Generations of Faith
(registration form) 

Questions and Answers

Holy Cross Parish

East Bernard, Texas

For more information contact

 Sr. Carola 979-335-4071

Patsy Krenek 979-335-4134

(July 2005)

What is Generations of Faith?

Generations of Faith is an approach to faith formation that equips the parish to become a community of learning by creating lifelong faith formation that is centered in the events of church life (eg. Christmas, Easter, All Saints, etc.), embraces all ages and generations, and promotes faith growth at home, through parish preparation programs, and, most importantly, through participation in church life.

What is the basis for this approach?

The approach to faith formation expressed in Generations of Faith is one that seeks to fully implement the vision and goals for catechesis set forth in the catechetical documents of the Church for the past 40 years.

This vision calls for lifelong faith formation that encourages a living, explicit, and fruitful profession of faith by bringing people into communion and intimacy with Jesus Christ through the experience of the risen Lord in the proclamation, celebration and life of the Christian community that is animated by the Holy Spirit.

In order to achieve this goal, through its catechetical ministry the Church works toward fostering growth in six areas: knowledge of the faith, liturgical formation, moral formation, prayer, community life, and missionary activity.

Are we the only parish implementing this approach?

There are currently 20 parishes in the Victoria Diocese and over 1400 parishes throughout the U.S. and Canada at various stages of implementation of Generations of Faith.  However, each parish is adapting the program according to their particular resources and existing programs so it might look somewhat different at another participating parish. 

Nonetheless, Generations of Faith seeks to implement an approach that is gaining widespread support in parishes and dioceses throughout the nation: whole community catechesis.  Parishes may not be implementing Generations of Faith, and yet be seeking to address the need for catechesis and formation not only for children and youth, but for the entire parish.  We are not alone in this venture, but are at the forefront of a major shift that is finally taking place in the catechetical ministry of the Church.

So how exactly does Generations of Faith work?

We will kick off Generations of Faith in September of 2005.  At this time every participating household will attend the parish Faith Formation Gathering, which is a communal preparation for the church event that is the center of the learning.  The Gathering will be offered at different dates/times to accommodate all participating households.  The Gathering will last 3 hours in length and will begin with a simple meal, followed by an all ages opening activity, break out sessions (by ages), we will re-gather as a group for sharing and reflection, and end with a closing prayer.

At the end of the Gathering, participating households will receive their Home Kit with material & activities that extend the learning into the home before they participate in the liturgical event (that is the focus of the month).

After participating in the event, families will use some of the follow-up material included in the home-kit, which will assist them in putting into action all that they have learned and experienced.  This will complete the learning cycle, and the next one will begin with the next Gathering.

Why is the Faith Formation Gathering so long?

It may seem like a long time, but it will not be time spent sitting in one place, listening to one person talk.  An intergenerational learning session such as the Faith Formation Gathering requires an extended time frame in order to allow for meaningful interactions and learning to take place. 

The time will be broken up into the following general schedule: a meal, opening prayer, opening all age’s activity introducing the topic, break out session/s, sharing of learning, review of home kit, and closing prayer.

Finally, although it is 3 hours, it will be an enjoyable time, a time spent with family and fellow parishioners, a time spent engaged in sharing and growing together in faith.

When will Faith Formation Gatherings be offered?

We will offer the Faith Formation Gatherings 3 times in a week period: Wednesday 6-9 p.m., Sunday 5-8 p.m. and Wednesday 6-9 p.m.  When each family completes their registration form, they will indicate their first and second choice for date/time when they would plan on attending the Gatherings when offered.

What is the home kit? Is that just another name for homework?

There will be not “required” assignments.  Rather, the home kit will provide ideas for interesting, engaging activities for households to try at their convenience.  Activities will center on helping participants do the following:

·       continue the learning (with materials that recognize diverse age groups and life situations)

·       develop rituals and traditions at home that reflect our Catholic identity

·       pray together

·       enrich relationships

·       act justly and serve those in need

·       reflect upon their experiences

·       apply the learning to everyday life

On occasion, participants may be invited (not required) to informally share experiences and activities done in the home during monthly gatherings.

And what happens with the weekly religious education classes?

The Generations of Faith program will replace weekly religious education classes.

Why do we have to make this change now?

Now is the best time for us to make this change to our religious education program because the Generations of Faith program is better aligned with our parish vision and its emphasis on community, liturgy, service, and lifelong faith formation.

Will this program really be better?

Absolutely. Not only will our program be better, but we believe it will immensely benefit all involved.  As we come together to share our faith at parish gatherings and in our homes, in time we will see a growing number of participants of all ages who:

·       understand, value, and participate more fully at Sunday liturgies and in the celebrations of other sacraments and rites;

·       read, share, and reflect on the meaning of the Scriptures

·       deepen, and nurture family and community relationships

·       engage in ongoing service to the parish and wider community 

This all looks like fun, but how will learning take place?

In terms of the overall program (home kit preparation material + Gathering + event + reflection material + application), the learning process used in Generations of Faith is event-centered.  This means the program is designed to prepare participants for meaningful participation in church events, engage them in those church events, and guide them in reflecting and applying the significance and meaning of the events for their lives as Catholics.  The preparation activities and programs employ experiential learning methods to enable participants to develop know-how (ability to competently participate in the event and live its meaning in their lives), know-what (fuller understanding of the event and its theological focus), and know-why (growing understanding of the meaning and significance of the event for their lives as Catholics).

Will the program cover all the basics?

We will continue to teach the basics and will continue to do so in a spiral manner through a variety of medium (ie. the central themes of our faith will be repeated each year, from different perspectives, in greater depth, at age appropriate levels).

Is this enough?

