Adult Faith Formation

What is Adult Faith Formation?
The General Directory for Catechesis (GDC) and the National Directory for Catechesis (NDC) clearly place Adult Faith Formation within the framework of evangelization. Adult Faith Formation is the lifelong process of finding and falling in love with Christ in the midst of our human lives. Every one of us, by virtue of our Baptism, is on a life-long journey of faith. Consequently, Adult Faith Formation has as its purpose to support, nourish, and challenge adults as they explore their faith, experience its power, grow in relationship with God.
 
How important is Adult Faith Formation?
Religious education is not just for children anymore. Adult faith formation is vital. According to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ document, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us (OHWB):
“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 [this] catechetical enterprise,” becoming “the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age.” (OHWB #5)
 
Why do we need Adult Faith Formation?
In their document Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, the US Bishops renewed a commitment to fostering faith formation for adults. Since we all are continually being formed in our faith as we walk our journeys of life, a renewed commitment to adult faith formation necessitates a need for quality programming and a variety of opportunities for all adults. It is often said t
 
What are the goals of Adult Faith Formation?
The Bishops outline three key goals of Adult Faith Formation (OHWB #67-73):

• Inviting and enabling ongoing conversion to Jesus in holiness of life:
  • helping adults acquire an attitude of conversion to the Lord
  • leading adults to repentance of sin, reconciliation through the sacraments and deepening faith in Jesus
• Promoting and supporting active membership in the Christian community:
  • helping adults make a conscious and firm decision to live the faith through membership in the Christian community
  • inviting and supporting baptized adults in their co-responsibility for the Church’s mission and life
• Calling and preparing adults to act as disciples in mission to the world
  • inviting baptized adults to evangelization and justice in the world