfraternity of onfraternity of CChristian hristian DDoctrineoctrine

a model started “in Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving a model started “in Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious instruction…on Sundays and festivals…to both religious instruction…on Sundays and festivals…to both children and adults in Christian doctrine…in schools, in the children and adults in Christian doctrine…in schools, in the streets and lanes, and even in private houses…” --- streets and lanes, and even in private houses…” --- eventually established in almost every parish in European eventually established in almost every parish in European countries and the USA countries and the USA emphasis moved from adults AND children to children ONLYemphasis moved from adults AND children to children ONLYstrong on memorization and “knowing the faith by heart” strong on memorization and “knowing the faith by heart” lifelong faith formation not considered in most CCD or even lifelong faith formation not considered in most CCD or even Religious Ed programs…until very recentlyReligious Ed programs…until very recentlyMsgr. Skip BarthMsgr. Skip Barth, Diocese of Camden, (d. 2010) re-defined , Diocese of Camden, (d. 2010) re-defined CCD as CCD as CCOMMUNION, OMMUNION, CCONFIRMATION, ONFIRMATION, DDONEONE! !

NINE (9) PRINCIPLES NINE (9) PRINCIPLES OF OF

LIFELONG FAITH LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION FORMATION

LIFELONG FAITH LIFELONG FAITH FORMATIONFORMATION

1.1. is a growing awareness of is a growing awareness of God’s self revelation and our God’s self revelation and our response which often begins response which often begins within a supportive within a supportive environment of family and environment of family and parish and which draws one parish and which draws one more deeply into relationship more deeply into relationship with Jesus Christ and his with Jesus Christ and his Church;Church;

LFFLFF

2.2. seeks to understand and live seeks to understand and live the Story and Mission of Jesus the Story and Mission of Jesus placing the truths and tradition placing the truths and tradition of the Catholic faith at the of the Catholic faith at the service of the common good;service of the common good;

LFFLFF

3.3. honors and engages the honors and engages the entire entire life experience of the life experience of the person, person, including familial, including familial, cultural, cultural, occupational and occupational and social social dimensions;dimensions;

LFFLFF

4.4. flows from the celebration of flows from the celebration of Sunday liturgy that inspires Sunday liturgy that inspires faithful living through faithful living through

proclamation of the Scriptures proclamation of the Scriptures and nourishment in Eucharist, and nourishment in Eucharist, always asking the question: always asking the question: “Where does the Breaking of “Where does the Breaking of Bread point us?”Bread point us?”

LFFLFF

5.5. embraces the mission of embraces the mission of Jesus Jesus through a moral life of through a moral life of conversion, transformation, conversion, transformation, & & discipleship in, with and discipleship in, with and through Jesus Christthrough Jesus Christ

LFFLFF

6.6. deepens the relationship deepens the relationship with with Jesus through personal Jesus through personal and and communal prayer, communal prayer, leading one leading one to embrace life to embrace life with the mind with the mind and heart of and heart of Jesus Christ;Jesus Christ;

LFFLFF

7.7. expresses itself in a life of expresses itself in a life of caring for others, especially caring for others, especially the most vulnerable, and the most vulnerable, and working for justice for and in working for justice for and in solidarity with the oppressed solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized;and marginalized;

LFFLFF

8.8. promotes a missionary spirit promotes a missionary spirit which inspires the faithful to which inspires the faithful to evangelize inactive evangelize inactive

Catholics, Catholics, alienated Catholics, alienated Catholics, and those and those without a faith without a faith community;community;

LFFLFF

9. 9. promotes authentic dialogue promotes authentic dialogue between religions and between religions and

cultures cultures seeking mutual seeking mutual understanding understanding and fruitful and fruitful cooperation for the cooperation for the advancement of peace, the advancement of peace, the dignity of the human person dignity of the human person and the common good.and the common good.

