Commentary
Small faith communities foster faith in the context of a more intimate, caring community. In this model, the young people of a parish or school are typically invited to join smaller groups numbering eight to ten members. Depending upon the program and its participants, small faith communities tend to meet bi-weekly for 1½ or 2 hours. Less frequent meetings make it difficult for the group to gel into a community. Periodically, small groups may be brought together to share in a large group setting, or to engage in some kind of social or worship activity. This furthers the experience of faith through the larger Church.
Groups are typically led by a cleared adult facilitator, or perhaps a pair of cleared adults, or even a married couple. Sometimes an adult and a youth will team up to provide leadership. Less frequently, small groups are conducted by trained peer leaders (note: see caution regarding youth leaders in the list of concerns below).
Groups may be arranged at random, or by grade, interest, location, or some other unifying feature. Adult facilitators are often expected to remain with their group throughout the entire four years of high school for the sake of continuity. Small faith communities frequently meet in a home, usually that of the adult facilitator, which fosters a sense of comfort and safety. Genuine shared experiences of faith can take place because trust has been carefully and intentionally nurtured. Participants enjoy a depth of interpersonal interaction and affection, and are willing to share their experiences of faith in God honestly and straightforwardly with each other.
A typical small faith community meeting might include: a general sharing of each teen’s thoughts and feelings since the last time they met; shared prayer; discussion of a particular faith theme; a presentation or discussion that connects life experience with the Church’s story; a resolution or some kind of response by individuals or the entire group to grow in discipleship. Catechetical programs or textbook series are frequently used as a starting point. However, when youth are invited to offer suggestions for topics in addition to those already planned for the year, they come to know that their opinions and life experiences are valued. Through connections made with the Church’s story, they discover and find friendship with God in and through their experiences of love and faith fostered in the group.
Advantages of the Small Faith Community Model
- This model offers a scheduling alternative to the “once-a-week-for-an-hour” structure of the Traditional Model. Because the small faith groups typically meet longer, increased flexibility of structuring generates momentum and longer activities can be attempted. For instance, prayer and socializing can more readily be built into the session.
- Small faith groups build great depth of trusting relationships between teens and their leaders over an extended period of time.
- Thematic content is balanced by appropriate relational ministry.
- This format provides credible adult and teen role models of faith for youth.
- Each young person can be known personally. Faith is more readily passed on when the Good News can be addressed to the unique individual situation of the hearer.
- Teens in leadership learn some vital discipleship skills: articulation of their faith experience, group facilitation, listening, peer ministry and collaboration.
Some Concerns about the Small Faith Community Model
- Parishes may have difficulty recruiting a sufficient number of cleared adults willing to make the commitment of time and energy necessary to make this model work.
- Small group leaders need training and ongoing support in order to be effective. Because of the strong emphasis on establishing long-term relationships, there is an increased need for professional supervision and accountability on the part of the catechetical leader or coordinating youth minister. Special care must be taken to ensure that group leaders are acting appropriately within the scope of their role as catechists and mentors.
- Special care should also be taken with teen facilitators, both in terms of preparation and ongoing support and accountability. If the content of group sharing and discussion has the potential to become deeply personal or emotional, an adult facilitator should, without exception, be present in the group.
- Cleared adult facilitators may overemphasize devotions or interpersonal sharing to the exclusion of catechetical content.
- There will always be teens whose jobs or activities will prevent them from being regular, committed participants in the small group – resulting either in teens being excluded, or in intermittent, unpredictable participation on the part of some.
- Care must be taken to ensure that the small faith groups remain connected with the larger Church. Other parish-wide activities, outreaches and programs must be made available and attractive to teens in small groups lest they (and the faith community) mistakenly expect the small group to be able to respond to all their faith needs.
Related Policies
4.5 Parishes that choose to build small faith communities that meet in private homes must utilize the appropriate check list in Appendix Four of this manual.