Hope
Even at the gates of hell, believe in redemption.
Let my grace and power work, where you have none.
It is only for you to believe and to trust.
Be confident. Trust. Love.
Believe, in the face of unbelief. Hope against hope.
This is faith.
This is the gift most needed by those who worry and suffer.
You must manifest love and hope.
It is only then, that my people will begin to believe. (Edwina Gately, I hear a Seed Growing p.134)

If we believe, as St Paul tells us, that "faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17), then we might think we have a lot of Scripture study and all sorts of education programmes ahead of us. When we think of learning we think of education. When we think of education we generally think of teaching rather than the facilitation of learning. We think of formal training in certain basic or job-specific skills. Through education a person learns to read, write, and calculate, to use specific tools for a specific task; to further the advance of society through advances in technology (Catholic Education, Philip C.L. Gray).

Vatican II, through its Declaration on Christian Education, emphasizes that the sciences, arts and technology should be tools through which each person develops physically, morally, spiritually, and intellectually. Formal education is only one of the ways we develop our faith. It is important to note that faith development is a life-long journey or process and it is different for everyone. For Catholic educators, education is not limited to the imparting of knowledge. They promote human dignity, genuine human relationships, and prepare the way for hearts to open to the Light that is Christ. As St Paul also tells us, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:15)

About Us
The Diocesan Faith Development Council is a team of people who listen to the Spirit within themselves and others, and offer opportunities for personal and communal growth by ascertaining needs, affirming others, making connections, and husbanding and sharing resources. The Council was established by the 1993 Diocesan Synod on the recommendation of the Synod Task Team for Faith Development of Children and Adults. The overriding goal for adult faith development in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is expressed in the 1992-3 Synod statement: "To hear God's people and empower them to participate fully in Christ's mission."

Our Aim
To serve the diocesan community by striving always to be up-to-date in relation to faith development matters and by networking across community groups.

Our Objectives
• Ascertaining faith development needs
• Husbanding and sharing resources
• Providing faith development formation and education
• Dealing with the immediacy of faith development issues as they arise
• Assisting parishes and pastoral regions in the diocese to establish similar faith development groups
• Participating in inter-commission collaboration

Council Members
. Sr Pat Healion RSM (Chairperson)
. Ms Ann Young (Secretary)
. Mr John Donnelly

Contact Us
The Council welcomes requests by parishes for information and assistance with planning. The Faith Development Council can be contacted at:
Street: Diocesan Centre 841 Hunter Street Newcastle NSW 2300
Postal: PO Box 756 Newcastle NSW 2300
Ph (02) 4979 1150 or Fax: (02) 4979 1159 or Email.