Catholic Faith Formation of the Diocese of Sacramento will offer a new yearlong program of adult faith enrichment beginning this month.

The Adult Faith Enrichment Program is for laypersons who wish to better understand church teachings, to learn how to apply church teachings to their lives, participate in faith-sharing groups and participate more deeply in the Christian community, according to Bob Meaney, director of Catholic Faith Formation.

Meaney said the program will foster a sound understanding of Scripture and tradition, using the Scriptures and the Catechism of the Catholic Church as its primary resources.

Bob Meaney (right), director of Catholic Faith Formation, meets with instructors Fatima Avila-Ohlsen (center) and Elvira Ramirez about the new program in adult faith enrichment. Cathy Joyce/Herald photo

The Adult Faith Enrichment Program is the foundational program in the new Institute of Lay Formation. The yearlong program completes all requirements for the basic catechist certification, except the eight-hour module on catechetical methods.

The program, which will meet one Saturday each month in three locations—Sacramento, Anderson and Vallejo—is a requisite for acceptance into the institute’s programs for parish ministry and lay apostolate, which will be offered during the 2001-2002 academic year.

The program will begin Sept. 23 at St. Anthony Parish in Sacramento and Sept. 30 at Sacred Heart Parish in Anderson, where Elvira Ramirez will present “Spirituality and Catholicism.” Fatima Avila-Ohlsen will teach the same topic on Sept. 30 at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Vallejo.

Each workshop begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude at 4 p.m. A retreat will be held at each location in May or June.

Ramirez served as a missionary for 11 years with the Maryknoll Sisters congregation, eight of those years in Tanzania, East Africa. Avila-Ohlsen currently serves as director of catechetical ministries at St. Ignatius Parish in Sacramento and holds a master’s degree in pastoral ministries from Santa Clara University.

Both Ramirez and Avila-Ohlsen will give an overview of the themes common to the Catholic spiritual guides and discuss the historical and cultural events which led Vatican II to recover the earliest vision of spirituality of the church.

Cost for the Adult Faith Enrichment Program is $250, including eight sessions and the retreat. There are various options offered for payment. An American Sign Language Interpreter is available upon request and the Sacramento and Anderson sites are wheelchair accessible.

For more information and a complete listing of workshops, call Catholic Faith Formation at (916) 733-0150.

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