A programme of Catholic Adult Formation was launched last week utilising the media and cyberspace as, according to Archbishop Edward Gilbert, these were the new channels for lifelong catechesis/religious education.

In launching this latest pastoral initiative, the Archbishop acknowledged that “media and cyberspace have become the stage for the dialogue”, adding that the packaging of the theological message must also be adjusted (see Archbishop’s Column).

It was in May that he announced a plan for an Adult Formation programme and last week’s initiative was the first phase of this plan, which is under the aegis of the Antilles Episcopal Conference (AEC).

During October 16-20, four presenters conducted live teaching sessions via television (TCN Channel 10) radio and the Internet, under the overall theme of The Catholic and the Bible.

The presenters were Fr (Dr) Arnold Francis, lecturer at the Regional Seminary, who spoke on “The Bible and Inspiration”; Wendy Ann Jones, principal of the Bible Institute, who discussed “The Bible and Inerrancy”; Dr Everard Johnston, lecturer at the Regional Seminary, who dealt with “The Book of Revelation”; and Fr (Dr) Henry Charles, former rector of the Regional Seminary, lawyer, weekly columnist and parish priest of St Patrick’s, Newtown, whose presentation was titled “The Bible and Morality”.

A call-in segment followed each lecture. The four sessions will be compiled on a DVD for distribution to parishes and religious communities for communal viewing, study and discussion.

“The method can and will be refined after evaluation,” Archbishop Gilbert said.
The Committee on Adult Formation has recommended that facilitators be provided by the parishes to guide the discussion and answer questions arising from the lectures.

As the programme is regional in scope, all bishops of the AEC will also receive a copy of the DVD compilation for use in their parish communities.

In his column this week, Archbishop Gilbert expressed the hope that the Adult Formation programme would become part of the life of the Caribbean Church and urged participation in the process.

The Catholic News will produce an eight-page pullout of the texts of the four talks in its November 12 issue.