Forming Intentional Disciples Introduction & Chapter 1 Summary Points “We learned that our first need at the parish level isn’t catechetical. Rather, our fundamental problem is that most of our people are not yet disciples.” (Intro pg 11) We often say that those who leave the church will return when they get married or have children.“...National studies have revealed that those who leave the Church do not, by and large, return.”(16) “One huge problem with this paradigm is that Catholic marriage rates are, in fact, plummeting.”(36) “If younger Catholics are not going to Mass or getting married in the Church, why would they bother to raise their children in the faith?” (39) In this post-modern world the spiritual winds can blow in and out of the Church. This spiritual climate and times can provide a threat but more importantly a real opportunity to adjust our evangelizing, catechetical and pastoral practices to the current needs and realities. (18) “Since the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the Catholic retention strategy has been (a) childhood catechesis and (b) sacramental initiation.” “But the evidence suggests that what worked in the seventeenth century does not work in the twenty-first.” (34) “It is the adult spiritual journey - building upon his or her experience as a child and teenager - that is most likely to translate into lifelong faith and consistent religious practice.” (35) “In the 21st century we have to foster intentional Catholicism rather than cultural Catholicism.” (39) “...only 48 percent of Catholics were absolutely certain that the God they believed in was a God with whom they could have a personal relationship.” (44) “...for younger Catholics, the level of attendance at worship services is directly correlated with the certainty that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God. This correlation is not true for older Catholics, those sixty-nine years of age and above.” (44) “Certainly, one of the most fundamental challenges facing our Church is this: The majority of adult Catholics are not even certain that a personal relationship with God is possible.” (46) “The majority of Catholics in the United States are sacramentalized but not evangelized.” (46) “So we live in a time of immense challenge and immense opportunity,” (46)

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Forming Intentional Disciples

Introduction & Chapter 1

Summary Points

“We learned that our first need at the parish level isn’t catechetical. Rather, our fundamental

problem is that most of our people are not yet disciples.” (Intro pg 11)

We often say that those who leave the church will return when they get married or have

children.“...National studies have revealed that those who leave the Church do not, by and

large, return.”(16) “One huge problem with this paradigm is that Catholic marriage rates are,

in fact, plummeting.”(36) “If younger Catholics are not going to Mass or getting married in the

Church, why would they bother to raise their children in the faith?” (39)

In this post-modern world the spiritual winds can blow in and out of the Church. This spiritual

climate and times can provide a threat but more importantly a real opportunity to adjust our

evangelizing, catechetical and pastoral practices to the current needs and realities. (18)

“Since the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, the Catholic retention strategy has

been (a) childhood catechesis and (b) sacramental initiation.” “But the evidence suggests that

what worked in the seventeenth century does not work in the twenty-first.” (34)

“It is the adult spiritual journey - building upon his or her experience as a child and teenager -

that is most likely to translate into lifelong faith and consistent religious practice.” (35)

“In the 21st century we have to foster intentional Catholicism rather than cultural

Catholicism.” (39)

“...only 48 percent of Catholics were absolutely certain that the God they believed in was a God

with whom they could have a personal relationship.” (44)

“...for younger Catholics, the level of attendance at worship services is directly correlated with

the certainty that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God. This correlation is not

true for older Catholics, those sixty-nine years of age and above.” (44)

“Certainly, one of the most fundamental challenges facing our Church is this: The majority of adult Catholics are not even certain that a personal relationship with God is possible.” (46)

“The majority of Catholics in the United States are sacramentalized but not evangelized.” (46)

“So we live in a time of immense challenge and immense opportunity,” (46)