FAITH FORMATION

Immaculate Conception “Journey of Faith”

What Is the Process to Learn the Catholic Faith at Immaculate Conception?

Our parish uses an approach to parish faith development called whole community catechesis. The entire faith community is the focus of all we do: children, youth, and adults.

In whole community catechesis, what happens in the Sunday assembly for Mass is closely connected to what happens in our religious instruction. The liturgy of the Word from Sunday is the starting point. Faith formation must flow from that Word and each learner is invited to “break open the Word,” to share their faith about what they believe.

Also, in whole community catechesis parents play an important role alongside all the other members of the community. Great emphasis is placed on building households of faith. No matter how effective our experience of faith might be at the parish level, what really counts is how we live that faith in our everyday lives at home! If our homes are not places where the faith is shared and lived, then the work of catechists is like sowing seed on rocky ground.

Permission granted to use information on Whole Community Catechesis from Twenty-Third Publications. Copyright 2004.