Embracing a New Vision of Faith Formation 

Generations Learning Together

Faith Fest 2010-2011

Our goal for faith formation through Faith Fest is consistent with the Catechism and Church teachings that we strengthen our understanding and practice of our faith. Both the General Catechetical Directory and National Directory for Catechesis have given us a vision of what faith formation should be in the Catholic Church. They tell us:

• The church community is the primary communicator of faith tradition and practices (GDC #77, 141, 105)

• Lifelong faith formation is the norm for learning (GDC #56, 66, 80)

• Lifelong faith formation uses the whole life of the Church as the curriculum and content of faith formation. (GDC #77, 104, 141, 158, NDC 190)

According to the GDC faith formation should be an integrated process which must include several tasbs:

• The learning of Scripture and Catholic Tradition

• Learning the meaning of the liturgy, sacrament and the rituals of the Church

• Developing a life of prayer

• Developing moral values rooted in the teachings and example of Jesus

• Educating for involvement in justice and service to the larger human community

• Empowering all, especially the laity, to take on their duty to spread the “Good News” throughout society

According to the GDC, all of these tasks are necessary and should be done in community utilizing the richness of the events of the Church’s life.

Faith Fest uses these guidelines to promote lifelong faith formation for everyone, not just those who have children in faith formation or those who wish to receive sacraments. We invite all parishioners from the youngest to the eldest in all life situations as well as visitors from other parishes or other faith traditions and the wider community to join us at Faith Fest. Our vision for Faith Fest is to  have all ministries and activities connected to the topic of each Faith Fest and to continue the learning beyond each Faith Fest session.

Everyone who wants or needs to learn more about the Catholic faith is invited to attend one session of each Faith Fest to be presented approximately six times per year. After the Faith Fest session, we, the entire Holy Eucharist community. will celebrate an event in the life of the church, (for example, All Saint’s Day. Advent or Pentecost). Each participant will be given a Home Kit in order to continue to explore the topic of the Faith Fest. The Home Kit will contain opportunities to continue the dialogue begun at Faith Fest in the form of rituals. readings, games, meditations, and prayers.

What do we do at Faith Fest?

You are welcomed and seated at a table to form a group with other participants. A table may consist of a family of five (with a teen) attending together, a young, single adult and a senior, adult couple. There are table activities to do while everyone is welcomed that are tied into the topic of the session. We pray grace and then invite you to share a simple meal.
After the meal, there is an opening prayer in beeping with the topic of the Faith Fest followed by a learning activity for all ages together which introduces the subject of our Faith Fest in more detail. This may be a video, a song, or a skit for example. Next the table groups are formed into groups: for example, we might have families with children up to grade 4 stay together in Hoffman Hall, young people grades 7 through high school go to the Education Wing and adults with no young children in grade 4 or under also go to a classroom in the Education Wing. The theme and the various activities will determine how the large group will be divided.

After several activities, all participants come together again for a short period of discussion. Questions may be asked and closing thoughts shared. The Home Kit and any home activities are explained. Finally a closing prayer still centered on the topic is shared and we go forth to continue the Faith Fest experience in our homes and with our community.

FAITH FEST IS FOR EVERYONE!

• Everyone in the household

• Singles and couples

• Kids and teenagers

• Young Adults

• Moms and Dads

• Students

• Seniors

• Divorced or widowed members

• Visitors from other parishes or from out of town

• Those of other faith traditions

• Everyone

Faith Fest uses the Generations of Faith approach to provide faith formation for the entire parish so that all members of the parish community can learn together and from each other. This approach is centered on the events of the Church life. The aim of Faith Fest is for all ages and generations to continue to grow their faith at the sessions, at home and through participation in church life.

Faith Fest. Religious Education? Faith Formation? Yes! Faith Fest IS faith formation. What is different? It’s the “look” of faith formation. Faith formation can occur outside a classroom setting with a catechist teaching a weekly lesson. At Faith Fest, faith formation is a community of Holy Eucharist interacting, sharing, learning together and from each other with some guidance. It is the use of the Home Kit to continue growing faith as a part of every day life. It is the celebration of the Church event that has been the focus of Faith Fest together with the Holy Eucharist parish community.

Because we come together to learn with and from each other, Faith Fest provides parents with the information and opportunity to continue to be what they promised to be at their child’s baptism — the primary faith educators of their children. Faith Fest encourages adult faith formation, building family traditions and celebrating ordinary and special Catholic Christian occasions. Faith Fest reinforces and builds our identity as Catholic Christians in the family of Holy Eucharist Parish and gives us the tools to continue our journey as believers supporting each other.

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