Generations of Faith seeks to extend and weave the learning into participants’ daily life. Our catechetical experiences teaches us that “enough” faith formation depends to a much greater extend on the role and place of faith in the home than on weekly class attendance in a religious education program.  We want to build on this truth and empower families to weave faith and the practice of faith into their family life.  Generations of Faith will enable us to do this.

For those who want to know the time-engaged-in-faith-formation comparison between our weekly religious education classes and Generations of Faith.   In our weekly classes participants engaged in about 30 hours of structured learning; with Generations of Faith, although this first year we will only do 4 Gatherings, we will build toward 9 Gatherings a year, which will mean participants will engage in a little more than 27 hours a year of structured learning, plus the time engaged in faith formation activities in the home (eg. a family that engages in 10 minutes of faith formation activities per week, or forty minutes per month, would engage in an additional 6 hours of learning per year).

Do parents have to attend with their children?

We believe that parents want to be kept “in the loop” as to what their children are learning, want to share in their children’s faith journey, and more importantly, that children-adolescents included-need their parents and other adults to be involved in their faith journey, providing positive role models and encouragement.  For this reason, we expect parents to attend faith formation sessions with their children.  However, we realize there might be situations in which this is not possible-parents may have to work, parents might not see the value to coming to a faith formation session-in which case a responsible adult who is involved in the child’s life (grandparent or other relative, godparent or family friend) may attend in the parent’s place.

But we (parents) have done our religious education.

We hope that not only parents but also all adults would be interested in continuing to learn and grow in their own faith.  Since the last time you participated in religious education class as a young person, you have grown as a person, have faced new and more challenging responsibilities and questions, and the church community has had to respond to and address new questions of the day.  Our Catholic faith offers great wisdom in navigating the myriad issues adults face in their daily life: caring of older parents, moral dilemmas at work, finding meaning in what often seem mundane and unappreciated efforts, determining what “is best” for one’s children, encouraging one’s children to come to mass while as the same time unsure why it is important, etc. 

Aren’t we expecting too much of parents?

If parents really want to raise their children in the Catholic faith and they are coming to the Church seeking help and guidance with this matter, it is our responsibility to give them the best advice and help that we have learned from Church wisdom and the experience of those who have succeeded in this venture.  Both Church teaching and our human experience point to the truth that passing our Faith to our children works best when faith is an integral part of family life.  The Generations of Faith program is designed to support and provide parents with tools to do so.

I’m a teenager and I want to come but my parents aren’t interested in coming-can I still come?

Yes.  A teenager can register as the single participant of a household. 

I don’t have school-aged children-will there be activities for adults such as myself?

Yes. Generations of Faith is designed to bring the whole parish community together in learning, and adults such as yourself are an integral part of this community.  At the sessions there will always be learning activities and experiences for adults to participate either with other adults, or partnered with members of other households (of different ages).

What if we can’t go on the date we signed up for? Will we be able to switch?

If, as the date for the Faith Formation Gathering approaches you find that you will be unable to attend on the date you are scheduled, please contact the parish office-preferably two weeks in advance-and, depending on space availability, we will switch you to a date you can attend.

What happens if my spouse is not Catholic?

Non-Catholic spouses/parents are equally welcome to participate in Generations of Faith if they are interested in being involved in this manner.  If, however, a non-Catholic spouse/parent is not interested in participating, this does not prevent the rest of the family from doing so. 

What about single parent families?

This is a great program for single parents.  To name but a few benefits: a meal with no cooking or cleaning, all the children together in one place, the opportunity for the parent to speak with other adults, no need to find a baby-sitter, a simplified schedule that decreases the amount of “running around,” ready to use ideas of meaningful activities to do at home when boredom strikes or the TV-watching quota has been reached.

What about the sacramental preparation programs?

Preparation programs for the celebration of the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, and Confirmation will continue as separate, but connected, programs. 

First Reconciliation will be celebrated in the Advent season and First Communion will be celebrated in the spring.  Confirmation candidates are expected to continue their catechetical formation through participating in Generations of Faith throughout the year.

We’re not Holy Cross Parishioners; can we still participate in this program?

If you’re a parishioner at one of our neighboring parishes, you may have participated in the Holy Cross’ Religious Education program in the past, while continuing to worship at your own parish.  However, the new direction we’re taking with our program strongly emphasizes the existing connection between formation and participation in parish life, especially Sunday worship, as the cornerstone for a comprehensive approach to faith formation.  Therefore, if you are interested in participating in the program we ask that you embrace not just the structure of the program but its spirit and participate in the community as full members of our parish.

What will be the cost? How will registrations be handled?

You will receive a registration form in the mail or you can pick one up in the church vestibule and return the completed form to the parish office.  Registration deadline for the September Gathering is Sunday, August 7, 2005.

Since many of you have completed and returned your Religious Education (CCD) registration forms with payment, we will consider that payment for Generations of Faith.  However, a suggested donation to cover the meal cost at each Gathering is as follows: $5 an individual, $10 couple, and $15 per family.

What is the agenda for the GOF Faith Formation Gathering?

Faith Formation Gatherings will be once a month on three different dates:

Wednesday I, 6 – 9 p.m. (Sept. 14, Nov. 9, Feb. 15, Mar. 29)

Sunday, 5 – 8 p.m. (Sept. 18, Nov. 13, Feb. 19, Apr. 2)

Wednesday II, 6 -9 p.m. (Sept. 21, Nov. 16, Feb. 22, Apr. 5)

AGENDA

   1. We all eat together (30 minutes)

2. All ages opening (30 minutes)

               3. In depth learning activities (90 minutes)

      4. Whole group sharing (15 minutes)  

                                                                            5. Closing Prayer (15 minutes)

 6. Celebration of event (later date)

REGISTRATION FORM