Adult Faith Formation Commission Charter

• Introduction
• Mission
• Rationale
• Vision Statement
• Responsibilities
• Function
• Structure
• Acknowledgements

 

Introduction

Pope John Paul II reminds us in his document, On Catechists In Our Time, "that lifelong formation is always needed and must be a priority in the Church's catechetical ministry. Moreover, it must be considered the chief form of catechesis."

In accord with this papal decree, the U.S. Catholic bishops have called the Church in our country to renew its commitment to adult faith formation. This call also appears in our St. Raphael's Mission Statement, which clearly reminds us that "We are called to comfort, to challenge, to participate, to welcome, to evangelize, to teach and to heal."

This "call to commitment" given to us by our church fathers, the Joliet Diocese, and our own Parish Mission Statement is the impetus behind the formation and design of this St. Raphael Adult Faith Formation Commission. The pastoral plan for the formation program is grounded in the pastoral document written by the U.S. Catholic Bishops Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.

We believe that adult faith formation is the heart of the catechetical vision and practice. It is the center out of which comes the catechesis of childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. With this understanding, the St. Raphael Adult Faith Formation sets forth the following charter.

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Mission

Acknowledging the need for life-long learning and the fruitful expression of a mature Christian faith, St Raphael Adult Faith Formation Commission seeks to help adults strengthen and deepen their relationship with God while growing in Knowledge of Faith, Liturgical Life, Morality, Expressions of Christian Prayer, Communal Life, Missionary Spirit, Care of God's Creation, Ministry and Leadership.

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Rationale

The purpose of the Adult Faith Formation Commission is to enhance the knowledge of the adult community of St. Raphael, through educational experiences, and to foster a greater understanding in the following areas of our Christian faith as recommended in Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.

1. Knowledge of the Faith - recognize communion with Jesus Christ as the definitive aim of all catechesis; read and study scripture, teachings (creeds and doctrines), the sacraments, the Church's teaching on the dignity of the human person, the Church's Tradition (our theological, cultural heritage and Church history), current Church teachings, documents from Vatican II as well as others.
2. Liturgical Life - experience the paschal mystery celebrated through the sacramental life of the Church, doctrine on the Eucharist and other sacraments, full and active participation, dignity of baptismal priesthood and ordained priesthood, Liturgy of the Hours, and praying the Psalms.
3. Moral Formation - learn how to acquire and follow a well-formed conscience; cultivate a Christian discernment of moral issues; appreciate the dignity, destiny, freedom, and responsibility of the human person; promote a thorough catechesis on the Gospel of life: respect for life from conception until natural death, living a lifestyle reflecting scriptural values of holiness, simplicity, and compassion.
4. Prayer - become familiar with diverse forms and expressions of Christian prayer; experience and appreciate the richness of the ascetical-mystical tradition, importance of personal prayer and reflection, shared prayer, popular piety and devotions that help express and strengthen our faith life.
5. Communal Life - pursue personal and spiritual growth in human and Christian maturity; cultivate the human values and Christian virtues that foster growth in interpersonal relationships and in civic responsibility; nurture marriage and family life to build up the Church of the home; share actively in the life and work of the parish; and foster small communities to deepen the faith and relationships of members, the understanding of the Church's authority and structures and of the rights and responsibilities of the Christian faithful.
6. Missionary Spirit - cultivate an evangelizing spirit among all the faithful as part of baptismal calling; respond to God's call whether as lay, ordained, or religious; motivate and equip the faithful to speak to others about the Scriptures, the tradition and teachings of the Church, and one's own experience of faith; explore and promote the applications of the Church's moral and social teaching in personal, family, professional, and social life; understand the importance of serving those in need, promoting the common good, and working for the transformation of society through personal and social action; appreciate the value of inter-religious dialogue and contacts.
7. Care of God's Creation - show respect for the Creator by our stewardship of creation recognizing that we are called to protect people and the planet, living our faith in relationship with all of God's creation.

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Vision Statement

The Adult Formation Commission will strive to provide each adult member of St. Raphael an opportunity to grow in all aspects of Christian life. With this growth, each adult will be more prepared to meet his/her daily life challenges having the Holy Spirit as his/her guide.

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Responsibilities

The Commission, under the direction of the parish Adult Faith Formation Director, assumes the following responsibilities:

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Functions

The following functions will assist the commission in carrying out its mission as stated above. The commission members will:

• Discern and address the adult faith formation needs of the parish as established through the parish needs assessment survey, feedback and other evaluation tools.
• Work in collaboration with the Pastoral Council and other commissions of St. Raphael to design and develop relevant formation programs for adults.
• Provide enrichment for adults.

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Structure

Membership
The Adult Faith Formation Commission consists of six to nine parishioners from the ministries under the commission or the community at large and the Director of Adult Faith Formation from the St. Raphael Parish Staff. The commission will include members from the following ministries:

1. Cursillo
2. Prayer Groups
3. Small Christian Communities
4. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
5. Me, God, Mothering (M-G-M)
6. atholics, Reflecting, Experiencing, Evangelizing, Declaring, Scripture (CREEDS)
7. Men's Spirituality
8. Library
9. And other ministries as they develop

Terms of service are 3 years. New membership on the Adult Faith Formation Commission will take place within a discernment process. In September of each year, all members in good standing will be invited back to serve for another year. If a member(s) leaves, a new commission member from one of the above ministries or the community at large will be invited to discern membership. Replacement of members will be based on a person's ability to meet membership requirements. Final approval will be made after input is received from the Pastor and the existing Adult Faith Formation Commission.

Membership Guidelines

• Be in full membership with the Catholic Church.
• Be a registered member of St. Raphael.
• Have a desire to work with adults.
• Attend meetings and be willing to assume leadership responsibilities.
• Actively participate in the brainstorming, designing and implementation of formation programs.
• Be willing to support and possibly serve on the Pastoral Council as a representative of the Adult Faith Formation Commission.

Leadership Roles
In September of each year the following leadership roles will be filled:

• Commission Chairperson: chosen through prayerful discernment for a one-year term to facilitate the meetings;
• Prayer Provider: volunteer rotated among the commission membership at each meeting;
• Recorder: volunteer for a one-year term to report the topics with decisions made at each meeting;
• Timekeeper: the chairperson may appoint a timekeeper as needed.

Accountability
The Adult Faith Formation Commission acknowledges that it is accountable for its actions to:

• God
• The Pastor of St. Raphael Parish
• The Pastoral Council of St. Raphael, and
• The Parishioners of St. Raphael Parish

Meetings & Procedures
Meetings will be held once a month within the calendar year. Special meetings may also be called as needed. Planning meetings will range from 1 ½ to 2 hours in length. The chairperson, in collaboration with the Director of Adult Faith Formation, will facilitate the meetings, prepare the agendas, and distribute any materials needed prior to meetings. Decision-making will be by consensus, which means that members in attendance can live with the decisions proposed. The meeting content for the next meeting will be set at the end of each meeting. Additions for the agenda can always be submitted to the Director of Adult Faith Formation any time before a meeting is held.

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Acknowledgements

This Commission Charter is the result of several months' collaboration and discernment on the mission, vision and implementation of Adult Faith Formation at St. Raphael's. Guided by the Holy Spirit and inspired by the U.S. Bishop's pastoral document Our Hearts Were Burning With Us and the St. Raphael Mission Statement it is our intention to foster a community that continues to grow spiritually and nurtures others in their journey to God. May the blessings of God flow abundantly to all those who helped in the creation of this Charter.

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