FOLLOWS AN FOLLOWS AN INTERGENERATIONAL INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACHAPPROACH

CHILDREN…CHILDREN…

ADOLESCENTS/YOUTH…ADOLESCENTS/YOUTH…

YOUNG ADULTS…YOUNG ADULTS…

FAMILIES…FAMILIES…

MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS…MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS…

MATURE ADULTS/SENIORSMATURE ADULTS/SENIORS

= INVOLVEMENT OF ALL AGES IN FAITH = INVOLVEMENT OF ALL AGES IN FAITH FORMATION FORMATION TOGETHERTOGETHER

FOLLOWS A THEMATIC FOLLOWS A THEMATIC APPROACHAPPROACH

Provides God’s people with lectionary-based resources Provides God’s people with lectionary-based resources that empower all ages to be transformed in Christ as that empower all ages to be transformed in Christ as they:they:

Explore meaning & mystery in the BibleExplore meaning & mystery in the BibleCelebrate in worship, sacraments, education, and Celebrate in worship, sacraments, education, and serviceserviceEngage in ministries of charity, justice and witnessEngage in ministries of charity, justice and witnessThrive in inclusive communities of faith, shaped & Thrive in inclusive communities of faith, shaped & led by the Holy Spiritled by the Holy SpiritContinue the Mission of Jesus and the Church by Continue the Mission of Jesus and the Church by using their unique talents, gifts and resources using their unique talents, gifts and resources

PARISH RESOURCESPARISH RESOURCES

1.1. STAFF OF LIFELONG FAITH STAFF OF LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION (See handout of FORMATION (See handout of names, phone #s, email names, phone #s, email addresses.)addresses.)

2.2. ON-LINE MINISTRY SUPPORT ON-LINE MINISTRY SUPPORT SERVICES & PUBLICATIONSSERVICES & PUBLICATIONS

HOW TO ORGANIZE, PLAN, HOW TO ORGANIZE, PLAN, IMPLEMENT, CELEBRATE, IMPLEMENT, CELEBRATE, EVALUATE…EVALUATE…

= CONTACT DIOCESAN = CONTACT DIOCESAN RESOURCES & ONLINE RESOURCES & ONLINE RESOURCES (handout) RESOURCES (handout)

A CHALLENGEA CHALLENGE……

““If our value comes from what we If our value comes from what we accomplish or how useful we might be, accomplish or how useful we might be, look out. But when we recapture a look out. But when we recapture a sense of who we are, our identity, sense of who we are, our identity, gratefully, humbly, joyfully aware that gratefully, humbly, joyfully aware that our value is within, that it comes from our value is within, that it comes from who we are, … WE CAN WALK ON who we are, … WE CAN WALK ON WATER.” (Archbishop Timothy Dolan, WATER.” (Archbishop Timothy Dolan, New York, May 27, 2010, emphasis New York, May 27, 2010, emphasis mine)mine)

Works CitedWorks Cited

Groome, Thomas. Groome, Thomas. “Total Community Catechesis for Lifelong Faith “Total Community Catechesis for Lifelong Faith Formation” Formation” in in Lifelong FaithLifelong Faith: the theory : the theory

and and practice of lifelong faith formation, Vol.practice of lifelong faith formation, Vol.2.1, 2.1, Spring 2008Spring 2008.. Huebsch, Bill. Huebsch, Bill. Dreams and Visions: Pastoral Planning for Lifelong Dreams and Visions: Pastoral Planning for Lifelong

Faith Formation, Faith Formation, 2323rdrd Publications, New Publications, New London, CT, 2007London, CT, 2007..

--- --- A Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community Catechesis, A Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community Catechesis, IBID., 2004IBID., 2004..

--- “The Emerging Vision of Lifelong Faith Formation in the --- “The Emerging Vision of Lifelong Faith Formation in the Catholic Church” Catholic Church” in Lifelong Faith: the in Lifelong Faith: the

theory theory and practice of lifelong faith formation, and practice of lifelong faith formation, Vol. Vol. 2.1, Spring 2008.2.1, Spring 2008. USCCB USCCB “Called & Gifted for the Third Millennium” – “Called & Gifted for the Third Millennium” –

Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops on Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops on the the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, 19951995..USCCB USCCB “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us” – A Pastoral “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us” – A Pastoral

Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, States, 1999.1999.