Growing In Faith Together

is our parish program to

continually educate and develop

the faith of the Church in every member

of our parish community,

from children to senior citizens.

THE FIRST PLACE of catechesis

(learning the faith) is the Sunday Mass.

Here, the family of Jesus grows

in an understanding of

what God has done for us in our past,

what God is doing for us in our present,

and what God promises for our future.

From the Scriptures proclaimed,

to the prayers, to the fellowship

of believers around the table of Jesus,

we are learning who He is,

and what He desires of us.

There can be no substitution for the Mass

in our faith formation.

SECONDLY, we create educational

opportunities for adults. This is the

primary context for faith formation.

If adults understand their faith,

they will be able to transmit it

to their children. The reason so many children do not learn their faith

or show little interest in it is because

their parents or the adults in their lives

have not integrated faith and prayer

into the life of the family.

We have a responsibility to make sure

that our adults possess adult faith.

Educational opportunities for adults

include every GIFT event, Bible study,

retreats, workshops for various ministries,

special programs, and classes for adults

who are preparing for Sacraments

for themselves or their children.

“Adults cannot make it through life

on childhood fare. Those adults who

continue on with what they got as children,

remain children. They do not grow up.

We have lots of evidence for that.

On the other hand, many adults discover

that the knowledge gained as children

and adolescents does not sustain them in

their struggle to survive in an adult world.

It does not help them deal effectively

with the many adult questions and crises

they are facing all the time.

Nobody tries for long to do a job

with tools that do not work.”

–Rev. Eugene Walsh

Toward an Adult Faith,

1994, OCP Publications

THIRDLY, we offer faith formation

opportunities for our youth and children.

This will include GIFT events,

regular grade-level lessons, retreats,

and classes for those preparing for

Sacraments. Our youth will be expected

to participate in parish ministries and

outreach activities as they prepare for

Confirmation and adult status in the Church.

The National Directory for Catechesis for Catholics in the U.S. identifies six major themes in faith education and formation:

The Creed, Justice and Service, Morality,

Sacraments, the Church Year, and Prayer. Each year, the parish will develop

its catechetical program around

one of those themes. This theme will be

incorporated into the parish life

in a variety of ways. After six years,

we begin the rotation again, understanding that all those involved will be at a different place in their faith development, and

will hear the topics with fresh ears.

St. Michael Parish