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Adult Education and Faith Formation

What is Serra's program for adult education?

As Serrans, we continue to study and learn our Christian heritage, our Catholic faith, and find ways to to better understand and contribute as Catholic Christians in the daily activities of the world, the country, the community, the parish, the family.

Serrans learn to be informed Christian leaders. Serra club programs are a place where continuing Catholic education takes place, where potential Catholic leaders are developed and nurtured to be working disciples for Christ. Serrans, priests and religious of the Church are involved in continuous dialogue to master the tasks and decisions of daily life, while better understanding the role of one another.

What is the curriculum?

The curriculum includes the study of Papal encyclicals, Church doctrine and theological documents and papers. The curriculum provides its students, Serrans, with the knowledge and guidance required to make the decision demanded of Christian lay leadership.

Why adult education and faith formation?

Adult education and faith formation prepares people like Serrans to take a place in the ever-changing world. This education opens us to a body of knowledge and teaches us how we must apply the knowledge. With our continuing Catholic education and our formation in Serra we learn to understand the changing environment we live in and how our sound Christian principles must be applied to this environment.

What are the results of this curriculum?

Serrans are able to develop and foster wholesome Christian lives by living and loving our brothers and sisters from all walks of life. This learning process helps Serrans become Christian leaders in the true sense of the word.

Serrans must be careful not to confuse good intentions with good leadership. His Eminence John J. Cardinal O'Connor stated, "We cannot expect to be Christian leaders if we do not know our stuff." Serrans must remember that untrained, unprepared and, above all, uninformed leadership is worse than no leadership at all.

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Why is the adult education and faith formation so important?

Catholic Christian leaders are not solely educated by the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Time, or the daily newspaper. Catholic Christian leaders study, analyze and put into practice the principles and teachings of the Catholic faith. Catholic Christian leaders are not spectators in life. They are workers, contributors, pathfinders; they are doers because they know sincerity does not do the job.

Cardinal Spellman wrote, "While it is true on the threshold of eternity we are judged not by what we know but by what we are; not by knowledge in the mind but charity in the soul. It is nevertheless also true that an intrinsic union of knowledge and love, wisdom and charity is the essence of Christian living." We cannot love what we do not know. A true Christian leader inspired by the Divine Master always remains a learner because he or she loves God and desires to know more of God's teachings.

Education, faith formation, and fellowship are the principal reasons that Serrans gather together. Most meetings include a prayer, announcements and a brief business meeting, but the majority of the meeting focuses on the club program.

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A typical Program Outline

Message from the USA Council Programs Vice-president

Your USA Council Program Committee believes you will find these suggested program themes interesting, easy to use, timely, and of value for increasing member awareness of the richness of their Catholic heritage and adding to their personal sanctification; all leading to greater zeal as advocates for vocations. Questions, comments and program theme ideas are welcome. Please address them to the Programs Vice-president in care of the USA Council Chicago office.

In this index you will find each club program in Portable Document Format (PDF). The Adobe Acrobat Reader software is required to view and print PDF files and it is free. The first program in this index outlines the Program Process.

These suggested club programs are designed to help the club Programs Vice-president, together with the club Chaplain, in planning the club programs.

For many, the theme alone will suffice; for others, the program process will assist the presenter in organizing the meeting — be it priest, deacon, religious order member, or Serran. Go with that which suits your needs.

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Study and Discussion Programs:

A series of "Study, Discussion and Reflection Programs" have been developed by the USA Council Program Committee for use at the club level. The purpose of a Study and Discussion Programs is to help Serrans seek and expand their understanding of their Christian role in life, examine the assumptions and presuppositions about a subject, stretch the thinking of the membership and renew the club's commitment to the continuing education process.

The USA Council of Serra International Programs Committee has inventoried available programs and divided them into these five categories: Christian Fellowship, Vocations, Spiritual Growth, Education, and Video Presentations. Materials in support of many of these programs may be found in the Serra Merchandise Catalog.

Contact the USA Council Chicago Office...

...to inquire about using these programs or to comment on their content.

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Additional Club Program Resources

serraUSA Magazine

the Serran Magazine

Catholic periodicals and books

Video and audiotapes of sessions at International and regional conventions

Encyclicals

Documents of the Second Vatican Council

Current Episcopal statements

File of potential and past speakers

Continuing education programs at universities and colleges

Public and Catholic libraries

Diocesan Offices, personnel and publications

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