Foundations and Vision for Adult Learning and Faith Formation (AFL 1)
Course Level: Advanced
Course Summary
The Catholic Church, through a series of international and national documents, has called for more emphasis on adult faith formation since Vatican II. This emphasis on adult faith formation will necessitate a greater understanding of how to foster lifelong catechesis in adults ages 18-108. This course will lay the foundation for the remaining six courses in this Adult Faith Formation certificate program.
Adult learning and faith formation need to be situated within the vision of lifelong catechesis. This course looks at the vision for lifelong catechesis; the vision of adult faith formation; the role of evangelization and conversion; the goals, tasks and principles for adult faith formation; and roles in adult learning and faith formation.
This course is part of a specialized Certificate in Adult Formation Leadership and is meant to be taken as part of a sequence. This course presupposes knowledge in the previous courses. Refer to the certificate page for more information.
Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.
General Course Objectives
- Understand the vision of lifelong catechesis as the framework for adult learning and faith formation.
- Clarify a vision and purpose of adult faith learning and formation.
- Understand the role of evangelization and conversion in adult learning and faith formation.
- Review the national goals, principles and tasks of adult learning and faith formation.
- Explore implications of adult learning and faith formation for the Church today.
Course Materials
- Required Book: Thomas Groome and Harold Daly Horell, editors, Horizons & Hopes: The Future of Religious Education Paulist Press, 2003 ISBN: 978-0809141548
- Required Book: Jane Regan Toward an Adult Church: A Vision of Faith Formation Loyola Press, 2002 ISBN: 978-0829418064
- Required Book: Neil Parent A Concise Guide to Adult Faith Formation Ave Maria Press, 2009 ISBN: 978-1594712081
- Required Book: USCCB National Directory for Catechesis USCCB, 2005
Course Structure and Highlights
- Week 1: Foundation and Vision for Lifelong Catechesis
- Understand the vision of lifelong catechesis for the faith community today.
- Articulate their own growth in faith as adults.
- Understand the important Church documents about adult formation.
- Week 2: Vision for Adult Faith Learning
- Understand adult faith formation in the context of the Church's overall mission.
- Articulate a vision and purpose for adult faith formation.
- Assess status of adult faith formation according to age groups.
- Reflect on the general characteristics of adult faith formation.
- Week 3: Evangelization and Conversion in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
- Articulate a definition of evangelization.
- Reflect on one's own journey of faith and conversion.
- Understand the role of evangelization in adult learning and faith formation.
- Understand the importance of conversion in adult learning and faith formation.
- Week 4: Goals, Principles and Tasks for Adult Learning and Faith Formation
- Review the goals and principles of adult learning and faith formation from Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us (OHWB).
- Evaluate present parish offerings using the goals and principles from OHWB
- Discover ways of implementing the tasks of adult learning and faith formation.
- Week 5: Roles in Adult Learning and Faith Formation
- Recognize the different roles in adult catechesis.
- See the parish as the context and curriculum for adult catechesis.
- Value the many opportunities in a parish for adult learning and faith formation.
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