Catholic education shouldn't just be for children, NCEA speaker says

Published: 2004-04-16

BOSTON (CNS) -- When 17,000 Catholic educators met in Boston April 13-16 for the National Catholic Educational Association convention, there was no shortage of tips on how to make their classrooms, schools and religious education programs more effective. But the education doesn't, or shouldn't, stop there, a workshop presenter pointed out. Instead, he said, it is crucial for Catholics to be educated in their faith throughout their lives. Religious education programs solely geared to children in grades 1-8 are only reaching one-eighth of the average life span, and that's not enough, said John Roberto, founder of the Center for Ministry Development in Naugatuck, Conn. "We've overstressed childhood faith formation," he said in an April 15 workshop, adding that once-a-week programs can't even remotely immerse today's young people in the faith.

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