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Faith formation for all ages

A new approach to parish faith formation has something for the whole family. Generations of Faith, developed by the Center for Ministry Development (CMD), involves all ages learning and growing together through the experience and participation in church life.

"It is designed to open up new models of learning for families," said John Roberto, founder of CMD and project coordinator for Generations of Faith. "It complements education for specific age groups by providing a balance. In most parishes, the emphasis is on generational religious education. For the young people, the model breaks down when they become adults. It also fragments the church. The different generations don't interact. How do we bring everyone together?"

Roberto discussed an intergenerational approach to faith formation at last week's Sacrament Catechesis Day, sponsored by the diocesan department of Total Catholic Education and partially funded by the Bishop's Appeal. The strength of Generations of Faith is its focus on the church year, he said.

"Church teaching is its centerpiece," said Roberto, who has 30 years of professional ministry experience. "It involves engaging people actively. The shift is catechetical, not liturgical. It's not outside of people's experience. The focus is still on church life. Catechetically, how do we prepare people for worship? The church teaches all year long, but how many people are tuned in? How do you help them go from observing to active learning?"

Implementation of Generations of Faith began last January in 140 parishes throughout the United States, including St. Bernard Parish in Appleton. Roberto offered training sessions in the form of five one-day workshops and provided resource materials for parishes to fashion the approach to their curriculums.

"We have the model which they can customize," said Roberto. "Faith formation is obviously different in a small rural parish compared to a city parish with 4,000 to 5,000 members, but it works at parishes of all sizes."

The success of Generations of Faith is measured in participation, he added.

"For one parish, for example, All Saints (Day) was the first intergenerational event," he said. "Advance preparatory sessions were offered to explain the meaning of All Saints and why we celebrate this day. People who attended these learning sessions understood it, so they wanted to attend the liturgy. The parish ended up adding another evening liturgy to accommodate the large number of people."

"The approach calls for parishes to focus on an event and offer catechetical preparation," he continued. "It may be Advent or Lent, the sacraments or funerals. The goal is to re-center faith formation into the life of the church by focusing on curriculum and learning."

Staff members from St. Bernard Parish attended training sessions with Roberto last January in Milwaukee. The parish offered its first intergenerational event, an Advent kickoff night, last week. The evening included prayer, dinner and age appropriate learning sessions.

"It's our first adventure in Generations of Faith," said Jane Angha, director of faith formation at St. Bernard. "The whole parish has to buy into it for it to work. It's experimental, but exciting."

St. Bernard offered restorative justice talks and advent readings for adults, sessions for young families and educational activities for specific grade levels, including time travel to Jerusalem for the young children.

"It is for the whole family," said Angha. "The parents can learn on their own level, while the children participate in activities. All are on the same theme, so they can talk about it at home."

Roberto monitors the progress of Generations of Faith through on-site visits and a yearly check-in. He's been pleased with the project.

"It's very exciting watching the energy in parishes rise," he said. "Pastors have people coming to Mass who haven't been there in a long time. It is especially reaching the under 40 crowd by re-educating them or in some cases providing a first education."

For more information about Generations of Faith, go online at www.cmdnet.org.