Through the Christian Foundations for Ministry program, a program of spiritual formation & education, the Ministerial Development Center offers foundational courses for those who would like to enrich their understanding of the Catholic faith, deepen their own spiritual life, become involved in parish or Archdiocesan ministries, enhance their current involvement and understanding of ministry in the Church and in the world.

The Christian Foundations for Ministry program is accredited by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Commission on Certification and Accreditation.

Christian Foundations for Ministry is a three-year spiritual formation and education process conducted by the Archdiocese of Newark. It provides foundational courses in Catholic theology, spirituality, scripture, sacraments, evangelization, and ministerial skill development. Courses are offered in eight week cycles in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Groups meet once a week for a period of two hours. Each cycle includes a day of retreat on a Saturday or Sunday.

The program is tailored to the needs of today's active lay person. It is flexible; it is manageable as far as time and distance are concerned. Formation Centers are conveniently located at various parish sites throughout the Archdiocese. There are nine different courses offered over a three-year period.

Courses are offered in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

A Certificate of Completion is awarded after each course. To complete the program, all nine courses must be taken. Those who complete the program are recognized in a prayer service and a rite of commissioning.

The following courses are offered each year in the Christian Foundations for Ministry program.

Year 1
THE GIFT OF FAITH: CALL TO DISCIPLESHIP

The call to discipleship in the community of Jesus Christ invites each of us to a personal relationship with God whom we experience, celebrate and proclaim in the Scriptures, in the Sacraments and in our everyday lives.

Fall Cycle: The Old Testament and Spirituality: Israel's Journey/Our Journey

Winter Cycle: The Gospel and Spirituality: Christ's Journey/Our Journey

Spring Cycle: The Sacraments: Experiencing God's Presence

Year 2
THE GIFT OF COMMUNITY: BECOMING A COMMUNITY OF DISCIPLES

A Christian is baptized into community and grows to maturity in faith by coming to understand better the commitment inherent in the gift.

Fall Cycle: The Church: Journeying in Community

Winter Cycle: The Year of the Lord: Living the Paschal Mystery in the Liturgical Cycle

Spring Cycle: Christian Living: Meeting the Moral Demands of Discipleship

Year 3
THE GIFT OF MINISTRY: CALLED TO SERVE THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

The community of Disciples in Jesus' day and in our times exists for mission. The various ministries of the Church and the Christian life are ways to witness and serve the Church and the world in the Spirit of Jesus.

Fall Cycle: Spirituality and Ministry: Responding to the Signs of the Times

Winter Cycle: A Ministerial Community: Evangelizing and Becoming Evangelized

Spring Cycle: Collaborative Ministry: Sharing Responsibility in the Community

Christian Foundations for Ministry has been studied and evaluated by the United States Catholic Conference. The Committee on Certification and Accreditation has granted Candidacy Accreditation to the program. The evaluating committee stated, "The beauty of the program is that it reflects and incorporates the economic and ethnic realities of the Archdiocese. The program is tailor made for the life of the communities of Newark."

The program is recommended and listed in the Directory of the United States Catholic Conference Commission on Certification and Accreditation and also in the Catholic Ministry Formation Directory published by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University.