LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION Everyone’s Journey Everyday

Table of Contents 1.What IS Lifelong Faith Formation?- a definition and descriptions 2.How did this “new way” come about? 3.What happened to CCD? 4.Nine Principles of Lifelong Faith Formation 5.Parish Resources: Areas and Contact Info for LLF Ministries for Parish 6.Questions? Concerns? Challenges?

LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION is… an integrated journey of the entire Catholic-Christian community in response to the baptismal call to holiness as members of the Body of Christ, the Church “initiates in the parish a lifelong process of turning to Jesus, of falling in love with Christ, of putting on Christ like a garment over and over again.” (Huebsch, A Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community Catechesis, p. 5)

LLF No single “program” describes what Lifelong Faith Formation is. It is: Intergenerational/whole parish faith formation; Age-specific faith learning; Lectionary-based faith formation; Justice-focused faith formation; Whole community catechesis; Home- & Family-centered catechesis; and it provides resources for individual learning in the context of daily life…

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

LLF: What SHIFTS? Catechesis moves beyond the schooling paradigm (while maintaining its assets) to a community-centered approach & 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 teachers and taught to communities sharing faith together (Groome)

ITS ORIGIN? Vatican Council II ( ) : general agreement that inadequate catechesis was being done in the Church, one that was mainly child- centered, with facts being memorized verbatim w/o understanding, reflection or continuing formation Council members called for “general directories” to be drawn up to address the care of souls, pastoral care of special groups, “and a directory for the catechetical instruction of the Christian people (not just children)…” (Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church)

AFTER VATICAN II 1971Pope Paul VI published the General Catechetical Directory – provided a framework for catechetical renewal worldwide 1972U.S. Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral message, “To Teach As Jesus Did,” gave more impetus for more growth in catechesis 1975“On Evangelization in the Modern World,” an apostolic exhortation of Pope Paul VI was published; contained key formational questions of faith: DO WE HAVE CONVICTION? IS THERE FREEDOM OF SPIRIT? ARE WE EFFECTIVE?

1977Pope John Paul II wrote “On Catechesis in Our Time” – emphasized that catechesis is for everyone for everyone 1988the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults 1992the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1997the General Directory for Catechesis 1999Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us (USCCB)

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

What ever happened to CCD? = Confraternity of Christian Doctrine a model started “in Rome in 1562 for the purpose of giving religious instruction…on Sundays and festivals…to both children and adults in Christian doctrine…in schools, in the streets and lanes, and even in private houses…” --- eventually established in almost every parish in European countries and the USA emphasis moved from adults AND children to children ONLY strong on memorization and “knowing the faith by heart” lifelong faith formation not considered in most CCD or even Religious Ed programs…until very recently Msgr. Skip Barth, Diocese of Camden, (d. 2010) re-defined CCD as COMMUNION, CONFIRMATION, DONE!

NINE (9) PRINCIPLES OF LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION

LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION 1.is a growing awareness of God’s self revelation and our response which often begins within a supportive environment of family and parish and which draws one more deeply into relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church;

LFF 2.seeks to understand and live the Story and Mission of Jesus placing the truths and tradition of the Catholic faith at the service of the common good;

LFF 3.honors and engages the entire life experience of the person, including familial, cultural, occupational and social dimensions;

LFF 4.flows from the celebration of Sunday liturgy that inspires faithful living through proclamation of the Scriptures and nourishment in Eucharist, always asking the question: “Where does the Breaking of Bread point us?”

LFF 5.embraces the mission of Jesus through a moral life of conversion, transformation, & discipleship in, with and through Jesus Christ

LFF 6.deepens the relationship with Jesus through personal and communal prayer, leading one to embrace life with the mind and heart of Jesus Christ;

LFF 7.expresses itself in a life of caring for others, especially the most vulnerable, and working for justice for and in solidarity with the oppressed and marginalized;

LFF 8.promotes a missionary spirit which inspires the faithful to evangelize inactive Catholics, alienated Catholics, and those without a faith community;

LFF 9. promotes authentic dialogue between religions and cultures seeking mutual understanding and fruitful cooperation for the advancement of peace, the dignity of the human person and the common good.

FOLLOWS AN INTERGENERATIONAL APPROACH CHILDREN…ADOLESCENTS/YOUTH… YOUNG ADULTS… FAMILIES… MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS… MATURE ADULTS/SENIORS = INVOLVEMENT OF ALL AGES IN FAITH FORMATION TOGETHER

FOLLOWS A THEMATIC APPROACH Provides God’s people with lectionary-based resources that empower all ages to be transformed in Christ as they: Explore meaning & mystery in the Bible Celebrate in worship, sacraments, education, and service Engage in ministries of charity, justice and witness Thrive in inclusive communities of faith, shaped & led by the Holy Spirit Continue the Mission of Jesus and the Church by using their unique talents, gifts and resources

PARISH RESOURCES 1.STAFF OF LIFELONG FAITH FORMATION (See handout of names, phone #s, addresses.) 2.ON-LINE MINISTRY SUPPORT SERVICES & PUBLICATIONS

HOW TO ORGANIZE, PLAN, IMPLEMENT, CELEBRATE, EVALUATE… = CONTACT DIOCESAN RESOURCES & ONLINE RESOURCES (handout)

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

Works Cited Groome, Thomas. “Total Community Catechesis for Lifelong Faith Formation” in Lifelong Faith: the theory and practice of lifelong faith formation, Vol.2.1, Spring Huebsch, Bill. Dreams and Visions: Pastoral Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation, 23 rd Publications, New London, CT, A Pastor’s Guide to Whole Community Catechesis, IBID., “The Emerging Vision of Lifelong Faith Formation in the Catholic Church” in Lifelong Faith: the theory and practice of lifelong faith formation, Vol. 2.1, Spring USCCB “Called & Gifted for the Third Millennium” – Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops on the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, USCCB “Called & Gifted for the Third Millennium” – Reflections of the U.S. Catholic Bishops on the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity, USCCB “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us” – A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, 1999.