Faith formation is the lifelong process of growing in one’s religious beliefs, values, practices, and identity.

It’s about how a person comes to understand, live out, and deepen their faith over time.

This includes a combination of:

• Belief – learning the teachings, doctrines, and stories of the faith
• Practice – prayer, worship, rituals, sacraments, and moral living
• Experience – personal encounters, reflection, and life events that shape faith
• Community – learning and growing within a faith community (family, church, mentors)
• Service – living out faith through acts of love, justice, and compassion

Lifelong and developmental

Faith formation is not just for children or converts.

It happens:

• In childhood (family traditions, religious education)
• In adolescence (questioning, identity formation)
• In adulthood (deepening, reinterpreting, or renewing faith)
• Through major life moments (joy, suffering, doubt, loss)

It emphasizes that faith is formed through relationships and lived experience, not just classroom instruction.

Faith formation is the ongoing shaping of a person’s faith through learning, practice, community, and life experience.