Introduction

"Catechesis is an education in the faith of children, young people, and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life.’ (#5, Catechism of the Catholic Church, l994.)

"Adult catechesis concerns persons who have a right and a duty to bring to maturity the seed of faith sown in them by God. It is addressed to individuals who are charged to fulfill social responsibilities of various types and to those who are also prey to all kinds of changes and crises, sometimes profound. The faith of adults, therefore, must be continually enlightened, developed and protected, so that it may acquire that Christian wisdom which gives sense, unity, and hope to the many experiences of personal, social, and spiritual life." (#173, General Directory for Catechesis, 1998.)

"…adults ‘have the greatest responsibilities and the capacity to live the Christian message in its fully developed form.’ Their formation in faith is essential for the Church to carry out its mandate to proclaim the Good News of Jesus to the world.

…adult faith formation is ‘essential to who we are what we do as Church’ and must be ‘situated not at the periphery of the Church’s educational mission but at its center.’" (#’s 38, 42, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, Statement of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, 1999.)

"While the parish is the place of front-line ministry in adult faith formation, the bishop has primary responsibility for the general welfare of the local Church, and as teacher of the faith, he is the chief catechist of adults. To assist the bishop in carrying out this role, the task of supporting parish adult faith formation ministers is exercised normally by diocesan administrative offices, chiefly the diocesan catechetical office." (# 154, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, l999.)

Office for Catechesis Contact Persons

For information and resourcing on adult faith formation please contact one of the following Coordinators in the Office for Catechesis

Juan Carlos Farias-Gonzalez, Coordinator of Adult Catechesis (Spanish Speaking), jfarias@archchicago.org

Patrick Redington, Coordinator of Adult Catechesis (English speaking), predington@archchicago.org 

Coordinator of Chicago Catholic Scripture School is Carol Kloss ckloss@archchicago.org.

Telephone: Office for Catechesis and Youth Ministry
(312) 243-3700.