Subscribe to FORMED at half normal rate

Published: September 28, 2017

An anonymous donor has made it possible for 50 parishes in the Diocese of Little Rock to subscribe to FORMED.org at half price for two years. This online, subscription-based platform allows parishioners to download trusted Catholic resources on catechesis and evangelization for individual or group use from anywhere with Internet access.

Father Erik Pohlmeier, diocesan director of faith formation, said grants will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis to parishes that apply for a grant through the diocesan website. The deadline to apply is Nov. 1.

FORMED was founded in 2015 to pool together a variety of Catholic materials that are accessible to subscribers on demand. "Most tools for parishes today are often limited to reach only those members of the parish who are highly engaged and physically present ..., but effective faith formation must go beyond that," according to the FORMED Facebook page.

Making these materials easily accessible may help parishes "engage those who may be disengaged from the parish and help draw them into the community."

Father Pohlmeier said FORMED.org offers a variety of content including: Bible and other group studies, sacramental preparation materials, Catholic movies, audiobooks and videos for children, teens and adults. "With content in Spanish and English, parishes of all sizes can reach their people more easily in the work of lifelong faith formation," he explained.

Since this is a new program to the diocese, the Augustine Institute, which created FORMED, will offer a training workshop for parish catechists in Little Rock on Nov. 11 in English and Spanish. Participating parishes must send at least two representatives to the training, which will demonstrate the potential of FORMED resources to accommodate the various needs of parishes. For more information, e-mail Father Pohlmeier or call him at (501) 664-0340, ext. 359.