5-Week Course
Overview
This course was previously titled "Adult Faith Formation for a Vibrant Church." Featuring video with Thomas Groome, Theresa O’Keefe, and Hosffman Ospino
Working for a more vibrant faith community? Adult faith formation plays a vital role in animating the local church. Yet, it often suffers relative neglect. This course is for anyone on a parish council or other ministry with adults. It explores the ways in which faith formation can happen anywhere members work together in the life of the church through evangelization, catechesis, and conversation about things that really matter. It considers the cultural issues of diversity in the parish and post-modernity in the greater society as the context for deepening adults' engagement in the faith community. It also reflects on the communities of practice that make up the parish, and how to leverage them in helping individuals grow in their faith.
This course has a required text: Jane E. Regan. Forming A Community of Faith: A Guide to Success in Adult Faith Formation Today. Twenty-Third Publications, 2014
Topics
- Introductory Week: The Contemporary Context for Adult Faith Formation
- Week 1: Connecting Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation
- Week 2: Key Themes in the Catechetical Vision
- Week 3: The Skill of Engaging Adults in Conversation
- Week 4: Community of Practice: A New Perspective of Parish Life
Special Features
- Weekly introductions to each new topic
- Three videos
- Text transcripts of each featured video
- Weekly questions for reflection and discussion
- A page of further resources about topics discussed in this course
All STM Online: Crossroads courses include these features
- Participants have access 24 hours/7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site.
- Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
- The course site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course has ended.
- An orientation in how to navigate the web site is always available.
- Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
- A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.
Additional Materials Needed
Jane E. Regan. Forming A Community of Faith: A Guide to Success in Adult faith Formation Today. Twenty-Third Publications, 2014
Time Commitment
A participant can expect to spend an average of approximately 3-4 hours each week. This commitment includes both the assigned reading and interaction online.
Content Scholars
- Dr. Thomas H. Groome, professor of theology and religious education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
- Dr. Theresa O’Keefe, associate professor of the practice of youth and young adult faith at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry
- Dr. Hosffman Ospino, associate professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
- Dr. Jane E. Regan, associate professor of theology and religious education at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
