(Adapted from the National Directory for Catechesis published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2005.)
Jesus formed his disciples by revealing to them the various dimensions of the Kingdom of God. His example is the most fruitful inspiration for how we form our faith today. Here at St. James Parish, we strive to offer faith formation programs that both empower and enable you on your personal walk with Christ. The following six highlights of faith formation constitute a unified whole in our preparation to become more developed disciples of Jesus Christ.
Faith must be known, celebrated, lived, and expressed in prayer. So catechesis comprises six fundamental tasks, each of which is related to an aspect of faith in Christ...
Faith formation promotes knowledge of the faith.
The initial proclamation of the Gospel introduces those who hear it to Christ for the first time and invites conversion to him. The actions of the Holy Spirit create within us a desire to learn more about Christ.
Faith formation responds to this desire by giving the believers a knowledge of the content of God's self-revelation, which is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.
Faith formation promotes knowledge of the meaning of the Liturgy and the Sacraments.
Since Christ is present in the sacraments, the believer comes to know Christ in the liturgical celebrations of the Church and is drawn into communion with him.
Christ's saving action in the Paschal Mystery is celebrated in the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, where the closest communion with Jesus on earth is possible as Catholics are able to receive his living Flesh and his Precious Blood in Holy Communion.
Faith formation should promote "an active, conscious, genuine participation in the liturgy of the Church, not merely by explaining the meaning of the ceremonies, but also by forming the minds of the faithful for prayer, for thanksgiving, for repentance, for praying with confidence, for a community spirit, and for understanding correctly the meaning of the Creeds."
Sacramental catechesis prepares for the initial celebration of the sacraments and promotes enrichment following their reception.
Faith formation promotes moral formation in Jesus Christ.
Jesus' moral teaching is an integral part of his message. Moral faith formation aims to conform the believer to Christ--to bring about personal transformation and conversion. It should encourage the faithful to give witnesses--both in their private lives and in the public arena--to Christ's teaching in everyday life.
Faith formation teaches the Christian how to pray with Christ.
Conversion to Christ and communion with him lead the faithful to adopt his disposition of prayer and reflection. Jesus' entire life, death, and Resurrection were an offering to his Father. His prayer was always directed toward his Father.
Faith formation should invite the believer to join Christ in the Our Father. Prayer should be the ordinary environment for all faith formation so that the knowledge and practice of the Christian life may be understood and celebrated in its proper context.
Faith formation prepares the Christian to live in community and to participate actively in the Life and mission of the Church.
Faith formation encourages an apprenticeship in Christian living that is based on Christ's teachings about community life. It should encourage a spirit of simplicity and humility, a special concern for the poor, particular care for the alienated, a sense of fraternal correction, common prayer, mutual forgiveness, and fraternal love that embraces all these attitudes.
Faith formation encourages the disciples of Jesus to make their daily conduct a shining and convincing testimony to the Gospel...
Faith formation promotes a missionary spirit that prepares the faithful to be present as Christians in society.
Faith formation seeks to help the disciples of Christ to be present in society precisely as believing Christians who are able and willing to bear witness to their faith in words and deeds.
In fostering this spirit of evangelization, faith formation nourishes the evangelical attitudes of Jesus Christ in the faithful: to be poor in spirit, to be compassionate, to be meek, to hear the cry of injustice, to be merciful, to be pure of heart, to make peace, and to accept rejection and persecution.
Faith formation recognizes that other religious traditions reflect the "seeds of the Word" that can constitute a true "preparation for the Gospel." It encourages adherents of the world's religions to share what they hold in common, never minimizing the real differences between and among them...