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Adult Faith Formation
Nuturing Life-long Learning
Our mission is to implement the vision presented in the United States Bishop’s pastoral plan Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us and in our own diocesan Action Plan. As the Bishops’ pastoral plan indicates:
- We seek to form parishes that are vitally alive in the faith. These communities will provide a parish climate and an array of activities and resources designed to help adults more fully understand and live their faith.
- We seek to form adults who actively cultivate a lively baptismal and eucharistic spirituality with a powerful sense of mission and apostolate. Nourished by word, sacrament, and communal life, they will witness and share the Gospel in their homes, neighborhoods, places of work, and centers of culture. (OHWB, #17).
Our mission has a twofold dimension:
Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Process for Parishes
The Office of Catechesis will match interested parishes with a member of the diocesan Adult Faith Formation Team. The team member will lead the parish Adult Faith Formation Committee through a four stage process of study, reflection and planning for parish Adult Faith Formation:
- Acquiring the vision of Adult Faith Formation- This involves a process of study and reflection on the U.S. Bishop’s pastoral letter Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.
- Discerning and Supporting Parish Leadership- This involves a discernment process to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the AFF leader and the parish committee as well as to determine plans for ongoing support and formation.
- Develop a Profile of Parish Needs- The diocesan AFF Team member will assist the parish AFF Committee to construct a profile of the faith needs of the parish adults.
- Planning for Adult Faith Formation- The AFF Team member will guide the parish AFF Committee in their initial plans to respond to the faith formation needs of the parish by drafting short and long-term goals and assessing resources.
At the completion of the Diocesan Adult Faith Formation Process the participating parish receives over $2,500.00 in resources to begin their AFF efforts. Funding for the resources comes from the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
Supporting Parish Adult Faith Formation Leaders
Gatherings
Gatherings of parish adult faith formation leaders are held in January and June every year. The Gatherings offer an opportunity for parish AFF leaders and their teams to come together for prayer, mutual support, ongoing formation and the sharing of information and resources.
Resources for Parish Adult Faith Formation
Resources are understood as more than materials or funds. Our primary resource is people. Our parishes are rich resources for adult faith formation. The faith experience of each adult parishioner is the foundation for their own lifelong learning. The parish forms adult faith. The parish is the curriculum.
In addition, we are blessed in the Diocese of Trenton with many people with advanced degrees in theology or related fields who offer presentations using adult models of learning. Contact the Office of Catechesis to learn about available presenters.
Click here for a list of Resources
Click here to read Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us
Adult Faith Formation Advisory Committee
The diocesan Adult Faith Formation Advisory Committee meets quarterly to advise the Office of Catechesis on the ministry of Adult Faith Formation. The committee is made up of priests, religious, and lay people from the four counties of the diocese, who are leaders in adult faith formation.
The Diocese of Trenton Action Plan
In June 2001 The Most Reverend John M. Smith, Bishop of Trenton, signed An Action Plan for Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Trenton. This plan articulates the goals and recommended actions for Adult Faith Formation efforts in the Diocese of Trenton for the next several years.
- Click here to view the Action Plan (45k, .PDF)
Don't have Acrobat Reader? Click the image below to download the program.
Faith Enrichment Centers
The Office of Catechesis has Faith Enrichment Centers in host parishes in each of the four counties of the diocese. The Centers make a great variety of adult faith formation resources and enrichment sessions available and accessible to the people of local parishes. Each Faith Enrichment Center has designated times when parishioners from the host parish or surrounding parishes may come to review or borrow materials for faith enrichment. Anyone visiting one of the Diocesan Faith Enrichment Centers will find a wide variety of DVDs, VHS tapes, audio cassettes and print material for personal or group use. The resources cover almost every aspect of Catholic life, teaching, and practice. Four of the Centers will also have materials in Spanish. Materials may be borrowed by anyone presenting a valid borrowing card. Cards are available through one’s parish. Contact your pastor for more information.
In addition to materials for borrowing, each year in the fall and the spring Faith Enrichment Centers provide faith enrichment sessions, sponsored by the diocesan Office of Catechesis. These enrichment sessions provide many opportunities for the adults of our parishes to grow in their knowledge of their faith and deepen their response to their baptismal call to spread the Gospel message and work for the transformation of society. Each Center offers up to 10 two hour sessions per semester. Most of these sessions are applicable to diocesan Level II/III Catechist Certification.
There are eight Faith Enrichment Centers: In Burlington County: St. Charles Borromeo Parish, Cinnaminson and Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport; In Mercer County: St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Hightstown (Spanish materials available) and St. Ann Parish, Lawrenceville; In Monmouth County: Jesus the Lord Parish, Keyport (Spanish materials available), Nativity Parish, Fair Haven and St. Mark Parish, Sea Girt (Spanish materials available); In Ocean County: St. Barnabas Parish, Bayville (Spanish materials available).
Faith Enrichment Centers are made possible through the Bishop’s Annual Appeal.
(The Sessions at Faith Enrichment Centers are open to all adult Catholics interested in growing in knowledge of their faith. The sessions are applicable to Level II/III Catechist Certification)
Contact Us:
Office of Catechesis
Diocesan Pastoral Center
701 Lawrenceville Road
Trenton, NJ 08648-0147
Phone: 609-406-7400 ext. 5552, 5553
Fax: 609-406-7418
E-mail: marsen@dioceseoftrenton.org
Director: Mr. Martin J. Arsenault
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