Adult Faith Formation
“Catholic school boards are encouraged to support processes for faith formation for emerging leaders, and to approach this important task in ways that are comprehensive, systematic, thoughtful, intentional and well-respected.”
(Renewing the Promise, Assembly of Catholic Bishops of Ontario)
The reimagining of adult faith formation builds upon the good work already in place across our Catholic community. It requires that we thoughtfully consider the experiences we will foster to ensure that a strong, positive Catholic identity is evident in the ethos of our community and to what we will give our greatest energy and resources. Catholic leadership is about an influencing relationship; a collaborative process, that nurtures faith, spirituality, and culture throughout the community.
To support this effort, the Catholic Partners of the Diocese of Hamilton commissioned the Walking Each Other Home series of monographs.
In addition, a comprehensive adult faith formation and leadership development program experience, ‘From Information to Transformation’ was created and is offered collaboratively to each of the participating partner organizations.
Other professional learning opportunities and resources are developed based on the expressed needs and interests of the partners.
Walking Each Other Home Monographs
Formation for mission
Adult Faith Formation and Leadership Development Program
From Information to Transformation
Other professional learning opportunities
For educators and Board teams
Walking Each Other Home Monographs
“We’re all just walking each other home.”
– Ram Dass
Adult Faith Formation and Leadership Development Program
The From Information to Transformation faith formation and leadership program is an initiative of the Diocese of Hamilton Catholic Education Partnership that supports the needs of emergent Catholic leaders in Catholic institutions and education partners in the Diocese of Hamilton.
The two year program experience allows participants to engage in six modules. Each module includes a ‘head, heart, and hands’ approach, integrating knowledge of the Catholic faith, critical reflection, the nurturing of the spiritual growth of participants, both personally and in community, and the living out of faith in the respective vocational contexts of the participants.
Upon completion of the program, candidates have a deeper understanding of themselves as faithfilled Christians within the life of the church and leadership in their own Catholic community.
Candidates are recommended by their respective boards. Intake for the next cohort will begin in November 2023. Spaces are limited.
Click here to download the From Information to Transformation poster with program dates and locations.
From Information to Transformation Faith Formation and Leadership Program Objectives
This two-year program recognizes that Catholic leadership requires us to reflect critically on:
- our inheritance — our stories, our history, and our spiritualities;
- the ways in which we are part of our heritage;
- our contemporary culture;
- the ways in which we are called to ongoing spiritual growth;
- Pope Francis’ invitation to build a culture of encounter; and
- the meaning of our commitment to leadership and to community.
The program provides participants with the opportunity to:
- Build community
- Nurture our personal and communal faith
- Critically reflect on the meaning, value, and significance of Catholic leadership in the church and the world
- Discover the gifts that we bring to leadership as individuals and as a community of faith
- Develop a contemplative mind
- Confront the challenges that are an inevitable part of spiritual growth and leadership
- Discern how we are called to live out our Baptismal call and servant leadership
Structure of the From Information to Transformation program
We Are Called
Theme: Waking up to the desire for a relationship with God.
Outcome: Candidates will understand the need to spend time in prayer and reading to develop a relationship with God.
Content Overview:
The program begins with discovering, what is my inheritance? and includes a day of conversation with Bishop Crosby. We explore ‘the Catholic stories’ that we need to know. This includes reflection on the sense of sacramentality, community, justice, reverence for creation, the value of tradition, and spirituality.
We Are a Community That Builds Relationships
Theme: I am recognizing my need for a relationship with God and I need others on the journey.
Outcome: Candidates will know more about the Church, deepen their relationship with God and journey with a budding faith community.
Content Overview: This module provides an opportunity to ask critical questions about our relationship to our inheritance. We explore the diverse spiritualities that are part of our common heritage.
This module includes reflection on: personal stories of faith; how do I pray?; how do we pray in community?
Will You Come and Follow Me?
Theme: Answering my baptismal call.
Outcome: Candidates will recognize the need to respond to an adult baptismal call.
Content Overview: This module is a directed retreat, and includes conversation with Bishop Crosby. We explore the challenges and fears that inhibit our spiritual growth.
This includes reflection on the call to ongoing conversion, and our gifts and limitations.
The Call and Courage to Serve
Theme: Having the courage to serve.
Outcome: Candidates will understand the call to Catholic leadership.
Content Overview: This module provides an opportunity to understand my vocation as a Catholic leader. We explore what it means to recognize and build the reign of God in the world through prayer, service, and example.
We Are a Community That Accompanies
Theme: Being a leader entails listening, presence and accompaniment.
Outcome: Candidates will understand their own leadership gifts and skills and their application.
Content Overview: This module includes reflection on the meaning of Pope Francis’ invitation to servant leadership, dialogue and a culture of encounter.
We Are a Community of Joyful Disciples
Theme: Putting it all together.
Outcome: Candidates will create a personal growth plan demonstrating how they will apply their leadership gifts and skills at home, work, and in the Catholic community.
Content Overview: This is an integration and consolidation module, and includes a conversation with Bishop Crosby, as well as with the members of the next cohort coming into the program.
We reflect on the insights gained over two years, the questions we identified in our particular contexts, and our commitment to leadership and to the community that we have become.
“Our faith is rooted in a relationship with God experienced through the risen Christ and enlivened by the Holy Spirit. In order to nourish, promote, and enrich that relationship, we are called to be full members of communities that serve the Church and the world.”
— Partners in Catholic Education in the Diocese of Hamilton Partnership Agreement