Turn to the Lord empowers you to form disciples for lifelong conversion
When our teenagers were preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, a group of us parents wanted them to receive the kind of formation that would prepare them for lifelong discipleship where they would become sources of goodness within the Church and for the world.
So we created a “Catholic Formation Group” where we would study Scripture and doctrine, where we would pray together through devotions and the spirituality of the saints, and where our teens would have real, meaningful conversations with one another… and sometimes even with us.
Turn to the Lord is designed to help you create a Catholic Formation Group where you can guide those who are preparing for full initiation into the Catholic Church to connect the faith we profess to their daily lives – being formed in their minds, hearts, words, and actions as missionary disciples.
I think that, for the most part, we in the Church have become too dependent on textbooks and third-party programs to run religious education in Catholic schools and parishes alike. I think this is because no matter how passionate any of us might be about the faith, most of us feel unqualified to teach the faith and form others in it. So we find ourselves in the position of either attempting to teach what we do not know or merely “pressing play” on what someone else prepackaged.
This is not the Christian way of formation because the most important resource for those who are being formed for discipleship is, actually, you.
Turn to the Lord is meant to empower you. This is for parents, for catechists, for teachers, godparents, sponsors, and mentors, who will become more competent to teach and form others… and more confident in their ability to do so.
This is not a textbook. This is not a “just press play” approach to faith formation.
Turn to the Lord is an investment in you, so you can teach and form those preparing for Confirmation, or enrolled in RCIA, or looking to develop their Catholic faith.
This full book for leaders has two parts, which I tell you about in the next two posts (here and here). There is also a one part volume, which I tell you about here. For now, let me just say that the first part of this book is written to you – catechist, teacher, parent, mentor – to offer you a deeper immersion into the Catholic Faith. The second part of the book is then a guide to help you form others. It starts with you, but it does not end with you.
If you are Pastor or DRE, a coordinator of religious education, a teacher or principal in a Catholic school, this approach will help you to build up and empower a community of mature disciples who will form and educate younger or newer disciples.
I am currently working with parishes and dioceses to help them start the approach to sacramental formation that Turn to the Lord introduces. I would be happy to talk with you at any time – just email me so we can connect (or complete the form below).
I will also hold an information session on Zoom for anyone who is interested in learning more. This info session is scheduled for Thursday, March 3 at 7:00pm EST. This session is open to everyone, but you must register here.
Read about part one of Turn to the Lord: “Power and Wisdom”.
Read about part two of Turn to the Lord: “Reflection and Practice”.
Did you know there are two editions of Turn to the Lord? Find out why, here.
Let’s connect. Please send me a message here:
In which I introduce (by video) this approach to Catholic formation, with pretty much the same words you have read in this post. Please share this video with others, or on social media, as you see fit.