ST. RAPHAEL ADULT FAITH FORMATION PARISH PLAN - -Updated 5-7-2014

ST. RAPHAEL ADULT FAITH FORMATION PARISH PLAN - -updated 5-7-2014

St. Raphael Adult Faith Formation - 2014-2015

I. Vision Statement

St. Raphael Adult Faith Formation (AFF) serves parishioners by planning and promoting programs that express and deepen their love for God, one another, and the Church. Six dimensions guide program content: Creed/Scripture, Liturgy, Morality, Prayer, Relationships, and Missionary Spirit. Various formats are used, including retreats, lectures, DVD’s, online learning, and discussion groups. The St. Raphael AFF team plans and promotes programs for the parish as a whole, and supports adult faith formation programs offered though other parish ministries.

II. Principles

1. AFFworks to articulate the reality of God’s message and connect it with daily life and culture involvingthe individual, the family, the workplace, and the community.

2. In the spirit of the new evangelization, AFF strives to provide programs related to Catholic doctrine and life in a way that is new in “ardor, method, and expression.”

3. AFF works to provide programs that lead participants to continuing conversion and to full, active, and conscious participation in the liturgy and sacraments, and to loving service to others.

4. AFF develops an annual calendar of events and requests the required resources to ensure quality parish programming.

5. AFF respects different learning styles and the experience of adults and involves them in the faith formation process. Parishioners expect and will actively participate in programs that are worthwhile and meet their spiritual needs.

III. Immediate Goals

1. Explore and implement AFF programs that support and enrich marriage and family life.

2. Expand Bible Study programs as a basic component of AFF and encourage their widespread use.

3. Offer more opportunities for the certification and development of facilitators/catechists of adults.

4. Continue to build an AFF team, and related committees as needed.

4. Work within Archdiocesan guidelines to promote the new evangelization.

IV. Structure and Administration:

The coordinator of AFF works with the Pastor, parish staff and AFF team to discern the faith formation needs of the parish at large; and then plans, promotes and schedules programs, events and courses that will meet these needs.

V. Programs:

Current program offerings are posted on Facebook, the parish website, and in the parish bulletin as the dates, times, and meeting rooms are assigned. Please see:

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