X

Adult Faith Formation


The Heart of Adult Faith Formation:

With ongoing conversion, there needs to be ongoing adult faith formation. More specifically, the disciple of Christ is continual need of revealed truth and life-giving grace. This is why the U.S. Bishops remind us that "adult faith formation must become our chief catechetical priority." (Our Hearts Were Burning, #25)

Recent history bears witness that if adults are not well-formed in the Faith, the younger generations will lack formation as well. But with solid and vibrant adult faith formation programs, a personal relationship with Christ is better fostered among parishioners, the Sacraments begin to take on more relevance to everyday life and the motivation to share the Good News with those outside the flock is awakened. From there, the good work of catechizing children by the local parish is more likely to be reinforced by well-formed parents. In short, the benefits are incalculable!

“Most adults are capable of a free and informed response of faith to God’s initiative of love. They have a right and a duty to bring to maturity the seed of faith sown in them by God. They have experienced the joys and challenges of life and have the capacity to question the truth and meaning of life. The catechesis of adults…is the principal form of catechesis because it is addressed to persons who have the greatest responsibilities and the capacity to live the Christian message in its fully developed form.” (National Directory for Catechesis, p.187)

Adult faith formation, by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study, must be the "the central task in [this] catechectical enterprise," becoming "the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age." (Our Hearts Were Burning #5)

The Bishops outline three key goals of Adult Faith Formation (Our Hearts Were Burning #67-73):

1. Inviting and enabling ongoing conversion to Jesus in holiness of life:

  • helping adults acquire an attitude of conversion to the Lord
  • leading adults to repentance of sin, reconciliation through the sacraments and deepening faith in Jesus

2. Promoting and supporting active membership in the Christian community:

  • helping adults make a conscious and firm decision to live the faith through membership in the Christian community
  • inviting and supporting baptized adults in their co-responsibility for the Church's mission and life

3. Calling and preparing adults to act as disciples in mission to the world:

  • inviting baptized adults to evangelization and justice in the world

Adult faith growth touches on six areas, all of which are needed for the full maturation of the Christian person:

  1. Knowledge of the faith
  2. Liturgical Life
  3. Moral Formation
  4. Prayer
  5. Communal Life
  6. Missionary Spirit

At Our Lady many Adult Faith Formation opportunities are offered seasonally.

Please consult the parish bulletin or contact the Director of Faith Formation Mac Clapp www.maclapp@olphaurora.org for additional Faith Formation Opportunities.

The Faith Formation Committee meets the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. The current chairperson is Patricia Macko, mackcbc@gmail.com.