Education in our Catholic faith and tradition is a critical component of the Diocese of Green Bay's greater mission. Lifelong education, employing the three distinct and fundamental forms, is an integral part of our past success and future vision as a community of believers.

Through our adult faith formation programs we continue to support all members of our Catholic community in becoming well-versed in the tenets of our faith and committed to living as Jesus asked us to live.

• Calendar of Events
• Hearts On Fire!
• Vision/Goal
• Advisory Board
• Strategic Plan
• Parish Adult Faith Formation Program Locator
• Adult Faith Formation/Hearts on Fire Resources
• Drink to the Thirsty -- Statewide Adult Faith Formation Leadership Day

A variety of adult faith formation opportunities are available and nearly all classes are offered to adults at no charge. This is possible through the generosity of your donations to the annual Bishop’s Appeal. Thank you for supporting this ministry and ensuring the quality of adult programming in our Diocese.

• Now and At the Hour Of Our Death: A Life in the Spirit is an engaging and challenging presentation by Father John Doerfler, Vicar General of the Diocese of Green Bay, focusing on end of life issues, euthanasia, advance care directives, and more.
• Know Your Faith by Fr. John Girotti presenting how Catholics can charitably explain and defend their faith to others.
• Maintaining God’s Temple: Genuine Living for Women facilitated by Amberly Boerschinger, a young wife and mother active in the Diocese. She will be discussing what it means to care for yourself as a whole person and not simply care for your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
• United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) training sessions is being offered in Green Bay. Classes on the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults are being offered in Wrightstown and Appleton in 2009-10.
• The 7 Steps to Financial Freedom is a small group study for managing your money led by Amberly Boerschinger. This 7-session program will teach participants how to break free from the bondage of consumer debt and develop a realistic and Godly financial plan for the future. Couples are especially encouraged to take this program together. This series will take place at St. John Parish in Menasha.
• The Bible and The Sacraments training is the newest of the Journey Through Scripture series examining the sacraments of the Catholic faith.
• Drink to the Thirsty -- Statewide Adult Faith Formation Leadership Day Pam Coster, executive director of Charis Ministries, and Sr. Janet Schaeffler, OP, former associate director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Detroit, will discuss practical ways to reach adults; how to plan for successful programming; and the resources to make it all easier, on April 15 in Green Bay.

To register for any of these classes please contact Shelia, Department of Education at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 920-272-8276.

Strengthening adult faith formation in the Diocese of Green Bay

Vision/Goal

Adult Faith Formation Vision Statement:

The vision of adult faith formation for the Diocese of Green Bay is one that challenges our parishes to become more dynamic communities that support lifelong learning and growth in discipleship by placing adult faith formation at the center of parish life and by making the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults the foundational document for adult faith formation. The vision of the Department of Education is of a diocese made up of parishes where all adult members are immersed in lifelong catechesis and the mission of building up the Kingdom of God.

"The goal of adult faith formation to 'form adults who actively cultivate a lively baptismal and Eucharistic spirituality with a powerful sense of mission and apostolate. Nourished by word, sacrament and communal life, they will witness and share the Gospel in their homes, neighborhoods, places of work and centers of culture'" (Our Hearts Were Burning # 5)

Role of the Diocese of Green Bay:

The primary role of the Diocese of Green Bay is to affirm the priority of adult catechesis and to provide leadership, personnel, services and resources to assist parishes in developing adult faith formation programs.

The Diocese of Green Bay is enthusiastically committed to the vision of Adult Faith Formation as outlined in the United States Catholic Bishop’s pastoral document entitled "Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us" (1999) and in Bishop David Ricken’s pastoral letter "A New Moment for Catechesis in the Diocese of Green Bay" (2009)

We Affirm:

• The priority of lifelong Catholic education as the center of our Diocesan and parish catechetical efforts.
• The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults as the foundational document of adult catechesis.
• That the parish itself is an environment of adult faith formation. Every activity and relationship is a formative experience for learners and has the potential to form mature disciples.
• The call to place adult faith formation at the center of the Church’s catechetical mission involves a conversion and a shift in priorities, thinking and commitments.
• The importance of the family in our adult faith formation efforts.
• The connection between adult catechesis and stewardship and the challenge to Catholics to give of their prayer, service and sharing to advance the mission of the Church.

Priorities and Goals of Adult Faith Formation of the Diocese of Green Bay

Foundations

1. To nurture the faith of our adults so that people consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer.

2. To provide the necessary materials and resources to enable parishes to implement intentional, diverse and consistent adult faith formation programming.

3. To develop and implement programs based on the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults which integrate the teachings, traditions and values of the Catholic Church.

4. To promote and provide for adults in family formation programs based on the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults.

Allocation

5. To develop and implement a just and equitable salary scale for adult faith formation directors

6. To outline a catechetical budget for adult faith formation programming for use in each parish.

Communication

7. To develop and implement a marketing plan for adult faith formation.

8. To ensure that adult faith formation is the central catechetical mission of the Catholic Church.

9. To research and disseminate “best practices” in adult faith formation.

Evangelization

10. Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life

11. Call and prepare adults to act as disciples to the world.

Support

12. To provide increased networking and opportunities for collaboration.

13. To provide ongoing professional development opportunities and faith formation for all involved in adult faith formation.

Adult Faith Formation/Hearts on Fire Resources

Adult Faith Formation Advisory Board

Strategic Plan

The Diocese of Green Bay is committed to making adult faith formation the foundation of catechesis in the parish. It  emphasizes that as members of a parish community plan, celebrate, preach, serve, teach, witness, welcome, gather, socialize and pray together they must first keep in mind the formation of the adult members of the parish community.

The Strategic Plan for adult faith formation involved the catechetical leaders and pastors of the Diocese of Green Bay. Focus and direction was provided by the Adult Faith Formation Advisory Team.  

As part of the plan’s development process, we identified a set of priorities and goals for adult faith formation over the next three years that incorporates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of adult faith formation. Action plans reflect the goals and priorities of this ministry.

Program Locator

Parish Adult Faith Formation Program Locator