Why Catholic? Information

Visit the Resource Links below for more insight into the Why Catholic? Program and the workings of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Renew International
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Doctrinal Insights about life long Adult Religious Formation

October 11, 1992, on the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church was published. The principal task entrusted to the Council was to present better the Christian doctrine in order to make it more accessible to the Christian faithful and to all people of good will.

p>In 1997 the second edition was released, which is the one we use today. Pope John Paul the second in his introduction described the catechism - “It is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium”. He declared it as a sure norm for teaching the faith. The Pope also wrote that the catechism, “is meant to encourage and assist in the writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures, while carefully preserving the unity of faith and fidelity to catholic doctrine.

The Bishops of the United States form what is known as the “United States Conference of Catholic Bishops” or USCCB. The purpose of the Conference is to promote the greater good which the Church offers humankind, especially through forms and programs of the apostolate fittingly adapted to the circumstances of time and place.

Our Bishops responded to the Pope’s encouragement and here is a brief highlight of the documents leading to their goal. November of 1999, the document “Our Hearts Burning Within Us” a pastoral plan for adult faith formation in the United States was written. This is an excerpt from the document: Let us strengthen our commitment and intensify our efforts to help adults in our communities be touched and transformed by the life-giving message of Jesus, to explore its meaning, experience its power, and live in its light as faithful adult disciples today. Let us do our part with creativity and vigor, our hearts aflame with love to empower adults to know and live the message of Jesus. This is the Lord’s work. In the power of the Spirit it will not fail but bear fruit for the life of the world.

In June 2002, the document, “Go and Make Disciples” was released. This is what the Bishops stated, “The topmost goal that Bishops have set for Catholic evangelization is: “To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith, that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others.”

Two years ago the National Directory of Catechesis was published. The message of the directory states, “Lifelong catechesis is absolutely necessary for the Christian formation of the faithful”.

AND last year it culminated in the publication of the United States Catechism for Adults. It is an adaptation of the Catechism. The format follows the same as the Catechism and is presented in a more easily read text. It is the goal of the United States Catechism to help facilitate the lifelong conversion of the whole person to the Father’s call to holiness and eternal life.

Two facets surface in the documents. One - ADULT CATECHESIS needs to be relevant to this time and place. Secondly and more importantly catechesis is a lifelong conversion, we are being continually transformed in the glory of the Lord.

SO WE HAVE THE SCRIPTURES, WE HAVE THE DOCUMENTS AND THE Catechisms – MANY ASK HOW DO WE DIVE IN!!!

This brings us to Why Catholic?

Renew International presents Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism – It is a process that will help adults renew their bond with Christ, deepen their Catholic faith and understanding of God and connect its teachings to their everyday lives. They will have a working knowledge of the Catholic faith and in turn be able to share those beliefs and pass them on to their children and others who desire to know more about our faith.

Why Catholic? is

Solidly based on Sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
It also fosters the goals of Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us.

Bishop Gettelfinger has invited all the parishes of the diocese to adopt this program, we have accepted along with 47 other parishes. Over the past five weeks in the diocesan newspaper the Bishop has focused on the progressive history of catechesis over the last century. He explains why many adults today do not feel they are able to pass down their faith to their children and lack a connectedness themselves.

Our first step in bringing Why Catholic? to our parish was the establishment of a planning team. The main responsibility of the team is to see that the program is implemented within the parish and that all parish members have an opportunity to participate. The process primarily takes place in the small community settings of six to twelve people. Being in a small community encourages us to grow with the support of others, to be able to participate on a level that each person feels comfortable with. Small groups provide an environment for formation. Together, the small group will experience prayer, sharing, learning, mutual support and mission. Small groups may meet in the home or at the parish. The group may choose their time and location. Each group will have a small group leader. The role of the leader is to facilitate, they are not the educator, the participant books guide the group through the sessions. Over the next two days a number of people will be attending a training led by Renew International. Later another training will be offered by the planning team.

With this program Renew International provides continuous support and trainings so that we can maximize the potential of the program. The overall format of the program coincides with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The program is divided into four segments. The first segment comprises the first part of the Catechism: The Profession of Faith. The remaining segments follow accordingly: The Sacraments, Morality and Christian prayer. Each segment has twelve sessions. The first six will take place this spring and the latter six next Fall. This schedule will continue on until all four segments are completed. After each segment the parish will have a chance to evaluate how we can improve upon our program here in our parish. There will also be small group leader trainings prior to each segment.

Our hope is to optimize the advantages of the small group communities. Other elements that will be offered is a Parish Retreat, Faith Formation and Enrichment Sessions and larger group segment sessions. You have heard all the benefits that each of us can receive, but the word has to get to everyone in a way that will connect for them. It is my hope that we will have at least 200 people start the program this coming spring. There are so many roadblocks in front of people that faith formation for adults is easily put aside. The schedules that people maintain today are daunting; at times they seem to be a perpetual search for fulfillment. It is my belief that if we can encourage others on a welcoming level to attend the first session of the first book, the questions of WHY should we make space for Why Cahtolic? can begin to be addressed. The first session is titled: Desire for God. There is within each person an internal desire for God, a deep yearning for the holy. It may be an old lesson and you may have heard it many times - That fulfillment comes through God, BUT perhaps this program will help people to understand WHY! Fulfillment comes through God.

For questions contact Kathryn in the Parish Office

Since 16 Jan 2008