Over the years, various names have been used for the process of handing on the faith from one generation to the next—catechism classes, CCD or Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Religious Education, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. All these names reflect various aspects of the process of Faith Formation.

Faith Formation involves the gradual process of nurturing faith through growth in relation to God in Christ, learning about our faith tradition, prayer, participation in the Eucharist and the other Sacraments, the building up of the community, taking part in the mission of the Church both locally and around the world, and putting faith into practice by reaching out to the poor and helping to build the reign of God in this world.