The work of evangelization always begins at “home.” This means first the “home” of our own hearts and then the “home” of our parish.  The first stage of evangelization, then, is always one’s own being evangelized, through a personal commitment to a life of continual conversion in Christ through the life of the Church.  This work that takes place in the “inner man” (Eph 3:16) spills over into a call to conversion in the parish, where those who are actively practicing their faith must hear and accept the invitation to an ever deeper life of intimacy with Christ.  This is the very heart of evangelization—the stage without which our outreach to inactive Catholics and those who do not know God cannot bear fruit. 

It is for this reason that adult faith formation is an indispensable part of evangelization.  Those who wish to evangelize, must first commit themselves to growth and maturity in their own life of faith so that the truth they communicate remains authentic and convincing, rooted and grounded in Christ (Eph 3:17).  An integrated adult faith formation program proceeds on two major levels:  spiritual development and intellectual/personal development. 

*  Spiritual development offers the faithful contact with the rich Tradition of Catholic spirituality, centered in the Liturgy and Sacraments but also inclusive of traditional forms of prayer, such as the Rosary and Lectio       Divina, pious practices, and sacramentals.   The goal of all efforts at spiritual development is to cultivate a more and more authentic and mature relationship with Jesus Christ, who is always encountered in and through the Church. 

*  Intellectual/Personal development seeks to enrich a person’s    knowledge of the Catholic faith so as to enrich and enliven their intimacy with Jesus Christ and allow his love to penetrate all aspects of our lives. The encounter with Christ, summit of all evangelization, is never complete without growth in knowledge of who he is, knowledge which is expressed and revealed in the full body of the Church’s teachings on both faith and morality.  

Adult Faith Formation Resources

D/CAFFE - Directors/Coordinators of Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization

Spiritual  Development

Walking with Purpose, Scripture Study for Women
Renewal Ministry Prayer Series by Ralph Martin
Ascension Press, Walking Toward Eternity Lectio Divina Series
Intercessory Prayer Partnership
Marian Consecration for the New Evangelization
Augustine Institute, Opening the Word Series
Augustine Institute, Symbolon Series
Ascension Press, Oremus Prayer Series

Intellectual/Personal Development

Ascension Press, Great Adventure Bible Studies
Ascension Press, Church History Study
Ascension Press, Catechism Study
ENDOW, Formation for Women
The King's Men, Formation for Men
Lighthouse Catholic Media
Year of Faith Resources
Fr. Robert Barron’s Catholicism
The Augustine Institute, Biblical Studies
Courageous Virtue Bible Study for Women

Please contact us:
Meghan Cokeley, Assistant Director
Office of Life, Family and Laity
215-587-5630   •  mcokeley@adphila.org