Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation
Metro Catechetical Plan

Goals and Strategies



1) To continue to develop and grow the Waterloo Faith Formation Commission to oversee and determine effective faith formation in all ten areas of catechesis.

Strategies:
Immediate a) Develop and maintain a structure that ensures a collaborative approach to employing Faith Formation personnel and determining their ministry descriptions.
Ongoing b) Develop a specific process for maintaining dialog and communication between the Faith Formation Commission and the Cedar Valley Catholic Schools Board.
Ongoing c) Invite St. Patrick Parish to join this process.
Ongoing d) Conduct an Orientation Session for newly elected/appointed members of the Faith Formation Commission.
Ongoing e) Administer cooperative religious education and formation opportunities with the existing parish Faith Formation Directors (DREs), the Director of Adult Formation, and youth ministers.
Ongoing f) The Faith Formation Directors will review their job descriptions and make
recommendations regarding their administrative roles and future configuration by November 2011.
Ongoing g) Nurture and recruit faith formation leaders.
Ongoing h) Improve communication between the WCFFC and Pastoral Councils. Parish representatives will forward WCFFC minutes to parish secretaries for inclusion in Pastoral Council materials. Pastors will be added to the group email.


2) To place a renewed emphasis on life-long faith formation for adults and young adults.

Strategies:
Immediate a) Coordinate a consistent message about the parishes' commitment to life- long faith formation which expressesd the faith community's awareness and sensitivity to the changing needs and conditions of adults and families in the Church today. This message could be communicated through:
-- Consistent homily ideas
-- a brochure or bulletin insert
-- Introduction of Faith Formation Commission representatives in each parish annually to report on the work of the WCFFC
-- Witness to life-long faith formation from the Commission representatives and/or other lay leadership.
Immediate b) Implement “Year of the Eucharist” activities to encourage efforts to ensure that Sunday worship will foster continued spiritual growth and a hunger for a deepening faith appropriate to all adult and young adult lifestyles, consistent with the ancient conviction that "as the church prays, the church believes."
Intermediate c) Study, choose and implement a shared renewal experience for adults and young adults in the Waterloo parishes (eg, Christ Renews His Parish, Living in Christ, etc.) (2012)
Long d) Revive Theology on Tap for young adults.
Immediate e) Begin planning for the creation or conversion of physical facilities that are accessible and appropriate environments for adult and young adult formation.


3) To meet the changing needs of families.

Strategies:
Ongoing a) Use results from the parent survey to determine future faith formation options.
Immediate b) Plan one shared metro event.
Ongoing c) Stress the parishes' awareness and sensitivity to the changing needs and circumstances of families and offer options on an individual bases when needed.
Immediate d) Study the coaching model for sacramental preparation during the 2010- 2011 year.
Immediate e) Offer a two-week faith formation program for grades 1-8 during the summer of 2011.
Ongoing f) Invite parents with special needs children to participate in a support group.


4) To maintain and expand opportunities for religious education and faith formation for middle school and high school students in collaboration with Waterloo Area Youth Ministry.

Strategies:
Immediate a) Offer retreat opportunities for all high school and middle school students (Catholic and non-Catholic school students)

Ongoing b) Develop strategies with Youth Ministry to meet the needs of students in publicschools. Intermediate c) Explore options to C.O.R.E. program
Ongoing d) Plan service experience for parents, tweens and teens
Ongoing e) Adopt a mentoring approach to encourage youth to become more active in the life of the Catholic faith community.

Intermediate f) Recruit and develop adult volunteers. Long g) Develop specific methods to involve Hispanic youth in Youth Ministry offerings.

5) To develop strategies which ensure that social justice and service are essential parts of religious education and faith formation at every level, including efforts to insure that Catholics grow in their ability to act in response to social, political, and economic needs.
Strategies:
Intermediate a) Collaborate with parish Social Justice committees to provide a joint service project for all parish members/parish leaders.
Ongoing b) Promote participation by parishes in community service projects and community meal(s)
Ongoing c) Plan more programs or events featuring speakers who have real-life experience
Intermediate d) Plan a forum for parents and high school students on practical applications of Catholic Social Teaching
Long e) Develop immersion experiences for adults, young adults and/or families





6) To challenge parish leaders, pastoral councils, and parishioners to recognize the central role which liturgy plays in the formation and education of the Catholic community; to examine ways in which we can respond to the need for more diverse, engaging and spiritually satisfying liturgies.

Strategies:
Immediate a) Invite Pastoral Leaders into a conversation about liturgy and its role in the faith formation of all.
-- The purpose of this conversation is to recognize the challenges, identify possibilities for change and improvement (eg, using the same Question of the Week in all parishes; inviting lay people to reflect on the Sunday message; outdoor Mass; "bridge" worship experiences).
Intermediate b) Initiate a program of an occasional exchange of pastors and music groups among the parishes.
Long c) Develop and sponsor more retreats and spiritual renewal experiences for adults, young adults and/or families.
Intermediate d) In collaboration with parish Liturgy committees, conduct an evaluation of parish liturgies by means of focus groups, town hall meetings, surveys, etc. Include opportunities for feedback from non-participating members.



Revised and adopted by the Waterloo Catholic Faith Formation Commission
February 2011.