Will a few weeks or months of preparing for the sacraments produce lifelong, enthusiastic Catholics? Speak Up participants said no, there is an urgent need to make faith formation available at every stage of life and in ways that speak to the minds and hearts of all people today, young and old. “Faith formation” means acquiring a thorough knowledge and ever-increasing depth of understanding of the riches of the faith, a deepening spirituality, and a living of the faith through our actions and our worship.
The people said they were concerned that faith formation too often comes to an abrupt halt after graduation from Catholic school, religious education programs or the reception of the sacraments. And yet, ongoing faith formation is important, as teen years are times of great challenge for young people and their parents.
Meanwhile, as young adults accept the vocations of marriage, Orders, religious life, or single life, a new dimension of faith formation is needed, but is seen as lacking. Likewise, there are unique formation needs of mid-lifers and seniors that too often are overlooked.