The archdiocese is in the process of planning for the opening of an ongoing Adult Formation Programme in October 2006.

The programme will follow the “go to the people” pattern that was used for the Eucharistic Congress, namely, videotapes and reflection questions that can be used in either parish settings or in small groups in homes so the homebound can participate.

The purpose of this column is to provide a report on: 1) the present status of the planning and programming; and 2) to show how the archdiocesan planning has been influenced by the catechetical teaching of the Vatican and the Antilles Episcopal Conference.

Historical development

On August 11, 1997, the Congregation for the Clergy published the General Directory for Catechesis. It reminded the dioceses of the Catholic world of their responsibility to promote, organise and co-ordinate catechetical activities. It called for an intensification of catechetical activities in our times.

Three years later, the Antilles Episcopal Conference issued a Pastoral Letter On the Ministry of Catechesis. It was occasioned by the Jubilee Year 2000. The Bishops analysed the pastoral situation in the Caribbean Church.

They concluded that, “the truth is that people are confused, drifting from the Faith and unable to articulate or defend the Faith. They are vulnerable to contemporary trends. Many Catholics are uncomfortable with the faith vulnerability they experience.” (On the Ministry of Catechesis, N. 13-14).

In 2004, the bishops followed the Pastoral Letter on Catechesis with a second document, Guidelines for Catechesis, which concentrated on lifelong catechesis and adult formation.     

Following the lead of the General Directory for Catechesis, the Guidelines stressed that adult catechesis is the primary catechesis in the Church.

It is the reference point for the catechesis of others in the Church e.g. the catechesis of children by their parents requires that the parents themselves are involved in the process of deepening their faith.

In 2005, the AEC Catechetical Commission gathered the head catechist and a representative of the Presbyteral Council from each (arch)diocese in the Conference to a three-day workshop to discuss lifelong catechesis and adult formation. The group presented a number of resolutions for consideration to the Bishops’ Conference.

In 2006, the AGM of the Bishops’ Conference accepted the resolutions of the workshop and added the issue of lifelong catechesis and adult formation to the agenda of the AGM for 2007.

In the meantime, the bishops encouraged the Catechetical Commission of the Conference to continue pursuing the goal of lifelong catechesis and adult formation for the Caribbean Church.

Structure of the Adult Formation Programme

There will be two sessions each year. The committee will choose a theme for study and reflection for a period of five weeks prior to Advent and again for five weeks after Easter.

The chosen theme will be approached from five distinct viewpoints in the context of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the teaching of the Magisterium.

Each presenter will prepare a 30-45 minute lecture on the assigned aspect of the theme, offer reflection questions to link the lecture to the lives of the people and a suggest a select bibliography for personal study.

The lectures will be communicated in the following ways:
1) They will be videotaped and distributed to the parishes, religious communities, Public Associations of Christ’s Faithful and the Regional Seminary. The videotapes may be duplicated if desired e.g. for those who may want to begin to build a library of videotapes.
The Committee has recommended that facilitators be provided by the parishes for the discussion of the reflection questions e.g. the parish priest/administrator or the catechists of the parish. 
2) During the same five-week period, the Catholic News will produce a supplement that contains the text of the lectures.
3) The lecture will be presented simultaneously on cable television through Trinity Communications Network and on radio. There will be a call-in segment to the programme. 

October-November 2006

The committee has chosen the theme for the first five-week series: The Catholic and the Bible. The theme will be approached in the following manner:
The Bible and Inspiration                                  Fr Arnold Francis
The Bible and Inerrancy                                    Wendy Ann Jones 
The Bible and Culture                                       Sr Diane Jagdeo OP
The Bible and Morality                                 Fr Henry Charles
The Bible and the Literary                                  
Style/Images of the Apocalypse                        Dr Everard Johnston

The Archdiocesan Communications Commission has accepted responsibility for advertising the Adult Formation Programme. Trinity Communications Network and the Catholic Communications Studios have accepted responsibility for preparing and duplicating the videotapes.

The Chancellor’s Office has assumed responsibility for distributing the tapes.

Conclusion

The Adult Formation Programme is a very positive response to the call of the Church for lifelong adult formation. It is my hope that the leadership of the archdiocese will collaborate with this initiative and, along with the people, benefit from the programme.