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Office of Parish Life: 'Come and See' Newsletter
Vol IV, Issue 3, December 2004
Can We Draw More People Into Our Group?
Share Your Faith Without Losing Your Head provides simple training in evangelization skills for members of Small Christian Communities. Learn how to invite active and inactive Catholics as well as the un-churched folks into your group. Sessions meet on the second Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, starting on January 8 and running through November 12, except for the months of July and August. Call 609-406-7400, ext. 5585 today for further details and registration.
How Can We Become One?
The Holy Father says it so well in his At the Beginning of the New Millennium: A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the mystical Body, and, therefore, as ‘those who are a part of me.’ this makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep and genuine friend ship.
Liturgy means more than just Mass, rather it is the “work of the people” and engages us before, during and after Mass. Each moment in our journey to Christ needs to flow freely and become one seamless presence to the Lord in our daily prayer, faith sharing, worship and life. Lord, grace us with this oneness with you and one another.
Fr. Rolheiser to Speak Here in July 2005
Father Ronald Rolheiser, OMI, author of A Spirituality of Longing will be the keynoter at the Annual Conference of the National Alliance for Parishes Restructuring into Communities (NAPRC) on July 29-31 at St. Charles Borromeo in Cinnaminson. Reserve the dates now. NAPRC offers a plan for restructuring the parish and renewing Catholic life. The conference will offer many workshops with other noted speakers addressing issues related to bringing faith and life together. Further details will appear in the next Newsletter or the Monitor.
What's Available for Lenten Faith Sharing?
Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life by David Knight. The author maps out a new path to a fuller life in Jesus Christ. He offers readers a clear and compelling guide. Those who choose to follow will know where they are, what steps they have already taken and what steps they need to take in order to arrive at the abundant life Jesus came to give. You will find reading the text is energizing and leads individuals or groups to reflect on the challenging questions and steps needed to deepen the walk with the Lord. You will want more of the author's publications after reading Reaching Jesus. Contact St. Anthony Messenger Press at 800-488-0488 or their website: www.americancatholic.org.
Reading the Signs of the Time offers a seven week small group process for social change. Nora Peterson, Stephen Hicken and Hector Medina have collaborated to assist the small community to examine a different “reality” in the larger community and help to decide on the specific social action based on their observations and reflections. It is available through Resource Publications. Website: www.rpinet.com or call 888-273-7782.
Disciples on the Journey offers faith sharing for
adults, family and teen groups in this one publication. Contact Faith Journey Publications at 361-573-0828 or www.victoriadiocese.org.
Vatican II: The Faithful Revolution (5 video set) is a five hour program which examines the dramatic changes fostered by the Second Vatican Council and its continuing effects on history and the modern world. Meet the men and women, the church leaders and the laity who “opened the window” of renewal and reform in the Catholic Church at the Second Vatican Council and in the decades after. The accompanying study guide is organized for faith sharing with a prayer time and questions. Order online at: RCL Books and More or telephone 877-275-4725.
DVD/VHS Bible study with Jeff Cavins -The Great Adventure Bible Timeline Seminar offers a twenty-four part series designed to answer the desire expressed by many to go deeper into the bible by exploring the “big picture” of God’s plan of salvation. The result is a twenty-four week journey through the fourteen books of the bible that tell the story of God’s dealings with humanity throughout history. The series
of twenty-four talks by Great Adventure creator Jeff Cavins is a unique approach that works well for both individual and parish scripture study. The series is available in CD or tape format in its audio version and DVD or VHS in its video version. To order or for more information contact Ascension Press at 800-376-0520 of at www.ascensionpress.com.
Quest: www.quest.org or 860-243-9642.
Sunday by Sunday: www.goodgroundpress.com or 800-232-5533.
Ministry Center for Catholic Community: 206-763-6222.
Disciples in Prayer: Resources for Faith Sharing, Year A (#11450 with CD #11544). E-Mail: liturgy@ocp.org or 503-281-1191.
Are There Better Ways to Lead Groups?
The Institute of Lay Ecclesial Ministry and this office are collaborating on two program offerings in 2005:
Leadership Skills for Working with Small Groups is a three part workshop and covers: The Life and Nature of Small Groups, the Nuts and Bolts of Meetings and Facilitating Small Groups. The scheduled meeting dates are on Saturdays—May 21, June 4 and June 18 from 9:15 am to 2:30 pm.
The Pastoral Skills Seminar tackles ten topics relevant to ministry and self care between January and December on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:15 am to 2:00 pm. Sr. Rita Woehlcke, SSJ is the presenter for both programs to be held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Trenton. There are no fees for either of these programs. Fliers and registration information can be obtained by calling 609-406-7400, ext. 5605.
Why Catholic? Why Catholic? Journey Through the Catechism offers a concrete approach to adult faith formation based on the Catechism of
the Catholic Church employing the methods of adult learning theory. The faith sharing approach will help deepen a participant’s Catholic identity. Five information sessions were given in the Diocese in November. A significant number of Diocesan parishes have signed on. The official launch is now scheduled for March 2005 with regional training and faith sharing beginning in the fall of 2005. Additional information sessions are scheduled for January 2005. Check the Monitor for dates and locations. To participate as a parish, contact RENEW International at www.renewintl.org or e-mail whycatholic@renewintl.org or call 908-769-5400
Still Need More Resources?
Resources for Faith Sharing Communities, Fall 2005 is now available through the mail and on the Diocesan website: www.dioceseoftrenton.org. Numerous faith sharing and scriptural resources are listed along with website links and reference books. New to the manual is a bibliography on evangelization.
Buena Vista Annual Convocation
Buena Vista is a national grass roots organization committed to the growth and support of small Christian Communities. Their national conference will be held on August 4—7, 2005 in St. Paul, MN at the University of St. Thomas. The theme of the convocation is “Creating Communities of Hope: Making a Difference in Our World.” Website: www.info@buenavista.org or telephone 303-477-0180.
Contact Us:
To arrange a parish visit or for more information about Small Christian Communities in the Diocese of Trenton contact-
Office of Parish Life
Small Christian Community Ministry
Coordinator: Bob Bursley
Phone: 609-406-7400 ext. 5623
Fax: 609-406-7415
E-mail: rbursl@dioceseoftrenton.org
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