April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ADULT EDUCATION
Spring Enrichment courses boost faith
Not coincidentally, this year's theme is "Open the Door of Faith."
Spring Enrichment is open to anyone and includes certification courses for catechists and youth ministers. The full workshop schedule appears in this issue (pages 9-12); for more information, call the diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life, 453-6630.
Here are examples of just two of the courses to be offered:
K09, "Though He Slay Me, I Will Hope in Him (Job)," May 14, 4 p.m.
Rev. Patrick Butler, pastor of St. Edward's parish in Clifton Park, will lead this workshop geared toward pastoral care ministers, whose ministry includes work like visiting the sick.
The priest said that, before a pastoral care associate or volunteer can catechize or comfort others, he or she needs to buy into the idea that the greatest virtue is hope.
"You can't give what you don't have," Father Butler explained. "To deal well pastorally with people who are trying to express their pain, you really have to relate to yourself."
He will use passages from the Bible's book of Job to convey the message that God is always there for everyone.
"In the difficulty of life, there's still no one else to turn to but God," Father Butler said. Though Job is portrayed as suffering trial after trial, "Job still hopes in God. He's angry, he's upset, but refuses to curse God."
Job gives us "Scriptural insights into basically what it means to be human" and helps us accept our limitations and see ourselves as part of something larger, he said: "We're called to keep growing beyond ourselves."
He said some generations of Catholics were raised to believe God was an "other" who doesn't suffer with people. "At times, God could seem distant: We deal with Him when we want."
He said this topic is important because "if you look around, there is a great deal of suffering. There always has been, but more and more of us are aware of it.
"Life is difficult and there's no getting around that," Father Butler continued. "How do you thrive in that? How do you recognize the gifts you've already been given?"
I03, "Burning Hearts or Forgotten Souls: Where are the Adults in Your Parish?," May 14, 9:30 a.m.
Often-overlooked adult Catholics, who may not have learned more about their faith since confirmation, should be prioritized in parishes, said Joyce Solimini, associate director for adult faith formation of the diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life.
In her workshop, she'll outline the U.S. Bishops' adult faith formation plan.
"Adults are kind of left on their own, or if there is [any faith formation for adults], it's kind of haphazard," Mrs. Solimini said. But "adults are the ones who are most capable of living out the Gospel message. They're leaders and the ones who go and evangelize the others.
The country's bishops have called for parishes to appoint an adult faith formation leader and a team of volunteers, as well as catechists certified to teach adults. Mrs. Solimini said very few parishes in the Albany Diocese have a leader whose sole responsibility is adult faith formation, but many parishes have plenty of programming that reaches that group. The trick, she said, is becoming "more intentional" about "putting adults on the radar screen."
Mrs. Solimini noted that parishes should look at whether their gathering spaces for faith formation are "adult-friendly," not suited just for children. After that, parishes can think about activities they already do and "adult-ify" things like community service.
Ministries like social justice committees can explain their work in the parish bulletin as a conversation-starter. Many parishes also use Gospel discussion questions in adult faith formation gatherings, pose questions during homilies at Mass or post them in bulletins and on social media.
"No matter how big or small you are," Mrs. Solimini said, "you can do something."[[In-content Ad]]
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