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GOF |
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What is GOF? |
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Generations of Faith is s new approach to
faith formation is taking hold in parishes
across the United States and Canada. For
over thirty years the Catholic Church has
offered a comprehensive and compelling
vision of faith formation and learning;
lifelong, for all ages and generations,
rooted in the life of the Church. |
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Generations of Faith is an innovative
approach to faith formation that equips the parish to become a community of
learning by creating lifelong faith formation that is centered in the events of
church life, that embraces all ages and generations, and that promotes faith
growth at home, through parish preparation programs, and, most importantly,
through participation in church life. |
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Embracing the vision of faith formation
requires moving our comfort zone away from
the schooling model to a community or "whole
church" approach of faith formation. This
shift toward the new paradigm requires a
series of significant changes. |
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- Moving from a focus on children-only
(think of all the time, energy, resources we
still commit to children only) by
implementing lifelong faith formation for
all ages and generations, including and
especially adults.
- Ending "start and stop" catechesis (think
graduation at confirmation; think
preparation for sacraments) by implementing
lifelong and continuous faith. formation,
learning for a lifetime through involvement
in the events of church life
- Overcoming age segregation (think grade
levels or groups-youth group, older adults
group) by implementing intergenerational
faith formation, making connections among
the generations in learning programs and
parish involvement.
- Moving beyond the focus on the "textbook
as the curriculum" by utilizing the events
of Church life as the curriculum for all
ages and generations, tapping into the
educative and transformative power of the
Church Year, sacramental celebrations,
community prayer, and works of justice and
service and providing catechesis that
prepares everyone to learning by
participating in the events of church life.
- Changing the practice of catechesis as a
separate "program" by implementing a more
collaborative and integrated approach that
involves all of the parish's ministries in
faith formation, and views catechesis in its
connection with liturgy, sacraments, the
Church year, prayer, justice and service.
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Faith formation at Infant of Prague is being
transformed. We are moving toward a
curriculum that is centered on the formative
events of the Church community and the
participation of all ages and generations in
the shared experiences of Church life.
Infant of Prague has embraced the
Generations of Faith approach to faith
formation.
At the heart of the Generations of Faith
approach is developing the parish as a
lifelong, learning community, a congregation
of learners. It is essential that we empower
every member of our community to become both
teachers and learners. In a learning
community, learners are teaching, teachers
are learning, and all activities-meetings,
worship, service, and community
events-include learning. Through this
approach parish communities can be
revitalized and transformed. |
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A congregation of learners is a center for
authentic Catholic learning, viewed as a
lifelong endeavor that grows out of the life
of the community, and which, in turn,
strengthens the community. A congregation of
learners creates a culture of learning. In
such a congregation, learning permeates
every aspect of the congregation. Catechesis
is seamlessly integrated with liturgy,
justice and service, prayer and
spirituality. Catechesis prepares people for
active, conscious, meaningful participation
in liturgy and the Church Year. It helps
them reflect on the meaning and significance
of their participation for their lives as
Catholics. Catechesis prepares people for
the work of justice and acts of service, and
help them reflect on the connection between
actions and their Catholic faith. Every
activity of church life is viewed as an
opportunity for learning. |
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This approach to learning leads to a
deepening of Catholic commitment and
expanding Catholic practice. It contributes
to the creation of a strong sense of
community, and develops a community's
capacity to be self-renewing. |
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