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Are You Ready to Be FORMED? Catholic Streaming Service Free for All Parishioners
Reading, studying, listening and watching are all ways each of us can learn about our faith — and these are the learning opportunities offered through the FORMED program.
FORMED, a program coordinated by the Augustine Institute, meets Catholics where they are at. Our parish has utilized this subscription-based program for the past three years. FORMED helps those at all ages and levels of knowledge learn more about the Catholic faith, providing access to thousands of studies, films, audio recordings and e-books.
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This online platform, along with its free mobile apps for iOS and Android, “helps individuals and communities know, love and share their Catholic faith.”
From adult faith formation options and Bible studies to Lectio Divina and award-winning movies, FORMED has thousands of options to learn more about the Catholic faith. There are group and individual options and apologetics, which provides information on how to defend Catholic teaching. There is even sacramental preparation information and also parenting topics.
“I hope FORMED becomes a means, a platform, in which Catholics can encounter the Good News of Jesus Christ and then have a platform by which they can share that discovery with all their friends, family and coworkers,” says Dr. Tim Gray, President of the Augustine Institute.
Mary Harden, Director of Faith Formation and Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), encourages everyone to register for FORMED and take advantage of the many learning opportunities.
“I like the Signs of Grace video series,” Mary says. “It’s wonderful for the family. It has lessons on forgiveness and God’s unending love.”
Mary also loves the Symbolon video series, which is used during our RCIA process. It explains the Catholic faith through beautiful photography and it’s easy to understand, says Mary.
There’s something for all ages in FORMED. Parents should check into the Lukas Storyteller series or Brother Francis videos. Mary says for those who commute, this is a great option to listen to something positive. She says there are a lot of short presentations which can be used at any time.
“You can watch through the FORMED app, which you can add to your Smart TV,” Mary says. “There is a lecture series you can listen to while cooking dinner or cleaning the house.”
Mary says during the pandemic, we may not be able to attend Bible studies or other church events as we normally have in the past. FORMED can be a great resource to fill that gap from the comfort of our home.
“I am shocked that more people do not take advantage of this free program,” Mary says. “There are so many different ways to learn about the Catholic faith — reading, watching, listening. It should be on every Catholic’s smartphone.”
