Monday Message, January 9, 2023
KNOW
We will have our first check-in of 2023 on Tuesday. There is much to discuss as we head into the new year, including the conversations planned with Bishop Caggiano and catechists. Please join us.
The time for the Rite of Election on the first Sunday of Lent has been changed. Please make sure the RCIA coordinator in your parish knows of this change from 2 o’clock in the afternoon to 4 o’clock. The rite will still take place at the Cathedral. If you have children joining the church through the RCA process, please follow the prescriptions outlined for the young people. Their scrutinies and examination of conscience takes place at the parish level.
The registration for Confirmation formation for adults is set for April 1. Discover more and send this link to any adult in your para she wishes to be confirmed.
Pflaum is offering a free class pilot for a level of the Gospel Weeklies running from March 12 to May 7th of this current year, which comprises the 4th Unit / installment. They are allocating up to 20 free copies to a classroom set, plus teacher guides of course. This opportunity might be a good way to have the children in those grades to experience the Weeklies without any financial obligation and at the same time expose catechists / DREs to a deeper appreciation for the Sunday gospel connection in their teaching. All we ask is that the catechist fill out a simple online questionnaire afterwards. Contact Chris Adams for details.
For the next 4 to 5 weeks, the reflection below will include some thoughts on reimagining faith formation in the Diocese Of Bridgeport. This five-part series is being sent exclusively to parish catechetical leaders by way of Monday Messenger.
REFLECT
Why We Are Reimagining Faith Formation?
Since the release of Bishop Caggiano’s Invitation to Lifelong Formation in 2017, there have been ongoing conversations in the Diocese of Bridgeport about how we can improve our efforts to teach the faith to the next generation. Over the past five years, pastors have discussed the topic, catechists have brainstormed new ideas, and some parishes have altered their approach to catechesis. But why do we need to change?
Ultimately, the fallen world has broken our hearts and our communities in ways we have never seen. Loneliness among young people is at record highs. Technology has disconnected personal relationships. Depression rates continue to soar. This is all fed by a cultural apathy towards faith and far too many people, even those sitting in the church pews, not experiencing the healingpower of Christ’s redeeming love.
The common approach of classroom catechesis, where one gains knowledge about the life of Jesus and teachings of Catholicism, falls short because many adolescents do not have a personal relationship with God. Why would someone want to learn anything about someone they do not know? Some may struggle with even knowing what a relationship is because their primary connection is with technology, not God. Historically, the relationship with the person of Jesus was formed in the home, prior to the child entering formal catechesis. Now we find ourselves with children whose moms and dads lack the language to articulate the faith – or may even lack a personal connection with God themselves.
While the Church, and the Diocese of Bridgeport specifically, have been very blessed with faithful men and women who have given countless hours to share the faith they love so dearly, these historical ways of doing so is broken. The need to reimagine our approach is not just unique to faith formation: public educators and Catholic school teachers alike will tell you that the way we engage a child in formation, whether in science, math, or religion, is very different than it was ten years ago, even five years ago.
On the September 28, 2022 episode of Let Me Be Frank, “A new way to re-evangelize the Church,” Bishop Caggiano discussed his vision for what formation could look like beyond the pandemic. At the core of his message is recreating a modern Catholic culture where all people, particularly the young, have opportunities to encounter Christ and fall in love with Him throughtheir parish community. A community where everyone feels welcomed, loved, and at home can only be created through relationship that reaches the heart, recognizing Jesus as our friend, teacher, and savior.
In the upcoming weeks, we will be highlighting ways to reimagine faith formation that help build this new Catholic culture, rooted in community. We will unpack both the HOW (our approach to formation) and the WHO (potential structures to accomplish the how). Finally, we will look forward at the next steps needed to move us all from the head, knowing about Jesus, to the heart, personally knowing Jesus’ love.
Thank you in advance for joining us on this journey.
LAUGH
