"Adult faith formation, by which people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study, must be "the central task in the catechetical enterprise," becoming "the axis around which revolves the catechesis of childhood and adolescence as well as that of old age." Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, #5
The Church's catechetical mission aims to help the Catholic faithful of all ages to grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. This is accomplished through the integration of actual life experience, diverse adult learning needs, the study of Scripture, and the teaching of the Church's tradition will create a vibrant learning environment.
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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops have outlined three major goals to guide and direct efforts in adult faith formation:
1. Invite and Enable Ongoing Conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.
In response to God's call to holiness, our faith and life as adult disciples are grounded in developing a personal relationship with Jesus, "the Holy One of God" (Jn 6:69, Mk 1:24). Accordingly, "'at the heart of catechesis we find, in essence, a Person, the Person of Jesus of Nazareth. . . .' Catechesis aims at putting 'people . . . in communion . . . with Jesus Christ.'"
2. Promote and Support Active Membership in the Christian Community.
As adult believers, we learn and live our faith as active members of the Church. Our response to God's call to community "cannot remain abstract and unincarnated," but rather, "reveals itself concretely by a visible entry into a community of believers . . . a community which itself is a sign of transformation, a sign of newness of life: it is the Church, the visible sacrament of salvation."
3. Call and Prepare Adults to Act as Disciples in Mission to the World.
The Church and its adult faithful have a mission in and to the world: to share the message of Christ to renew and to transform the world. This dual calling to evangelization and justice is integral to the identity of the lay faithful; all are called to it in baptism. Accordingly, faith formation seeks to help each adult believer become "more willing and able to be a Christian disciple in the world." As salt of the earth and light for the world (cf. Mt 5:13-16), adult disciples give witness to God's love and caring will so that, in the power of the Spirit, they renew the face of the earth.
