Every parish in the eight-county Diocese of Cleveland is able to take advantage of the evangelization resources available through FORMED the Catholic Faith on Demand program at no cost for one year and a reduced cost for two more years, thanks to funds from the Rooted in Faith Forward in Hope multiyear, diocesanwide campaign. Rooted in Faith, which wrapped up recently, surpassed its goal of $125 million. Funds are being used to transform the Church throughout the diocese.
Parishes can sample any of FORMED’s resources during a trial period that runs through March 15. Pastors were provided with a temporary password to access the content.
By March 15, parishes are required to opt in in order to participate in a program under which RIF will pay for one full year and portions of the second and third years. After the trial period, a subscription is required in order to retain access to the FORMED content.
Thanks to the RIF campaign, every parish in the diocese can enjoy FORMED at no cost for the first year. RIF will pay for 50 percent of the cost during the second year and 25 percent of the cost for the third year. Parishes are responsible for identifying revenue streams to pay for the unsubsidized subscription amounts during the second and third years. After the third year, the full cost of FORMED is the responsibility of the parish.
Parish leaders were invited to participate in a daylong workshop on Feb. 22 at St. Noel Parish in Willoughby Hills, where they received an overview of the assets and learned how the program can help enrich faith lives. A similar program that attracted about 70 people was offered in Spanish on Feb. 21 at Sagrada Familia Parish in Cleveland.
Bishop Nelson Perez greeted about 350 attendees at St. Noel telling them that when we encounter the risen Christ, “There is no other option than to share the gift we received.” Passing on the faith is the job of each of us as missionary disciples. To that end, he said the Church “continues to persevere in us, through us, and sometimes despite us.”
Staff from the diocesan Office of Catholic Formation and Education and FORMED guided participants at both workshops through the available resources, including books, videos, movies, e-books, audios, lessons, prayers, reflections and more. The materials are available on demand to subscribers on any web-enabled device through a website and an app that works for Apple and Android devices. Content is available in English for all age groups and some content – the amount continues to grow -- is available in Spanish.
Suggestions to help defray the portions of the cost for years two and three and in the future were shared at the workshops. Parishes were encouraged to start planning now to raise those funds. Ideas included identifying one or more donors to underwrite the cost, asking parish groups to sponsor the program, soliciting donations at the end of events like Vacation Bible School, submitting an application to the Office of Catechetical Formation and Education for a Knights of Columbus media grant, asking local business owners or members of the parish who own businesses to sponsor a fundraiser for a year or more, hosting bake sales, other fundraisers or requesting pledges from people.
FORMED is a partnership of Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press. In addition to its digital content, movies, etc., a subscription gives parishes access to consultants, a FORMED orientation, implementation, outreach and ParishCare team, as well as other support services.