"Our Hearts are Burning. . ." helping adults renew and strengthen faith

by JoAnn Borchert

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in their document "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us" challenge us to awaken throughout the church in our country a passion for renewal in the ministry of adult faith formation. The term adult faith formation is used to name the whole field of activity in catechesis and education of adults.

In the spring of 2001 twenty people from the New Ulm diocese, representing a cross section of all members in a parish life, met to study the document "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us" (OHBW) and make suggestions for the implementation in the Diocese of New Ulm. This study left them with an excitement for the future. Participants left affirmed by recognizing what is happening in their parishes with a desire to do more. They felt that more people and parishes in the diocese should be exposed to this document and asked for more study opportunities on the OHBW document for all levels of leadership in parishes.

On December 17 Lori Dahloff, Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis will present a workshop on the document OHBW. She presented this workshop at the MCEA Convention in August. In the morning she will give an overview and in the afternoon address the - so what questions about the implementation of this vision. This workshop will provide participants with insights for follow up of RENEW 2000. It is being sponsored by the Office of Adult Education/Faith Formation. This gathering will take place at St Francis de Sales parish, Winthrop. Gathering will be at 9:45 a.m. with the presentation starting at 10:00 a.m. Lunch will be served at noon with the wrap up presentation from 1:00-2:00 p.m. This offering is for pastors, pastoral leaders, parish staffs, parish committee members, and parishioners. To register contact the diocesan Religious Education Office at (507) 359 2966.

JoAnn Borchert is the director of Religious and Adult Education for the Diocese of New Ulm.