Are You Getting FORMED?
In the past year, technology has allowed us to stay connected and continue learning in more ways than ever before, in the midst of a global pandemic. Our kids had class via video chat and educational websites, we watched presentations on Zoom, and even had access to virtual tours of many world-famous zoos and museums. Whether you’ve been on your phone, tablet, laptop or TV, there is more content than ever before, available right at your fingertips. And yet, sometimes it’s still easy to spend hours scrolling the news or let time slip away binge watching your favorite show on Netflix. But what would your life, and your relationship with God, look like if you spent some of that time online learning about your faith?
For St. Francis Solanus parishioners and school families who want to grow closer to God, it’s easier than ever — through our parish subscription to FORMED.org.
FORMED is a service — think “Netflix for Catholics” — that allows users unlimited access to online video, audio and electronic book content, wherever you are, 24/7. From an audio Bible and studies on prayer, to movies about the lives of the saints, FORMED has something for everyone, of all ages — those who’ve been studying the faith for years, and those who’ve just become curious about Who Jesus is. Whether you’re looking for something to listen to on your commute to work, wanting to access more Catholic.
FORMED is an amazing resource for all things Catholic ‘on demand.’ It is valuable because it allows Catholics to learn more about their faith and their relationship with Jesus through movies, documentaries, audio books, kids/youth videos and studies, right at home.
— MIKE HOLBROOK, DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
“It’s also a great source of information for non-Catholics who might be entertaining thoughts of becoming Catholic but who don’t want to commit to the RCIA program yet,” Mike says. “Because of the exhaustive work that the Augustine Institute has put into FORMED, people at all stages of Catholic, spiritual growth, can benefit from its content.”
And FORMED is not just for adults. One of our teachers at St. Francis Solanus School, Mrs. Julie Radel, uses it with her second-graders.
“I used FORMED in our classroom to enhance religion classes,” Mrs. Radel says. “The second-graders’ favorite selection is the Brother Francis video series. Brother Francis explains parts of the Catholic faith in a manner that appeals to young children.
“We were even able to use Brother Francis on FORMED during our remote learning days,” she adds. “My second-graders asked to watch the episodes.”
For many of us, as Catholics, whether we were raised in the faith or recently joined the Church, it can be easy to become complacent in deepening our knowledge of the faith. Mike encourages all parishioners to consider taking advantage of the many programs available on FORMED.org, to foster an awareness of the depth and riches of our tradition.
“It’s easy to drift away from studying the faith,” Mike says. “I really hope that those who use FORMED gain a better appreciation for Catholicism, why we do what we do, and how to better defend it.”
To access the resources available on FORMED for free, as part of our parish subscription, please visit www.FORMED.org and click “Sign-Up.” Select “I belong to a Parish or Organization,” and type in “St. Francis Solanus” then click on “St. Francis Solanus” from the list. Enter your name and email, and start looking for content that will help you grow in your faith and relationship with God.