1. CCF course 704 Adult Faith Formation
Bienvenue! Welcome! Bienvenido! Herzlich willkommen
CCF course 704 Adult Faith Formation
Chào mừng bạn! Желанный! 欢迎 ! 환영 Karibu
zhelannyy Huānyíng hwan-yeong

2. Please introduce yourself by telling us some things about you…
Your name
Your parish
Your role with adults now or in the future in your parish
Why you are attending this course
One thing that you want/need from attending this course
Thank you for continuing your faith formation as an adult. My name is Kevin Prevou and I will serve as your instructor for this Course on Adult Faith Formation. Let’s get to know each other a bit by introducing ourselves.
Refer to slide.
Note: Make sure that you give everyone a chance to introduce themselves to each other. If the group is very large, break up into smaller groups and have them get to know the people in their group.
Who Are You ???

3. The Lifelong Journey of Faith: Adult Faith Formation
Bienvenue! Welcome! Bienvenido! Herzlich willkommen
The Lifelong Journey of Faith: Adult Faith Formation
CCF course 704 Part 1
2019
Chào mừng bạn! Желанный! 欢迎 ! 환영 Karibu
zhelannyy Huānyíng hwan-yeong

4. Let’s take a few calming breaths
Take a long, slow breath in through your nose, first filling your lower lungs, then your upper lungs.
Hold your breath to the count of "three."
Exhale slowly through pursed lips, while you relax the muscles in your face, jaw, shoulders, and stomach.
Repeat 4 times
Refer to the slide for a relaxation exercise prior to the opening prayer experience.

5. Road to Emmaus Reflection Questions
What is Jesus teaching us about how to invite adults to form faith?
How is the story of the “road to Emmaus” continuing to happen in your parish today?
What thoughts keep running through your mind about your own faith journey?
How has your perspective changed, as an adult having encountered Christ Jesus?

6. Prayer Intentions
Leader: Let us pray for those who walk with adults in each of the four seasons of adulthood.
All: That their hearts may burn within them.
Leader: Let us pray for those who walk with families by word, witness, and action.
Leader: Let us pray for those who walk with adults who suffer mentally, physically, or spiritually.
Leader: Let us pray for those who walk with adults who are poor and those who live at the margins of life.
Leader: Let us pray for those who build bridges between people and cultures.

7. Our Vision: Adults at the Center of parish life and faith formation with hearts burning!

8. Empathy allows and encourages our hearts to burn!
Show the video short by Brene Brown on “Empathy”. The English video with Spanish subtitles is embedded in the slide. Just double click to open and play. Make sure the following are checked if you are having problems opening the video (click on “file” then “Options” then “Advanced and make sure under “DISPLAY” that the following two items are checked: Disable Hardware Graphics Acceleration and Disable Slideshow Hardware Graphics Acceleration.

9. What gets you up in the morning excited about a new day?
As an adult, what makes your heart burn with joy, love, compassion?
What gets you up in the morning excited about a new day?
What moves you to empathy? To love? To allow yourself to be loved?
What is the “pearl of great price” in your life?
Invite people to share in small groups of 2, 3 or 4 or have a large group sharing. Your choice.

10. Key Catechetical Documents since Vatican II
Renewal of catechesis called for by Vatican II,
Catechesi Tradendae, 1979
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1987
General Directory for Catechesis, 1998
Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, 1999
U.S. National Directory for Catechesis, 2005
Vatican II brought about a lot of changes in the Church and one of the key changes was around a renewal of catechesis. These key catechetical documents taken together guide catechesis, provide the content, context, meaning, methodologies, and a pastoral plan for catechesis in the Catholic faith.

11. Relationship of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to other key catechetical documents
The Catechism, CCC, provides the content for catechesis.
The GDC guides catechetical instruction of the Christian people around the world. Two main aims: place catechetical work in the context of evangelization, and to ensure that the content of the faith (CCC)is fully treated in catechetical work.
The National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) focuses on the context, meaning, and methodologies for catechesis in the U.S.
The NDC also provides a concise summary of the catechesis of the Catechism.
Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, OHWB, provides the pastoral plan for adult faith formation in the United States which is highlighted in the NDC.
We just want to help the students have a simple understanding of the connection between the Catechism and other key catechetical documents.

12. A Document for Our Times
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
MT 28:19-20a
All of these key catechetical documents focus on catechesis as a call to discipleship.

13. Discipleship: The Goal of Catechesis
Catechesis aims to bring about in the believer an ever more mature faith in Jesus Christ, a deeper knowledge and love of his person and message, and a firm commitment to follow him.
NDC 1.19A
All maturity of faith begins with an encounter with Jesus Christ.

14. Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us USCCB, 1999
In the document, the bishops emphasized the importance of Adult Faith Formation by saying
that it must be:
At the heart of catechetical vision and practice (#6)
The chief form of catechesis (#13)
A priority (#13)
The Bishops had no intention of neglecting catechesis for children and youth, but they were serious about putting adult catechesis at the center of all catechesis – not as an after-thought -- and they have pledged their support for this.
The document from the USCCB, “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us”
gives us a pastoral plan to implement comprehensive adult faith formation in our parishes and Dioceses.
Refer to slide.
Now, if you were to give one reason why adult faith formation should be a priority in your parish today, what would you say?
Think for a minute then turn to a partner and share it – 1 minute each
Large group feedback – 3 min
If not mentioned in feedback, add:
Adults are responsible for being evangelizers to the next generation – responding to teachable moments in families, answering questions and objections with confidence and faith,
above all: being witnesses. You cannot witness to what you don’t have or what you don’t practice!
Disciples make disciples!
Lay ministers need formation in order to serve the Church as competent and credible representatives.

15. What the general directory for catechesis says . . .
Characteristics of mature adult faith in those who respond generously to God’s call Living Faith – faith is both a gift of God and an authentically human response OHWB, #50 Explicit Faith – faith is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus lived in the Christian community. OHWB, #55 Fruitful faith – the adult disciple enjoys the fruits of the Spirit which are “love, joy, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”
Mature adult faith is shown by people with a living, explicit and fruitful faith. Living faith – frequent reading of the world of God and writings of our Tradition including official documents of the Church; involvement in the community life and mission of the Church; personal prayer; participation in the works of justice and service to the poor; fulfillment of human obligations in family and society through active practice of love for God and neighbor. Explicit faith – faith is rooted in a personal relationship with Jesus in the Christian community. Our understanding of the person and the way of Jesus continues to grow by our meditation on the word of God, by prayer and sacraments, by our efforts to follow Jesus’ example, and by the guidance of the Church’s teaching. People with explicit faith will exhibit humility and joy. Fruitful Faith – Adult faith bears the fruit of justice and compassion through active outreach to those in need. Adult faith bears the fruit of evangelization by being a witness in the world to the gift of faith and to the treasure we have found in Jesus and among the community of disciples.

16. What the American Bishops say . . .
“…adults ‘have the greatest responsibilities and the capacity to live the Christian message in its fully developed form.’
Their formation in faith is essential
for the Church to carry out its mandate
to proclaim the Good News
of Jesus to the world.”
Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, #38
Without well developed adult faith formation, how can our parishes continue to “make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you”.

17. Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us Goals of Adult Faith Formation
Invite and Enable Ongoing Conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.
Promote and Support active Membership in the Christian Community.
Call and Prepare Adults to Act as Disciples in Mission in the World.
Three goals of Adult Faith Formation in Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us
Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.
Promote and support active membership in the Christian Community
Call and prepare adults to act as Disciples in Mission in the World.
Where do you think most adult Catholics in your parish are, goal 1, 2 or 3?
Seeking Conversion:
May consider themselves spiritual but not religious
Membership faith:
May feel a sense of belonging to their parish or within the parish
Discipleship faith:
May feel a yearning to share faith with others, reach out to people in need and they act on this belief.

18. Why do formation?
Encounter Jesus: To put people in relationship with God in Christ
Discipleship: To help people understand our relationship with Christ and each other.
Holiness: To help people grow and deepen our relationship with Christ as we serve the poor and those at the margins with joy.
What word do you see in all three reasons to do formation?
Formation grows the relationship.
What do these three reasons tell you about formation?
(We need to be aware what level people are in to help them move to the next level – Faith Pathway.)

19. What is it that we pass on?
The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) states “the maturation of the Christian life requires that it be cultivated in all its dimensions:
Knowledge of the faith
Liturgical life
Moral formation
Prayer
Belonging to community
Missionary spirit
-When catechesis omits one of these elements, the Christian faith does not attain full development
These are the 6 dimensions of all catechesis. When these 6 dimensions are cultivated/developed in a parish, then maturity of faith will take root. If a parish chooses to focus only on “knowledge of the faith” or “Prayer” or “Moral Formation” then maturity of faith will most likely not be the result of their efforts.

