Welcome to Faith Formation. You will see that our department covers many areas. We are responsible for education and formation of adults (Adult Faith Formation, Family Life, Marriage Preparation, Ministry Formation Program), youth (Religious Education, Scouts, Youth Ministry),  and families. We are also responsible for the Safe Environment Program that protects our children and vulnerable adults.

Fr. Ronald Rolheiser:

The 2012 Iowa Faith Formation Conference, to be held Saturday, April 14, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Hiawatha. Fr. Rolheiser, a nationally syndicated columnist featured weekly in the The Catholic Messenger, will speak on "Living the Ups and Downs of our Faith: Dark Nights and Doubt, A Failure of Faith or a Failure of Imagination?" The event will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please save the date now and more information will be forthcoming.

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Group rates at Area Hotels:

Days Inn & Suites Cedar Rapids offers a special rate of $71.96 for a room sleeping up to four guests. Call (319) 378-4012 by March 20 and mention the Iowa Catholic Conference to secure this rate.

Catechetical Sunday Theme

For those who plan far ahead, the focus for 2012 is on the New Evangelization. The 2012 Catechetical Sunday theme is: "Catechists and Teachers as Agents of the New Evangelization".

VLCFF (Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation:

This program is a joint partnership with the University of Dayton, OH. It is Internet distance-learning initiative that supports catechetical formation of the Church. This offers you online certification courses to catechists and adults throughout our diocese. This program is offered in English and Spanish. Clicking on the icon above will take you directly to the VLCFF program.

Please refer to these links for more information:

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Parishes with new catechetical leaders:

Directors or coordinators of faith formation, youth ministry, adult faith formation, RCIA, etc.are encouraged to contact our diocesan faith formation office. Please contact Barb Butterworth, 563-324-1911 or butterworthb@davenportdiocese.org, and she'll connect you with a staff person who can provide orientation and resources to help your new leader get a good start in ministry.

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Training Sessions for Leaders of Parish Programs:

Do you ever get this response when you ask someone to lead a discussion or study group in your parish, "I just don't know enough or how to facilitate a group?" There area so many good resources and programs, but what is really needed is a facilitator. A two-session training program is being offered for people interested in leading small-groups (Book clubs, faith sharing groups, bible study, Why Catholic?, Little Rock Scripture Study, etc.) To offer a training session in your deanery contact by email IlaMae Hanisch or call 641-791-3435.

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The Institute in Lifelong Faith Formation:

A program of the Center for Ministry Development, will offer weeklong courses at locations across the nation this summer. Topics include Fashioning Lifelong Faith Formation, Teaching for Discipleship, and Fostering Learning in a Community of Disciples. For more information, go to www.cmdnet.org.

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Free Scripture Resources:

Available from Little Rock Scripture Study, www.littlerockscripture.org. What Does the Bible Say About the Rapture and What Does the Bible Say About Six Days to Create the World are available as a two-page insert for bulletins/newsletters on an eight-page format for group discussion. Future titles are Being Born Again and Faith & Works. A 13-part series on Saint Paul beginning June 2008 is also a free download. For a small fee A Year of Sundays may be purchased. It includes a brief reflection and questions for each Sunday's Gospel for 2009.

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Certification Program for All Catechetical Leaders:

DRE, CYM, Principals, etc.and Catechists (all who teach children, youth, and adults). This was created by the Pastoral Services staff and will be distributed to each parish and school in the diocese about the certification program. Information regarding certification and the forms for recording hours may be found in the new Faith Formation Guidelines. A brochure with concise information was included in the October mini. The "Echoes of Faith" video/DVD series which is used for certification is available for loan email Barbara Butterworth or call 563-324-1911. To purchase your own series contact Resources for Christian Living (RCL), http://rclbooksandmore.stores.yahoo.net/catfor.html.

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Deanery Catechist In-Services:

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Whole Community Catechesis help available:

Orientation and consultation services for the Generations of Faith approach to whole community catechesis is now available through monthly conference calls sponsored by the Center for Ministry Development. Parishes interested in exploring Generations of Faith can call on the second Tuesday of each month at 1 p.m. Parishes already involved in Generations of Faith can call on the third Tuesday of each month, also at 1 p.m. To reserve a place on the conference call, contact Kristine@cmdnet.org

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On-line Evangelization Courses:

Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association (PNCEA) are convenient and very thorough. Check out the attached information and registration materials. For further information IlaMae Hanisch.

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Web Links:

www.ncea.org

www.usccb.org

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