Adult ed can take many forms

Adults who think of faith formation opportunities as formal classes held in a school room are out of luck at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs.

According to Nicolle Alonzo, pastoral associate for adult faith formation there, many opportunities exist for the ongoing education of adults.

"It depends on how you think about [faith formation]," she said. "It's not a program."

While many people think faith formation is for children only, Catholics are being challenged by Church leaders to change their thinking. The "General Directory on Catechesis," published by the Vatican, states that faith formation is a life-long process.

"Some people understand this," Mrs. Alonzo said, "but we have a long way to go before all adults know that they're not done [with their religious education] because they finished a formal faith formation program."

At St. Clement's, a wide variety of opportunities for adults go beyond the classroom, including regular parish retreats, small faith-sharing groups, guest speakers, volunteer opportunities and outings to diocesan-sponsored events.

A group of parishioners is in charge of organizing the retreats. There are typically two a year: one at the parish and a Lenten retreat at a retreat house. Organizers hold fund-raisers throughout the year so that all parishioners have the opportunity to attend, regardless of their ability to pay, Mrs. Alonzo said.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is another important offering at St. Clement's. "There is a lot of effort to make this the best program it can be," she said.

At St. Clement's, there is a similar process for children and youth who are becoming Catholics. When a person is converting to Catholicism at St. Clement's, their Catholic spouse (or parent if they are a child or youth) are invited to participate in the RCIA process. This is important because it helps that person, who was raised as a Catholic, understand more deeply the things they were taught as a child.

Those who participate in the RCIA have an understanding that becoming Catholic is just the beginning. "Christian Initiation is initiation into Catholic life," Mrs. Alonzo said. "There are still things to be learned. Those involved in RCIA know faith formation is a life-long process."

New Catholics at St. Clement's can continue to meet for discussion at the parish on a monthly basis.

Catholics returning to the Church also have opportunities to learn at St. Clement's. The parish offers evenings on the Eucharist for Catholics who have found the Mass has changed since they last attended. Returning Catholics also have the opportunity to meet with Mrs. Alonzo one-on-one to have questions answered.

Staffed by Redemptorist Fathers, St. Clement's is also the site of the order's St. John Neumann Residence. "We are very fortunate to have three priests involved in parish life," Mrs. Alonzo said, "and another with a Ph. D. in theology in residence."

Those resources allow the parish to offer educational opportunities throughout the year, Mrs. Alonzo said. For example, the parish hosted lectures every evening in May, offers an Advent lecture series and will be sponsoring a series on Purgatory.

(10-11-01)