20. Culture can be more impactful than programs
The parish is an adult faith formation program
The quality of the liturgies
The extent of shared decision making
The priorities of the parish budget
The degree of commitment to social justice
The quality of catechetical programs
The parish is the curriculum
Is our parish community one which “can invite, encourage, and beckon persons into relationship with Jesus Christ? Does your parish have a culture of witness?
The false thinking is that making disciples is about getting people involved.   Involvement creates the façade of vibrancy.  Look how VIBRANT our parish is!  We have something going on every night of the week! Involvement doesn’t lead to discipleship.  Interior conversion leads to discipleship.  If you have involvement that doesn’t overflow from a relationship with Jesus, your involved people will soon be burned out, scattered, and even bitter. 

21. For Discussion What are cultural issues or influences in your parish?
What effect do these issues have on how you catechize?

22. Encountering Christ
Pope Francis asks a great reflection question in The Joy of the Gospel to motivate us to put people in relationship with God in Christ.
“For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others? (8)”
Read this quote:
“I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them.” Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel
Pope Francis is calling us to a different sense of catechesis, one that is based on experience and encounter.
Christian faith is relationship…. born of an encounter with God in Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is our source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization and catechesis
Jesus is the evangelizer! We are able to evangelize through our discipleship to Jesus.

23. Encounter first The first task of adult faith is conversion to Jesus Christ
“Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” (Mt 4:19)
The first task of adult faith is that: The person of Jesus becomes a reality in our lives, not a concept of faith, but a real person-in-relationship with us.
“The Christian faith is, above all, conversion to Jesus Christ Faith is a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, making of oneself a disciple of him. This demands a permanent commitment to think like him, judge like him, and to live as he lived.” GDC. #53
What does this quote from Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord say to you about encountering Christ and our role in it?
“Spiritual formation cannot produce [this encounter], but spiritual formation can teach and help those who seek it, prepare them to receive it, and, when it is given, develop its fruits in their lives and ministry.” Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, p.38
How do we prepare people to receive this encounter?
“And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” (Jn: 9:36)

24. Joy of the Gospel
On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over:
“Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”
-Joy of the Gospel 164
Pope Francis tells us that “this first proclamation is called “first” not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things. It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment. Joy of the Gospel (164)”
We need to share the Good News!

25. What is The Good News?
God is with us – here – now! The very ground of our being.
There’s nothing to be afraid of. There is enough for everyone.
God is expansive, loving, inclusive, just, fair and righteous.
Jesus completely reveals God to us. Jesus went to the margins to embrace people who were hurting, excluded, broken and calls us to actually be the body of Christ in the world today. Our kinship extends to all people and all of creation.
Disciples reveal Jesus to the world. Discipleship is about recognizing and acting like we are children of God and every person is our brother and sister.
We are on a path to perfect joy. The “original program” is about living the gospel with joy and always being mindful of the poor, standing at the margins so as to erase them.
“Live on the edge of eternity at the corner of kinship and mutuality!” Fr. Greg Boyle, Barking to the Choir
Joe Paprocki in Catechist Journal wrote recently:
“In adult faith formation, all too often, we set out to provide a comprehensive curriculum of the Catholic faith before we have helped folks recognize what exactly is the good news.”
We need to share the Good News in everyday language.
Refer to slide to see how Nick Wagner synthesized the essence of the Good News
in Catechetical Leader Magazine (NCCL) “Six Amazing Things Every RCIA Inquirer Has to Learn.” These are six amazing things every Catholic needs to know so they will be able to articulate what exactly is the Good News of Jesus
These core principles of the Good News is at the heart of everything we teach.
Leisa Anslinger says:
“We need to move from the head to the heart.
While teaching people about our faith is important, leading people to an encounter with Jesus and growing in relationship with him is crucial.
We have not been trained to do this. It is something we need to learn to do together. Without this, we will not be able to send people forth as missionary disciples.
CL magazine April 2016, Volume 27, Number 2, “Heart, Hands, and Head: Mentoring Adults in Faith”, by Leisa Anslinger

