Christian Formation

Adult Formation

Adult Formation

Why Adult Faith Formation

“There is a focus in the church today on adult faith formation that may seem new to us. But faith formation is an ancient practice. What is new are the conscious efforts being made by parishes and dioceses to provide formation opportunities for adults.”

- Dan Mulhall
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,
in speech to the priests and diocesan faith formation leaders, 2007

Life-long faith formation…

Provides opportunities for people to consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer and study;

Enables adults to freely share their faith;

Motivates and prepares adults to live their faith through service to others;

Supports and encourages life-long learning and ongoing conversion.

What the Church says…

“An adult community whose faith is well formed and lively will more effectively pass that faith on to the next generation. Moreover, the witness of adults actively continuing their own formation shows children and youth that growth in faith is life-long and does not end upon reaching adulthood'.

(U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, #68)

Renewing Parish Life…

The Department of Christian Formation actively supports all those at the parish level who lead adults in their search to become more faith filled disciples and full participants in the life of the Church. We believe that ongoing faith formation is an essential component of membership in the Church. Together with those who lead adults we continually look for ways to do faith formation more effectively and to involve adults in the whole process of catechesis.

If you would like assistance with organizing a parish adult faith formation team and developing a parish plan for life-long formation, contact:

Stephanie McNeill, associate director for faith formation,
mcneills@ptdiocese.org, 850/435-3526.