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Office of Faith Formation |
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Faith formation is a lifelong process. None of us know EVERYTHING there is to know about the Faith. All of us are called to learn more and to integrate our faith into all aspects of our lives. We are called to know, love, and serve God.
The following is from the Code of Canon Law: “Can. 229 §1. Lay persons are bound by the obligation and possess the right to acquire knowledge of Christian doctrine appropriate to the capacity and condition of each in order for them to be able to live according to this doctrine, announce it themselves, defend it if necessary, and take their part in exercising the apostolate.” (http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM) .
Please check the other pages on this web site for details concerning the various faith formation programs. |
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Good Ways to Learn More About Your Faith
1. Participate! Go to Mass & Confession.
2. Pray.
3. Read the Bible. Make sure that you have a good Catholic Bible. Check for the Imprimatur & Nihil Obstat to make sure that it’s an approved Catholic Bible.
4. Have a good catechism & read it. The following are the top catechisms: Catechism of the Catholic Church, United States Catechism for Adults, and Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. They are all available through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) web site at http://www.usccbpublishing.org/. (However, you may find cheaper copies in various bookstores and on other web sites.) There is also the new Youth Catechism (YOUCAT) that was recently published. The Youth Catechism is a good resource for teens. A good catechism clearly explains the teachings of the Catholic Church and connects those teachings to scripture and the teachings of the early Fathers of the Church.
5. Spiritual Reading. Read good books that nourish your faith. If it is a Catholic book and it concerns faith and morals, check for an Imprimatur and Nihil Obstat. Sometimes, authors will present their work as if it’s in accordance with Catholic teachings when it’s not.
6. Faith Formation Opportunities. It can help to learn in a group setting, where people have a chance to participate and ask questions. Consider joining Why Catholic? or a Bible Study Group. There are also great retreat opportunities: Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP), Cursillo, or other area retreats. There are also special events and guest speakers throughout the year that help people learn more about their faith.
Don’t assume that you know everything about the faith because you attended Catholic school for a certain number of years. If a person stops learning when they are 14 years old, then they will have trouble developing a mature, adult faith. |