Who?
• All ages (5-105)
What?
• Gather together as a parish community of learners
• Learn some new things
• Spend time with old friends and make some new ones
• Pray
• Grow
• Laugh and have fun
Why?
For many years faith formation (a.k.a. CCD and Religious Ed.) has been just for the kids. Many adults were raised to think of Confirmation as a graduation from their faith development and often their life choices reflect that belief. It has been said that the average adult has the spiritual education level of a third grader. Amidst the stress and busyness of today’s lifestyles we often find lukewarm hearts and people going through the motions. This trend is now over. In no professional career or even hobby can we stop learning – nor should we with something so important as our spirituality.
For over 30 years the Church has been promoting a vision of lifelong faith formation for all members of the parish community.
Think about it, Jesus taught the masses; He didn’t break people down into age groups. We all have a variety of life experiences and different ways that we live our faith. Each of us has a wealth of knowledge to share with one another, and we have so much to learn from our peers, elders, and our children. We need to be continuously learning and growing in our faith.
"The future of the world and the Church passes through the family."
(Familiaris Consortio, #79)- John Paul II
"Try to imagine parishioners you know—children of all ages, youth at the front and back gates of adolescence, searching, strong-willed young adults, hardworking single moms and dads, couples struggling with jobs and sports programs and challenging kids, older adults carrying both wisdom and fear—all questioning and sharing and continuing the journey of faith. They'll laugh and weep and learn and grow as they gather in your parish to share the heritage of faith."
—From "Heritage of Faith: A Framework for Whole Community Catechesis" by Jo Rotunno. © Twenty-Third Publications, 2004.
"A parish can be spiritually renewed by building strong households of faith, binding them together as a vibrant faith community that can make a difference for its members and for the world. This renewal requires the mutual respect and commitment of all who participate. In this way all can hear the invitation to faith that lies at the heart of the Christian Gospel."
—From "Welcoming The Stranger: Whole Community Catechesis and Interfaith Households" by Jo Rotunno. © Twenty-Third Publications, 2004.
