Since
the publication of Sharing the Light of Faith: The National Catechetical
Directory (1977), there has been a steady growth in the models available to
parishes for conducting their catechetical programs for all ages. Below are
listed some of the more frequently used models, listed by age groups.
FOR
CHILDREN: School
Model - This is the customary model with which most Catholic adults grew up.
It includes Catholic schooling and weekly religious education classes. Some of
its characteristics are:
-
It
divides children into age or grade levels;
-
It
uses one or more of several varieties of textbooks;
-
It
is conducted for a set number of weeks throughout the academic year;
-
It
gives a strong emphasis on learning the teachings of the Faith but also
includes prayer and usually some form of service project.
Lectionary
Based Model - This model has grown in prominence since the advent of the
Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults (1983), which declared that the Sacred
Scriptures, as proclaimed throughout the liturgical year, are to be central in
bringing catechumens to faith. (RCIA #79) The major aspects of this model are:
-
It
uses the Lectionary - specifically the Sunday Gospel - as the core of its
curriculum;
-
A
supplemental resource is used to help children to remember and reflect upon
the Sacred texts for the duration of the week;
-
It
is intimately connected to the Sunday Eucharist (either by time or
location);
-
It
takes place over a far more extensive time, often going year-round;
-
It
gives a strong emphasis to liturgical catechesis and prayer as well as the
Scriptures.
Intensive
Summer Model - because of the seemingly exponential increase in the pace of
family life of the past two decades or so - and a belief that there is no
"slowdown" in the foreseeable future - an growing number of parishes
are developing and implementing this type of program that takes place during a
short period of time (typically two weeks) during the summer vacation. Some of
its characteristics are:
-
It
runs for 3+ hours a day for two weeks;
-
It
divides children into specific age groups;
-
While
it uses a published text, it also employs community-building activities,
prayer, and some form of service project to help form faith;
-
It
requires attendance;
-
It
is followed up during the academic year with various "peer group"
gathering, prayer services, family activities, etc., in order to help
promote continuity throughout the year.
Family
Model - also referred to as "intergenerational" faith formation,
it is one that involves the whole family in the sessions and can adapt some of
the above models as its basis. It might be Lectionary-based, use a published
text, or even be held during an intensive summer program. Some of its unique
characteristics are:
-
It
may bring the who family together to learn about, discuss and explore themes
on a group basis;
-
It
might offer "breakout" times at which members of specific
age-groups would work on the theme in age-appropriate language;
-
It
might be "experience" rather than "content driven - meaning
that the faith experience would come first, then the content explored based
upon the experience;
-
It
would find it very valuable to build a strong sense of "community"
and togetherness, and desire to foster bonds of friendship between the
families;
-
It
would place a strong emphasis on prayer and communal experiences.
FOR
ADOLESCENTS:Along
with the models used with children, there are also some unique models used with
adolescents. Briefly, these are:
Comprehensive
Youth Ministry - outlined in the US Catholic bishops' document, Renewing the
Vision, (1997) there are eight "components" to youth ministry that go
beyond the typical "weekly youth group" image. These are:
-
Advocacy
-
Catechesis
-
Community
Life
-
Evangelization
-
Justice
& Service
-
Leadership
Development
-
Pastoral
Care
-
Prayer
& Worship
For
more information, see "Youth Ministry" page or click on National
Federation of Catholic Youth Ministers website. (www.nfcym.org) Retreat
Model - to take adolescents away from the typical setting of parish or home
for a retreat weekend for prayer, learning, reflection, community building, etc.
(Often this model is supported during a given year using one of the other models
as well.) Super
Sunday Model - gathering youth together for a day-long experience of
education (often in the form of mini-courses), prayer, socializing and sometimes
service. These might take place once a semester or once a quarter.Mini-Course
Model - the offering of several different short but intensive courses
(typically 3 - 6 weeks in duration) during a semester. Students might have the
option to sign up for topics of interest or for convenient timeslots.
FOR
ADULTS:The
goal of all faith formation is adult faith. Adult faith formation is the
standard by which all catechesis should be gauged and toward which all
catechesis should move. Adult faith is a faith that is effective and affective -
coming from both the head and heart and directing the will and the actions. It
is reflective, deliberate, and passionate. It is owned and is still growing,
even after reaching maturity. It is alive, vibrant and vital.Adults
learn using a variety of models. The only constant is that adults seek to learn
about their faith because of some personal need - whether it be that they've
discovered something missing in their lives, or that they seek to raise their
children in the Faith, or that they seek answers to life's deepest questions.
Adult faith formation takes place at the liturgy, in lectures, on retreats, in
Bible study groups, in small Christian communities, from books/media, etc.Because
of the extreme importance of adult faith formation, the diocese and parishes are
committed to offering an ever-growing variety of models and opportunities for
adult faith formation. Click on the links below to find out about various adult
faith formation offerings. AmericanCatholic.org
AmericanCatholicYouth.org
Adult Faith Formation
Link to AV Library
Link to Diocese of Rochester Curriculum Page