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ADULT CATECHESIS

Author finds 'lost Catholics'

While many Catholics feel at home in the Church, Mary DeTurris Poust found there is a whole generation of Catholics who want to belong, but feel as if they don't, in the Catholic Church. 

Mrs. Poust is the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Catholic Catechism," which was published last year. 

While promoting the book, she encountered many adults who described themselves as "lost" in the Catholic Church. 

Mrs. Poust, a parishioner of St. Thomas the Apostle in Delmar, soon found these lost Catholics had a common denominator: they grew up immediately following the Second Vatican Council, which was held during the 1960s and instituted many reforms.

In those years, many were confused or uncertain about what to teach in parish religious education programs and in Catholic schools. Craft projects and religious music filled the faith formation class time.

Collage class
"I went to public school and participated in faith formation during what I call the 'age of the collage,'" she said, then ex-pressed gratitude for what she learned at home. "I believe I am where I am today because of the foundation my family gave me."

Mrs. Poust will teach a course titled, "Lost Generation: Reaching Adult Catholics who are disconnected from the Church," on May 13 at 10 a.m., during the 36th Annual Spring Enrichment. The adult education program, sponsored by the Office of Catechesis, Evangelization and Family Life, will happen May 11-14 at The College of Saint Rose in Albany.

Mrs. Poust's course will explore ways to reconnect with this generation of Catholics. Rather than presenting a specific program or way of reaching this group, Mrs. Poust said participants in the course will share ideas and methods.

While some "lost Catholics" have found a home in other Christian churches, Mrs. Poust said many are Catholics registered at a parish and trying to raise their children in the Church.

"I've done focus groups," Mrs. Poust said. "These are people who are religious education teachers."

Seeking answers
Still others quietly bring their children to religious education classes or enroll them in Catholic schools, all the while hoping they will have their own questions answered.

Mrs. Poust has talked with lost Catholics around the country and has found they want to have a better understanding of their faith. "Even though they're lost, they are hungry," she said. "They are searching and they want to come back to the Church."

She has presented a similar workshop in Denver, Colorado, and in Metuchen, New Jersey. 

Since meeting these lost Catholics and hearing their stories, Mrs. Poust said she believes that the Church can find a way to reach out to this generation and bring them home. "This has made me hopeful," she said.

(The 36th annual Spring Enrichment will be held May 11-14 at the College of Saint Rose. It offers 164 courses, workshops and lectures. Open to all, it includes certification courses for catechists and youth ministers, special series for liturgical ministers and musicians, and theological refreshers. Last year, 1,100 people attended from this and four other dioceses including Montreal.

Information appeared in the March 19 issue of The Evangelist, and is also at www.rcda.org/spring_enrichment.html. The event's Mass will be held May 14, 12:15p.m., at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Albany.)

(04/30/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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