Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2009 / CSA assists with adult faith formation across archdiocese
CSA assists with adult faith formation across archdiocese
by Robert Delaney of The Michigan Catholic
Published April 17, 2009
 Clarkston — Adult faith formation is among the top priorities for St. Daniel Parish, with separate parish committees for its men's programs, women's programs, Scripture study, RCIA and baptism preparation program.
"We consider baptism preparation adult faith formation, because we're forming the parents," explains Cheryl Smith, adult faith formation coordinator at the Clarkston parish.
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Robert Delaney | The Michigan Catholic
Cheryl Smith is the adult faith formation coordinator at St. Daniel Parish, Clarkston, and says archdiocesan programs offer numerous benefits. |
Smith says St. Daniel's adult faith formation programs benefit in many ways from resources and programs of the archdiocesan Office of Christian Worship and the Office of Catechetics and Faith Formation. The Worship Office, a part of the archdiocesan Department of Parish Life and Services, and the Catechetics Office, part of the Department of Education, are among the ministries funded by the annual Catholic Services Appeal.
As the part-time paid adult faith formation coordinator for the parish, Smith works with all the committees involved in the various aspects of the program.
Their goal, she says, is to implement the pastoral plan for adult faith formation contained in the U.S. bishops' 1999 document, "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us."
Specifically, the parish uses the "Echoes of Faith" catechetical materials series, published by Benzigner, which Smith says "has a very effective adult component."
Smith points to the various workshops offered by the Worship Office as among the very helpful programs made possible through CSA funding, especially citing a recent one conducted by Paul Turner.
"Several members of my team and I have participated in these workshops," she says.
The archdiocesan programs for the certification of catechists is another important CSA-supported resource, Smith continues.
"We're getting close to having many certified catechists here. They're absolutely important to the work I do," she says.
Also, many people from the parish have attended the Castelot Summer Scripture Series at St. John Center in Plymouth Township, named for the late Fr. John Castelot, who was Scripture columnist for The Michigan Catholic. The series is another CSA-supported activity.
Besides traditional classes at the parish, St. Daniel's adult formation program makes use of the Internet. Participants in its baptism preparation program go on-line to respond to five questions a week before they meet as a group for worship, fellowship and a rehearsal the day before the baptisms.
Also, there is an on-line discussion group for those involved in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). Smith says she expects to be making even greater use of the Internet in the future, and also points to the on-line certification courses now available through an arrangement between the archdiocese and the University of Dayton.
"I anticipate we will have several adults from here tap into that," she says.
Smith, who has a master's degree in theology from SS. Cyril & Methodius Seminary in Orchard Lake, says one of the most important aspects of her job for her has been "my own continuing formation."
Besides the Worship Office and the rest of the Department of Parish Life and Services and the Education Department, the Catholic Services Appeals funds most of the ministries of the Archdiocese of Detroit. Among those are the Catholic Schools Office (which is also part of the Education Department), Sacred Heart Major Seminary, the Metropolitan Tribunal, many college and hospital chaplaincies, the CTND Catholic cable TV channel and The Michigan Catholic.
Preliminary work on the annual CSA is already under way in most parishes, and the appeal to all parish members to pledge their support for CSA begins next month.
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