Lexington Books Intergenerational Catechesis: Revitalizing Faith through African-American Storytelling

In this work the author moves away from youth-centered catechesis toward a catechetical method that gets at the heart of faith formation for ALL generations, storytelling. In the African-American storytelling tradition, both the storyteller and listener are important-they embody the story. What happens in the story exchange process is the discovery of connections. The author's method of African-American storytelling, My Story-Your Story, brings to life the Christian story through our shared experiences. Intergenerational catechesis invites us to see ourselves and one another across time-through eyes that are young, middle-aged, and elderly. Based on an understanding of family, intergenerational catechesis moves away from the domestic church as a starting point for growing in faith to the community as a starting point. Where the domestic church focuses on those who live in the household, intergenerational catechesis focuses on everyone in the Church community: single persons, divorced persons, widows/widowers, teens, young adults, pre-school and elementary children, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. In highlighting our connections we are better able to see ourselves and one another differently. When we see ourselves and others transformed faith is revitalized. Review Drawing from her own experience as a catechetical leader and daughter of African American storytelling, timone davis's artfully crafted discourse on storytelling as a method for catechesis is a timely publication for the age of catechetical renewal. This work not only offers a sound theological and catechetical discourse on the beauty of African American storytelling as situated as a process for answering life's 'big questions, ' but it also thoughtfully explores how this ancient practice can offer catechetical leaders a method for exploring the sharing of the faith through generations and experiences of trauma. A leading African American voice in our church today, davis's work is a must read for those who are ready to explore a new catechetical method fashioned for the challenging world of today.--Jodi Hunt, University of Dallas We all engage in storytelling when we share a piece of our life with someone else. In Intergenerational Catechesis, davis illuminates the innate human capacity for storytelling and the longing to share our stories with others through the process of faith formation by using African-American storytelling as a catechetical method. davis' book shows just how important it is to one's faith development to connect not only to our own past and the Tradition, but also grow in meaningful relationships with others in our faith community. In bringing our life story to our faith tradition, we call to mind the intricate contours of our life, from love and trauma, sadness and hope, grief and healing and interlock these stories with the rich stories of the Christian tradition, and through this catechetical process, we open ourselves up to the transformative power of discipleship that we may become imitators of Christ with and for others. davis charts a new engaging path with intergenerational storytelling to reignite the work of catechesis and evangelization today.--Tracey Lamont, Loyola University New Orleans About the Author timone a davis is assistant professor of pastoral theology at Loyola University Chicago.