Adult religious education and learning in Canadian Catholic parishes: an area in need of empirical research

Given the importance of non-formal and informal education for ongoing Catholic religious education and faith formation for adults, and the criticality of the parish as a venue for adult religious education and learning, this conceptual paper argues the need for quality empirical research in the area of non-formal and informal adult religious education and learning in the parish context. In addition to constituting a worthwhile scholarly endeavor, we also suggest that such research has the potential to support adult religious education work and capacity building in parishes and other types of Catholic faith communities.