Generations of Faith expanding through diocese

As it begins its second year at parishes in the Albany Diocese, Generations of Faith is entering a new phase, according to Joyce Solimini, associate director for Sacramental and Intergenerational Catechesis in the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis.

Last year, 17 parishes in the Albany Diocese pioneered the process, which was developed by the Connecticut-based Center for Ministry Development.

Generations of Faith includes all age groups and family lifestyles in what is termed "whole-community catechesis." Single persons, two-family households, families with children, retirees and nursing home residents can participate.

More join in

As the process begins its second year, Mrs. Solimini said that several more parishes have expressed an interest in the process.

The second year kicks off Oct. 5 with training workshops at Our Lady of Mercy parish in Colonie, 1-3 p.m. Any interested parish may send representatives.

"After that meeting, those interested will have the opportunity to decide if their parish wants to continue with the three planning workshops during the next year," Mrs. Solimini noted.

Representatives from two parishes that began the Generations of Faith process last year will discuss how effective the process has been for them.

Mentor

Nicole Alonzo, pastoral associate for adult faith formation at St. Clement's Church in Saratoga Springs, recently attended a national training workshop in Connecticut to become a mentor to parishes interested in becoming part of whole-community catechesis.

"This is a transformation in the way a parish can offer faith formation," she said. "At St. Clement's, it has transformed not only the individual but our entire parish community. Generations of Faith has been just what we've needed. It has [helped] our parishioners develop their faith on a deeper level.

"Each parish, as they look at the possibility of implementing Generations of Faith for themselves, must go through a period of struggle to find what is right for them. Not all faith communities are the same. Each parish needs the time to ask the questions 'Do we want to implement this process in our parish? If we do, how will it be done?'"

Flexibility

Mrs. Solimini explained that Generations of Faith is a five-year process of faith formation that can be expanded almost indefinitely because the parish can tune the subject matter into any given liturgical season.

"This process offers a parish the opportunity to have a systematic, complete catechesis -- not just haphazard events -- unfold over the course of a number of weeks," she said. "It provides the entire parish community with intergenerational faith formation."

Some of the study modules include the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, the liturgical seasons and saints.

Adaptability

Mrs. Solimini added that parishes have the option of going completely into the new process or maintaining part of their previous faith formation program.

"Parish personnel are free to utilize what they feel is best suited to their individual community," she said.

"At St. Clement's," Ms. Alonzo said, "our parish has come alive. We have been transformed as individuals, as families and also as an entire community. It has been a very successful, affirming process. Generations of Faith is not a cookie-cutter program. Rather, it is a process that each parish, whether they are a small, rural parish or a large, city parish, can make work for themselves. That's the beauty of it. There are many options from which to choose."

(For information on Generations of Faith, contact Joyce Solimini at 453-6630, or visit www.generationsoffaith.org.)

(9/16/04)