26. Accompaniment
Accompaniment is essential for evangelization. Listening is essential for accompaniment. To be effective ministers of adult faith formation we will first, like Jesus, join people in their daily concerns and walk side by side with them on the pathway of life. We will ask them questions and listen attentively as they speak of their joys, hopes, griefs, and anxieties.” OHWB # 8
Refer to slide: How do we usually go about preparing adult formation programs. Frequently we start by talking, with our adult faith formation team or pastoral staff about what we think the adults need. Then we launch the program and wonder why a handful of the same people showed up. Because they came from our point of view. That is not the best place to start.
The bishops in OHWB invite us to a different strategy: “Start by listening to adults!” This wisdom is grounded in the trust that God is already working in their lives.
“Pope Francis’s groundbreaking document “Amoris Laetitia” (“The Joy of Love”) asks the church to meet people where they are, to consider the complexities of people’s lives (304).
Accompaniment is essential for evangelization and formation.
How could we practice the art of accompaniment and mentoring adults?
The skill of listening is required. . Share story of someone really listening deeply to another and how listening changed the person doing the listening. This could be a personal story, a story you read, etc. The important aspect is how the listener was changed by the listening. If this is not possible, show the video: Effective Listening – Being Exceptional in the Art of Listening
Close with this: In the Wounded Healer, Henri Nouwen develops his approach to ministry with an analysis of sufferings -- a suffering world, a suffering generation, a suffering person, and a suffering minister. It is his contention that ministers are called to recognize the sufferings of their time in their own hearts and make that recognition the starting point of their service. For Nouwen, ministers must be willing to go beyond their professional role and leave themselves open as fellow human beings with the same wounds and suffering -- in the image of Christ. In other words, we heal from our own wounds
How comfortable are we ministering to those who are suffering?
# 1 factor responsible for success of adult faith formation efforts is “ Paying attention to what is on the hearts and minds of adults, what is going on in their lives, is crucial and cannot be overstated.
Our starting point of adult faith formation is the people. We need to put the needs of persons over content.
“Ministry among adults will succeed only if we start and stay with their lived experience of the spiritual journey and if we use strategies and techniques that help people identify, reflect upon, and share with trusted others their lives as disciples of Jesus.” Tom Zanzig
Program will not make disciples.  Disciples make disciples. 

27. Some Signs of Conversion
A more comfortable sense of self
More flexibility with others
Growing sense of generosity
More patience with others
Stronger sense of hospitality towards others
A heart for the materially poor
Greater awareness of personal failures and sin
Growth in prayer, presence of God
Deep love for the Eucharist
Desire for more faith formation
There is a continuity between first proclamation and catechesis.
Catechesis must also be concerned with arousing initial faith and sustaining the gradual conversion to Jesus Christ.
Conversion is the change that comes in our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
To make Jesus Christ the main dialogue partner of my life.
To live my life in ongoing exchange with Jesus
To allow Christ to touch me at the developmental points in my life
To allow Christ to lead me through death (letting go) and resurrection (unexpected gift)
Refer to slide. It is important to look for changes in the lives of people, to look for signs of conversion to discern if they are growing in faith.
Do Catholics think of themselves as converted to Jesus Christ?
Do we talk about signs of conversion with them? What would happen if we did?
Notice the last bullet. Conversion to Jesus instills a desire for more faith formation
Do you see the importance of focusing on preparing people to encounter Christ and experience conversion before doing catechesis on the teachings and traditions of the Church? Conversion motivates them to desire ongoing faith formation.

28. Connection drives effective Adult Formation
Prayer
Retreats (both encounter and deepening experiences)
Spiritual direction
Small faith communities
A robust, integrated RCIA process
The homily
Digital/Online connections
Rituals and milestones
Caring relationships
Adult life issues
Service, justice, creation
Bible
Human beings are hard-wired for connection. It is not a matter if we want it – we need connection to survive. Effective adult faith formation responds to this reality.
Refer to slide: These effective ways to form adults provide opportunities for encounter, catechesis and deepening the relationship with Christ by forging connections between people.

29. Provide opportunities for: Encounter •To put people in relationship with God in Christ Catechesis •To help people understand that relationship Deepening relationship •To help people grow and deepen that relationship with Jesus Any one program will likely not facilitate all three opportunities!
Adult Formation
It is important that we provide adult faith formation opportunities for all three : encounter, catechesis and deepening relationship.
Do we determine where adults are before forming them? Do we open the doors wide for a variety of ways for people’s faith to grow?
What are ways we can mentor others in faith at these three stages?
1. Encounter: A faith mentor witnesses to the moments of encounter he or she has known, while encouraging the other to be attentive and open to such encounter. Encounter is one person at a time, it involves companionship, foot washing and mission, getting beyond comfort zones
2.Catechesis: We draw the person to Christ through active participation in the Mass, sacraments, prayer, learning and applying the faith in daily life. “We and Jesus” rather than “me and Jesus.”
3. Deepening relationship: We guide the person to generously give of self as Christ gives.

30. For Discussion
Name one or two of your positive experiences of faith formation as an adult.
What are insights that you can glean from these positive adult faith formation experiences that connect with what we have been talking about in this session?