Lifelong, Intergenerational Faith Exploration for families and adults. |
Why?
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Why is growing in and sharing faith lifelong?
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“Lifelong catechesis is absolutely necessary for the Christian formation of the faithful.”
(National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #3) “Adult catechesis ought to include opportunities to learn and reflect upon how one is called to live out the basic principles of Catholic social teaching in family life, workplace, community, and the world. More and more adult catechesis is understood to be the chief form of catechesis and is given priority in catechetical planning.” (National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #3)
“The elderly, with their witness, transmit to the young the meaning of life, the value of tradition and of certain religious and cultural practices; they bring dignity to the memory and sacrifices of the past generations, they look with hope beyond the difficulties of the present.” (Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #268)
“The community for its part should…foster intergenerational dialogue between the elderly and the young. This expresses the bond between memory and future, between tradition and renewal, creating a genuine circuit of transmission of the faith from generation to generation.” (Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #268)
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Why is Seasons of Faith
inter-generational? |
“Intergenerational faith formation strengthens parental faith with high-quality learning experiences. It also puts those same parents in a position to express their faith in the presence of their children. This dynamic helps to build stronger faith families, and these faithful families produce service-oriented children who are more likely to carry the practice of discipleship into their adult years than children and teens who participate in church faith formation experiences without their parents.” (Generations Together: A Vision of an Intergenerational Church. Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto. Lifelong Faith Associates 2014. p. 85)
"Intergenerational participation creates a shared experience – often missing from everyday life – of families learning together, sharing faith, praying together, serving, and celebrating ritual and traditions." (Generations Together: A Vision of an Intergenerational Church. Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto. Lifelong Faith Associates 2014. p. 99)
“Just showing up with the rest of the community at Sunday worship impresses kids and reminds the adults that “this” is important.” (Will There Be Faith? A New Vision for Educating and Growing Disciples. Thomas H. Groome. Harper One 2011, p. 211)
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Why faith
exploration and not religious education in a classroom? |
“…catechesis aims to achieve a more integral formation of the person rather than merely to communicate information.” (National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #3)
“Catechesis cannot be like an hour at school, but rather a living experience of the faith that each one of us feels the desire to transmit to the new generations.” Pope Francis, International Catechetical Congress 2022
“Catechesis has to investigate new possibilities offered by the existence of the new technologies and imagine whole new models and systems if the Gospel message is to penetrate the culture, make sense to the next generation of Catholics, and bring about a response of faith.” (National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #4)
“The purpose of catechesis is to “inform, form and transform Christian persons and communities as apprentices to Jesus for God’s Reign in the world.” Dr. Thomas Groome, Professor of Theology and Education, Boston College.
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Why is Seasons of faith for Families?
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"Separating family members from each other for faith formation experiences is counterproductive for churches. Intergenerational faith formation builds family faith by providing opportunities for parents and children to talk about the mysteries of faith, to experience prayer and worship together, and to serve those in need shoulder-to-shoulder. The evidence from a large body of research confirms that families remain our most powerful force for raising faith-filled disciples." (Generations Together: A Vision of an Intergenerational Church. Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto. Lifelong Faith Associates 2014. p. 85)
“Catechesis that involves the whole family is a particularly effective method of catechesis for young children because it helps parents to become more confident in sharing their faith with their children and encouraging their children’s emerging faith.” (National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #48)
"Take every opportunity that comes along to share faith as a family. The great issues of life are constantly raised in families or can be raised by parents about meaning and purpose, who we are and how best to live, what to do with our time and who is our neighbor. These are always strategic opportunities for God-talk, for sharing faith…Conversation about most topics can be turned to engage souls, to nurture their spirituality with the language of faith.” (Will There Be Faith? A New Vision for Educating and Growing Disciples. Thomas H. Groome. Harper One 2011, p. 226)
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Why is Seasons of Faith for Adults?
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“Ongoing catechesis fosters the growth of a more mature faith in the members of the community. It aims to make each person’s faith “living, explicit and active …enlightened by doctrine.” While catechesis seeks to enrich the faith life of people at every stage of their development, every form of catechesis is oriented in some way to the catechesis of adults who are capable of a full response to God’s word.” (National Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005, #19)
"...accompaniment and growth in faith are necessary so that the adult may mature in that spiritual wisdom which illuminates and brings unity to the manifold experiences of his personal, family and social life." (Directory for Catechesis, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2020 #259)
"Participation in intergenerational experiences helps to develop the faith of parents and grandparents and increases their confidence and competence for engaging in faith practices at home." (Generations Together: A Vision of an Intergenerational Church. Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto. Lifelong Faith Associates 2014. p. 98)
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