Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / Adult faith formation happens anywhere
Adult faith formation happens anywhere
by Sr. Janet Schaeffler special to The Michigan Catholic
Published August 14, 2009
Last month, since 2009 is the tenth anniversary of the U.S. bishops' document on adult faith formation, "Our Heart Were Burning Within Us," we began an exploration of just what is adult faith formation.
Adult faith formation is much more than programs.
Adult faith formation happens anywhere.
Most adults live their faith at church 3 percent of their time; the rest of their time they are living it at home, in their neighborhoods, in their workplaces, etc. They live/deepen it by things such as:
- answering a question from a co-worker about what they believe;
- making Lenten resolutions;
- praying with spouse/family;
- struggling with a decision and talking it over with other people of faith;
- forgiving;
- and responding with care and kindness - often on the spur of the moment.
Frequently, busy lives today don't always allow time for people to show up for "six-week programs."
Therefore, what new models are needed to infuse adult faith formation into everyday lives - in the spaces and places of people's lives?
Adult faith formation happens during the living of life.
As crucial as it is to have scheduled opportunities for ongoing faith formation in parishes/vicariates:
- Consider your life.
- Think about your family's life.
When were the life-changing moments?
Probably most happened outside of "preplanned" formation sessions. Upon reflection, most people realize that usually their life-changing moments, their deepest faith growth occurred during the unpredictable situations - and even crises - of everyday life.
- How then do we adequately pass along Christian identity?
- How do we call each other to discipleship?
- We always need to remember that adult formation happens in everything we do. It happens in myriads of ways, especially in the living of life.
Rex Miller in "The Millennium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church" (Jossey-Bass, 2004) says: Discipleship is not a small group or classroom topic. It is a lab project, a choreographed dance, an art taught under the eye of a master. It is apprehended first through demonstration, not intellectually."
Adult faith formation occurs in myriad ways, throughout all life.
Discovering our gifts and deepening our relationship with God and one another happens in many ways, throughout all life. One of the myths, concerning our faith journey that is still alive, is that we do our learning when we are young.
- Did we give that idea - years ago - when we told people that if they completed 12 years of Catholic schooling or religious education, they would "have it all?"
- If, in a parish today, most of the time, budget, space, is given to children/youth, with little resources for adults, what message does that give? Might it be saying that our religion is child-centered; that the faith journey is a child-like relationship?
We know nothing could be further from the truth. The "good news" many adults need to experience is that there is so much more for them to experience in their relationship with God, so much more potential, many more gifts for them to receive - and for them to give.
Helping adults realize this may enhance participation in ongoing adult faith formation. Lawrence Richards ("A Theology of Christian Education," Zondervan, Grand Rapids) says, "It becomes very important, then, not to think of a renewed emphasis on 'adult education' as just the planning of a new set or series of formal classes for adults. Instead, what must be involved is to build into all experiences of the adult in the community of faith those elements of educational process which facilitate and are necessary for transformation to take place."
Adult faith formation is about who we are.
The search for God, the call to discipleship is rooted in all we are, all we do. It is the very essence of everything we do. Diana Butler Bass ("Process, Not Program: Creating Congregations of Learning and Practice," Alban Institute, Herdon, Virg.) says: churches "are communities of transformation - places where people come to encounter God and know God more deeply."
The goal of catechesis - to help bring people into intimacy with Jesus Christ ("General Directory for Catechesis," No. 80) - is at the heart of everything that happens at the parish. Adult faith formation pervades everything; it is happening all the time.
Diana Butler Bass goes on to say, "Adult faith formation is the gathering and strengthening place for learning to be a Christian, for mentoring others in faith, and for practicing faith corporately. It is the heartbeat of churchgoing in the 21st century."
In the same vein, noted Catholic author Kathy Coffey says in a NCR podcast: "We don't go to an art museum to see art on the wall there. We go to an art museum to be sensitized to beauty everywhere. It is much the same with church. We go to church to be sensitized to the holiness that is everywhere."
Our very being the Church teaches. What are we "teaching" this week? All the time?
Adult faith formation is not just what we teach, but how we teach.
The renowned author and speaker Parker Palmer emphasizes the power that is contained in the "hidden curriculum," it isn't just what we teach, but also how we teach.
We may learn in our minds the message of Jesus, but not embrace the person of Jesus.
And so, we always need to ask:
- How do we "teach?' What does that "say?"
- How does the "teaching" at our parishes engage the mind, touch the heart?
Continue to celebrate this 10th anniversary. Visit the Archdiocese website for information on our archdiocesan video: "Adult Faith Formation Matters." Join us for two workshops with Tom Zanzig: (Oct. 21) What an Adult Catholic Looks Like; (Oct. 22) Adult Faith Formation: Trends, Tensions, and Tactics.
Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, is the archdiocesan associate director for adult faith formation for the Office for Faith Formation/Catechetics.
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