Generations of Faith
- Would you like to spend some time strengthening your own knowledge of the faith as an adult member of the Catholic Church?
- Would you like to feel more connected to your church?
- Do you wish you had more time to spend with your family learning about the Catholic faith?
- Is your family over-burdened by hectic schedules and frantic driving to get children from one activity to another?
- Could you use some support in helping to get you and your family to Mass more regularly?
- Are you struggling with how to keep your teenagers involved with the Church?
- Would you like to be part of gatherings where generations share and pass on their faith?
- Would you like us to serve you dinner, so that you can spend some quality time with your friends and family, and so that you can get to know other parishioners?
What is Generations of Faith (GOF)?
It is an innovative approach to parish wide faith formation. It offers everyone (singles, couples, and families) the opportunity to work on faith formation together. Parishioners will gather four times a year in intergenerational groups for 3-hour sessions. The goal of these sessions is to provide a context for participation in and reflection about the Event that highlights each gathering's theme. Direct instruction, learning materials, reflection opportunities, and home kits will be designed to help everyone better understand events in the life of the Church.Why Generations of Faith?
Adult faith formation, by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study, must be the central task in catechetical enterprise, "becoming the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age."Our Hearts Were Burning within Us
Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops
2000
What are the Goals of Generations of Faith?
- Transform catechesis from a separate "program" to a more collaborative and integrative approach that involves all of the parish's ministries in faith formation
- End age segregation in catechesis
- Shift the focus of the curriculum from the textbook to the events of Church life
- Nurture family faith at home as integral to the faith formation process
- Enable parents to approach the task of being the primary catechists for their children with confidence and knowledge
What is our vision?
Embracing the vision of faith formation in Generations of Faith requires moving away from a school model to a community or "whole church" paradigm of faith formation.The first important aspect of this vision is locating religious education not in the "classroom" but rather in the lived experience of communal parish life and in its families and households. Some of us are old enough to remember a time when such a dynamic needed no programming at all - it simply was the way Catholics lived, shared and handed on their faith to each other and to the next generation. The revolution in church and culture that came with the 1960's turned many things upside down. It's not unusual to hear older folks complain, "kids just aren't learning the faith the way they used to" and younger parents ask, "just what are my children supposed to be learning in CCD?" And we all wonder and ask, "Is religious education working?"
The second familiar dynamic that GOF brings to mind is the critical importance of parents and extended families in the work of their children's religious education. Average Catholic children learn more about their faith at home (by example or default) than in the classroom. Faith is one of those things that are more easily "caught" than "taught."
We believe that Generations of Faith will help parishioners to engage in more meaningful participation in church liturgies and events. We hope to encourage everyone to reflect on the significance of these events and to apply Catholic teachings to daily life. We envision strengthened Catholic individuals, families, and community as the outcome of this program.
How are the gatherings structured?
Each gathering will include:- A Prepared Meal - to alleviate the stress of food preparation, the parish will provide a meal so that families can relax, eat together, and socialize with other parishioners.
- Opening Experience - an introduction to the theme presented in an intergenerational setting. This may include prayer, a speaker, activities, or discussion.
- Learning Sessions - breakout sessions will allow different ages to receive instruction geared towards preparing for the event in a developmentally appropriate way.
- Whole Group Sharing - different age groups will come back together to share what they have learned. Home kits will be distributed with instructions. The gathering will end with prayer.
What is the curriculum?
Our parish-wide catechesis for the 2007 - 2008 academic year will be focused on Community. The curriculum will also include IN-DEPTH Sessions.The "IN-DEPTH" sessions are designed to provide an opportunity to learn more about the topic discussed at the Gathering. Because questions may be generated through the experience of the Gathering and/or through the use of the Kits that are distributed to the participating families/individuals at the Gathering, the IN-DEPTH sessions will offer further clarification regarding the topic through open discussion. Participates may bring questions to the sessions.
These sessions last about one hour in length and do NOT follow the format of the Gatherings. At the IN-DEPTH sessions, participants meet with others within their age group. Parents of younger children (K-5) may decide to stay with their child(ren) or meet with the adult group.
| Date | Event |
| Oct. 19 & 21 | What Does it Mean to be a Community |
| Nov. 30 & Dec. 2 | Prayer, Love and Forgiveness |
| Jan. 25 & 27 | Baptismal Call to Service |
| March 2 & 7 | A Community of Social Justice |
| April 11 & 13 | A Community of Stewardship |
