The Governing Principles
Three overall principles govern the Montelores Catholic Community’s program of lifelong faith formation. They were set in place by our pastor, Fr. Larrry Gallegos, at the program’s inception during August, 2007.
- Sunday Eucharist is the heart of the Christian life.
We strive to keep everything we do in our lifelong faith formation program in the Montelores Catholic Community flowing into Sunday Eucharist – our weekly celebration of Easter – and flowing out from Sunday Eucharist.
- Adults are the main focus for faith formation.
Ours is a program of total community catechesis that focuses first on adults. All other elements of the parish’s faith formation program flow from the teaching and learning we do with adults in our community.
- We strive to remain flexible.
Because our people come from a wide variety of backgrounds and expectations, and because we serve four parish communities, we are committed to supporting everyone in our parish community as best we can in their growth in faith.
Five further principles, approved by Fr. Larry, have been established by the Core Team leadership during the course of the 2007-2008 year.
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Our multi-generational Generations of Faith sessions – at least four per year – are the major hinges for our lifelong learning catechetical program each year.
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The liturgical year – from the First Sunday of Advent to the Solemnity of Christ the King – governs program scheduling, not the academic year.
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The major themes that the Church has established for complete catechesis will follow this six year sequence for the Montelores Catholic Community: Creed, sacraments, the Church’s liturgical year, prayer and spirituality, morality and justice.
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Our lifelong faith formation programs will be scheduled, as much as possible, adjacent to Sunday Eucharist.
- All other programs, including basic catechesis and sacramental preparation, will flow into and out from:
- Sunday Eucharist
- the basic theme of the particular year
- the program’s overall orientation to adults.
These principles are fully in accord with the General Directory for Catechesis published by the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy in 1998 and the National Directory for Catechesis published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2005.
The Program
The Generations of Faith sessions that punctuate the year and the weekly Living In Faith Together (LIFT) sessions are lifelong faith formation constants for the Montelores Catholic Community. They are basic catechesis for everyone, and we urge all parishioners to participate. We require participation in them for everyone enrolled in basic catechesis and sacramental preparation.
Generations of Faith
The Generations of Faith sessions, based on a particular topical category each year and integrated with the events of the Church year and parish life, are the major lifelong learning milestone events that mark progress through each liturgical year. All other programs are thematically structured to flow into and flow out from the yearly Generations of Faith events.
Basic Catechesis
Living In Faith Together (LIFT) Adult Scripture Study
Weekly reflection on the Sunday readings is basic ongoing catechesis for adults. The sessions are scheduled adjacent to Eucharist for approximately half of the Sundays of the year.
Living In Faith Together (LIFT) with Young People
LIFT is our basic ongoing catechesis program for young people. It is scheduled adjacent to Eucharist for a minimum of 21 Sundays of the year. This basic program is structured to flow into and flow out from the Generations of Faith sessions, which are a required element of basic catechesis; the LIFT and the GOF sessions are coupled as one program. This basic catechetical program each year explores one of the six major topics of study required by the Catholic Church: creed, sacraments, liturgical year, prayer and spirituality, morality and justice.
These young people’s sessions, done simultaneously with the adult Scripture study, begin with a light meal.
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
We invite all adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist to participate in a preparation program that may last one or two years, depending upon the adult’s needs and previous catechesis. The program requires participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT Adult Scripture Study
RCIA sessions shaped for the candidates each year
Public rites marking passage from the precatechumentate into the catechumenate, through election and into mystagogical catechesis after initiation
Rite of Full Reception into the Catholic Church
We invite all baptized adults seeking Confirmation and Eucharist to participate in a preparation program of one year’s duration, depending upon the adult’s needs and previous catechesis. The program requires participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT Adult Scripture Study
Sessions shaped for the candidates each year
Various public rites marking passage from candidacy, through election, to mystagogical reflection after initiation
Young People’s Initiation
Rite of Christian Initiation for Children
We require children of catechetical age (over 5 years) seeking Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist to participate in a preparation program that may last one or two years, depending upon the child’s needs and family catechesis. The program requires participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT with Young People
RCIC sessions shaped for the candidates each year
Various public rites marking passage from the precatechumenate into the catechumenate, through election and into mystagogical catechesis after initiation.
Rite of First Eucharist
We require children who have reached the age of reason (approximately 7 years of age) and who seek to join the assembly for the reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord in Eucharist – and their parents – to enroll in a preparation program of one year, depending upon the child’s needs. The program requires participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT with Young People/LIFT Adult Scripture Study
Three catechetical sessions shaped for the candidates and their parents each year
Rite of acceptance and welcome, and the rite of First Eucharist itself.
Rite of Confirmation
We require young people in high school who seek to be anointed by the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit – and their parents – to be enrolled in a preparation program of two years, depending upon the young person’s needs. The program requires participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT with Young People/LIFT Adult Scripture Study
Three catechetical sessions shaped for the candidates and parents each year
One deanery retreat
Five community service events
Rite of acceptance and welcome, the rite of sending and the rite of Confirmation itself.
Rite of Infant Baptism
We require parents seeking the baptism of their infant son or daughter, and the child’s godparents, to prepare for receiving the sacrament by participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT for Adults
Catechetical session shaped for parent and godparent preparation
Rite of Reconciliation and Penance
We require those children who have reached the age of reason, who are preparing for First Eucharist and/or who are seeking to celebrate God’s merciful forgiveness of their sins – and their parents – to be enrolled in a preparation program of one year, depending on the child’s needs. The program requirements are participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT with Young People/LIFT Adult Scripture Study
Five catechetical sessions shaped for the candidates and parents each year
Rite of Matrimony
We require those couples who seek to enter into a lifelong covenant relationship with God and one another in marriage to be enrolled in a preparation program of at least six months. The program requirements are participation in:
Generations of Faith
LIFT Adult Scripture Study
Interview to complete diocesan forms
Inventory sessions with a married couple from the parish
Diocesan sponsored retreat
Leadership
Our lifelong faith formation program is led by the Lifelong Faith Formation Core Team, headed by the Coordinator for Lifelong Faith Formation. The Core Team comprises experienced educators and catechists. They are men and women from all the communities within the Montelores Catholic Community.
Please feel free to contact the Church Office at 565-7308 for information or to offer suggestions about our parish lifelong faith formation program.
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