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ADULT FAITH FORMATION
AT THE CHURCH OF SAINT
“Were not our hearts burning within us
while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
What Is Our Vision?
The parish has the responsibility of accompanying the baptized on their journey of faith. Faith is a gift from God. That faith, however, needs nurturing and ongoing care. Baptized into Christ, our calling is to grow up to the full stature of Christ leaving behind us the things of infancy and childhood and become mature in Christ who is now our life. Here at the Church of Saint Ann we have made serious efforts to place adult faith formation at the center of parish life—striving to create an environment where faith can be awakened, strengthened and challenged. It is our hope that, guided by God’s Spirit, parishioners would live out their faith by:
Þ Staying close to the Eucharist, especially through worship at Sunday Mass.
Þ Prayerful reflection of God’s Word.
Þ Valuing their membership in this faith community, and when possible, getting involved in parish life, especially participation in the lay ministries of the Church.
Þ Reading and reflecting on the Church’s apostolic Tradition.
Þ Believing in prayer and praying regularly.
Þ Participating in the works of peace and justice and service to the poor.
Þ Recognizing daily opportunities to grow in holiness.
Þ Staying faithful to our human obligations in family and society.
Þ Living lifestyles that bear witness to Gospel values.
Þ Passing on faith to others through witness in both what we say and do.
Through parish life, we proclaim the Gospel, fully expecting that the beauty of Roman Catholicism would become a felt influence in the lives of our people, and a continual source of guidance in everyday life.
What Is Our Mission?
Adult Faith Formation Ministry at the Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville, NJ is aimed at deepening adult faith and works to make adult faith formation central to parish life. We support parish activities, ministries, parish committees and groups that help adults more fully and continuously live out their faith as Roman Catholics among the challenges of today’s world. As a strategic oversight ministry, guided by the American Bishop’s document Were Not Our Hearts Burning (2000), we strive to foster a parish community that cooperates with God’s Spirit in nourishing adults on their journey of Christian faith.
Why Is Adult Faith Formation So Important Today In the Church?
At all times and in every age, the Church faces unique opportunities and challenges as it proclaims the Kingdom of God. Today, we stand in a critical moment of our history. We have witnessed the death of the Modern Age and the birth of a “new age,” or Post-Modern Age. The foundations that once stood in place of culture are dying. There is a lack of certainty about us. We don’t know where this “new age” is leading, but we can identify some distinctive marks:
Þ The individual is the measure of all things.
Þ Individual freedom (self-determination) without boundaries.
Þ An ethical vacuum where morals are relative.
Þ Skepticism abounds in the academy, Church and society—a crisis of faith.
Þ A sense of fear and mistrust of institutions.
Þ An indifference to organized religion, and an attraction to “spirituality.”
Þ The Christian meta-narrative is considered no longer necessary and the uniqueness of Christ is offensive--those who hold onto such views are associated with religious fundamentalism.
Þ A thirst for the transcendent.
Þ A greater disparity between the rich and poor.
Þ An ideological hunger for meaning and purpose.
Þ A pervading feeling of loneliness among many.
Þ A culture of death filled with violence, pessimism, and nihilism.
Þ Change is the only constant.
Þ Technology and information are exploding--with the misconception that more information equals greater “knowledge”.
At stake in all of this is personal faith and Catholic identity. Within the Church, more than 40 years after the Vatican Council, Church teaching is a source of controversy among Christians and within the Catholic Church itself. Christianity is now viewed by many as an “enemy” to liberal Western European values. Church attendance is on the decline, Church leadership is struggling to regain credibility after Church scandals, while there is a growing number of baptized, un-churched people searching for a map of life.
Where Are We Going?
At the heart of all we do is the conviction that Jesus is here, journeying with us (Matthew 28:10). We welcome this fully expecting that His presence will inspire, teach, transform, and lead us on to a world where only God and God alone can lead us.
For more information contact Gary Maccaroni, Adult Faith Formation
Coordinator at the Church of Saint Ann, 882-6491, ext. 116.