3. Lifelong Goals for Faith Maturing

Focus

• Translating the shared vision of catechesis into lifelong goals for maturing in faith that guides the design of catechesis at every stage of life.

Reading

• Read Chapters 1 and 2 in the Directory for Catechesis
• Read Chapter 1 in Guided by the Directory

Activity #3. Developing Lifelong Goals for Faith Maturing

Using the five tasks of catechesis, your parish can develop goals for maturing in faith that apply to all ages throughout life. All catechetical activity can be developed around the goals for maturing in faith through developmentally appropriate experiences, programs, activities, and resources for families and each stage of life: children, adolescents, young adults (20s–30s), midlife adults (40s–50s), mature adults (60s–70s), and older adults (80+).

The goals provide a seamless process of fostering faith growth from birth through older adulthood because everyone shares a common vision of maturing in faith. Individuals, families, and the parish community can visualize how faith can mature from childhood through older adulthood. Catechetical curriculum and programming for families and for all ages and stages of life incorporate and integrate five tasks with their goals to provide a holistic formation in faith and the Christian life.

The Directory for Catechesis, like the 1997 General Directory for Catechesis, proposes tasks for catechesis that promote an integral Christian life and a holistic formation in faith: 1) knowledge of the faith, 2) understanding and experience of liturgical celebrations, 3) Christian formation of the moral conscience, 4) educating for prayer and in prayer, and 5) developing belonging to the Church and living its mission. These five tasks provide the framework for developing goals for maturing in faith for a lifetime. 

Develop Goals for Maturing in Faith for a Lifetime

Using the five tasks, create your parish goals for maturing in faith for a lifetime. These goals apply to all of the seasons of life, presenting a lifelong vision of faith maturing. At each stage of life life-stage appropriate catechesis is developed to bring the goals to life with families and age groups.