Fonds ARCAE-9 - Archdiocesan Adult Learning Commission Fonds

Responding to the changes called for by the Vatican II council, in 1967 Archbishop Jordan established the Office of Continuing Education as a separate unit from the Catholic Information Centre. The establishment of the Office of Continuing Education was in response to an acknowledgment that while the liturgies and organizations of the church were principally geared towards adults, catechesis and religious educations were principally geared towards children. Realizing that as an adult Church, knowledge of and commitment to faith needed to be taught to all members, children and adults alike, the Office of Continuing Education was formed to file the educational gap in the Archdiocese of Edmonton.

In 1968 the Senate of Priest recommended that the Archbishop engage Redemptorist Fathers for Adult Education in the diocese and Father John Spicer, C. Ss. R., was put in charge of the first program in Religious Education under the auspices of the Adult Education Centre. With this appointment, Archbishop Jordan changed name of the Office of Continuing Education to the Office of Continuing Religious Education.
In November 1985, the Office of Continuing Religious Education was renamed the Continuing Education Commission, and once again in 1989, coinciding with the move from 1123 Jasper Avenue to the Pastoral Centre at 8421-101 Avenue, the Continuing Education Commission officially changed its name to the Adult Learning Commission in September 1989.

The aim of the Commission (in its various incarnations) was “to promote adult religious learning and, in line with this, to provide resources and programs not within the scope of individuals, parishes, or other institutions.” Various activities and initiatives were undertaken including the development of Scripturefest and various bible study programs. The Commission also experimented in multi-media learning publishing various types of resource materials including books, videos and cassette tapes for group and personal use.

With the re-organization of the pastoral services offices, the Adult Learning commission was closed in 2003.