Intergenerational ministry grows in popularity

By Renee Webb, Globe editor
September 18, 2003

Intergenerational ministry is a trend in faith formation that has been gaining momentum within the Catholic Church in recent years.

In response, personnel from the Diocese of Sioux City have participated in a special training program through the Center for Ministry Development that centers on a Generation's of Faith approach to faith formation.

According to Dr. Stephan Davis, director of youth and intergenerational ministry for the diocese, this international approach to ministry is a response to what the bishops have been requesting.

"One of the things that we realized we need to place more focus on is adult religious or theological formation. We also need to do more things to strengthen families," he said. "The Generations of Faith targets both of those things. It brings the generations together to celebrate their faith in common - to learn, to pray, to sing, to reflect and gather."

Rather than being a specific program, Generations of Faith is an approach to faith formation.

One parish titled its Generations of Faith program as Catholic LIFE. The letters in LIFE representing faith formation that is: Lifelong, International, Family centered and Event driven.

While there is no one way to incorporate Generations of Faith into a parish or cluster, the Center of Ministry Development recommends tying into the events of the church year, fashioning family faith festivals around such church events as All Saints Day, Advent or Lent. These special intergenerational events may be centered on a special topic such as peacemaking or stewardship.

Davis pointed out that these faith festivals would consist of about a three-hour block of time.

"Part of the time, they would break into age specific groups - things for adults, adolescents, parents with young children. You also come together at the beginning and the end for prayers, songs, reflection and possibly a speaker that would appeal to everyone," he explained.

Davis mentioned that several parishes have been involved in training for this ministry approach for about a year.

"Beginning this fall, we have parishes that are going to implement the approach," he said.

There are six to seven parish clusters that are trying out this new approach to faith formation.

Sheilah Pound of St. Joseph Parish in Jefferson pointed out that her parish decided to investigate this approach to ministry because it did involve the whole faith community - across the generations.

"We did not feel that our faith formation was not working, but we liked what this new approach to catechesis had to say," she explained. "The young and the old can learn from each other."

Pound believes that the older parishioners can offer insight into the changes within the church that they have lived through while.

"It's the wisdom coming form the older people working with the excitement and enthusiasm coming from the youth working together to make a better church," she stressed.

The Jefferson parish has already established a four year plan based on themes. This first year they will look at Seasons of the Church.

"We have developed our faith formation or catechesis around the events of the lives in the faith community. The biggest thing we do as a faith community is come together in prayer," noted Pound, who is a member of the curriculum core team to bring this ministry to the parish. "Based on our theme this year - Seasons of the Church - we are offering three events this year."

The first will be a Festival of Saints, celebrating All Souls/All Saints. This event will be held Oct. 22. As recommended, they will split into age specific groups and come together as a big group as well. Ultimately, they hope to educate people so they have a better understanding about the people about All Souls/All Saints Day.

The next event will address holy week and the third will look at Penticost.

""So many people think that catechesis ends when you are in high school, but in reality faith formation happens throughout your lifetime. Christianity is a lifelong career and through this style of faith formation, you are moving in the right direction to make a stronger faith community and bring generations together," said Pound.

According to Kathy White, DRE at Sacred Heart Church in Spencer, her parish plans to offer three intergenerational gatherings this year.

In her training to ministry approach, she learned that all Catholics have the same basic beliefs but the practices really fall off with the younger generations.

"We are trying to bridge that cap between what we believe and what we practice," noted White. "Our goal in bringing the generations together is to get more people active in participating. If people are made aware of more aspects of their faith and have met some more people, they will feel more comfortable coming and worshipping."

She sees a lot of advantage to people of all ages connecting with one another and sharing their faith stories. White is hopeful that this will also bring together Catholic school and parish religious education families.

"I would say the biggest benefit will be the communication and the faith sharing," noted White.

Their first intergenerational event will be a Stewardship Fun Fair in October. Food will be offered at each station with individuals on hand to explain the assorted ministries available in the parish. A nursery will be available as well as kindergarten religious education classes. This event will be repeated twice. The following week, the parish will host a Sign Up Sunday.

The Webster County team parishes plan to sponsor four faith festivals throughout the coming year. Their first event will be an All Saints Faith Festival, which will be held twice - from noon to 2:45 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 26 or from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 29.

This event will begin with a meal, followed by a large group gathering to learn about the theme. Then everyone will go to their age specific group for learning activities and sharing, ending with celebrating together what they learned. Participants will also be provided with home kits to continue to explore the theme at home.

As the director of both youth and intergenerational ministry, this approach ties in well with Davis' ministry.

"It goods for them (young people) to learn from generations ahead of them and is good for the older generation to be around younger people and get to know them," noted Davis.

He believes that older parishioners can make a remarkable impact on youth. They may even discover commonalties in their faith experience.

"My position is also supposed to help youth integrate and take their rightful place as leaders in the church," said Davis. "I think the Generations of Faith approach offers a good avenue of integrating teens into normal church life."

Parishes involved in this new approach to ministry are encouraged to offer three to four "faith festivals" or other gatherings a year.

The Center for Ministry Development funded this ministry approach through a Lilly Foundation Grant. This ministry offers an extensive Web based educational and support component. For more information contact Davis at stephand@scdiocese.org.