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Office of Parish Life: 'Come and See' Newsletter
Vol VI, Issue: February 2006
Ready to Dust Off Your Bible?
Essentially this is a basic orientation to the Bible, not a study. You will get a handle on the scriptures for prayer and living the Word of God. Other topics include: what the bible says about itself, a look at the books of the bible, available translations of the bible and a method of praying with the scriptures. Bob Bursley will offer this workshop at Holy Innocents Church in Neptune on Wednesday, April 5, 2006 from 7:30pm to 9:00pm. Register using the contacts at the end of the newsletter.
Lent 2006
The Center for Liturgy at St. Louis University offers weekly in-depth experiences with the Sunday liturgy. The resource facilitates exploring, experiencing and living the Word and Eucharist we encounter at Mass. Use the resource before Lent and discern whether new fire and life will be brought to your faith sharing group for Lent. The section of greatest relevance for SCCs and faith-sharing is Spirituality for Sunday. Most impressive! Check the website: www.liturgy.slu.edu.
Father David Knight's Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life maps a path of transformation for life in Jesus Christ. The path on which he takes you opens eyes, ears and heart to deepen the breadth and depth of your walk. The author's style is very personal, energizing and challenging. You may want to continue with the volumes that build upon the foundation that this book provides. To order, contact the St. Anthony Messenger Press at 800-488-0488 or visit their website at www.americancatholic.org.
The Ministry Center for Catholic Community presents a seven week session for Lent, entitled Crossroads to Easterlife, in a format suitable for a faith sharing group. The weekly topics move from the initial Choosing Wisely and conclude with You are Witnesses. Address correspondence to P.O. Box 70521, Seattle, WA 98107 or call 206-763-6222.
Angela Burrin's A Family Journey with Jesus through Lent (seen through the eyes of the reviewer, Ann Bottenhorn) invites parents and their children to share, pray and participate in activities with forty well known Lenten New Testament stories. The stories are engaging and the activities draw everyone closer to Jesus. Available from The Word Among Us at 800-775-9673 or www.wordamongus.org.
Rich Cleveland's The Seven Last Word of Christ: A Bible Study on Jesus' Passion is well suited for both personal and communal Lenten reflection and sharing. Each study leads to a deepening understanding, conversion and application of the word to daily life. Adding a viewing of The Passion of the Christ will enhance the total experience Contact The Word Among Us at 800-775-9673 or the website: www.wau.org.
Stephen Binz's Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of Jesus transports us to Israel in the company of Jesus through daily studies and weekly group sharing. The integration of personal prayer with group sharing leads us to a "more abundant dwelling with God." Threshold Bible Study can be reached at 800-321-0411 or csservice@bayard-inc.com or www.godswordtoday.com
Some standard resources for Lenten faith sharing are known to many:
- Sunday by Sunday at 800-232-5533 or at the website: www.goodgroundpress.com offers packets for the entire liturgical year as well as special editions for Lent/Easter and Easter/Pentecost (as well as Advent).
- Quest at 860-243-9642 or www.sccquest.org publishes three editions a year to cover the full liturgical year.
- Exploring Sunday by Sunday at 800-321-0411 or www.twentythirdpublications.com.
- Share the Word at 202-832-5022 or www.pncea.org
New Website
www.heavenwards.org - opened on November 1, 2005 and offers many scripture studies with more to come in varied formats. The website topics are: The Word of Life, Bible Study, The Walk and Heavenwards Audio. Bible studies run about six weeks and follow one another regularly. Jesus and the Gospels starts on January 3. Check out this website! Experience the excitement that comes with encountering the Word that is filled with God's life and power for your journey. Recommended for all, but well suited to young adults and teens.
Deepen the Faith Life of Your Community!
Pope John Paul II clearly identified our vocation when he spoke in October 1991 on World Mission Day: No Christian community is faithful to its duty unless it is missionary: Either it is a missionary community or it is not even a Christian community, because these are simply two dimensions of the same reality, which is brought about by baptism or by other sacraments.
Hard as these words are, we know they are true. We dodge the reality in many ways. Sometimes fear climbs upon us; just as quickly we remember the Holy Word as well as this same Holy Father saying: Do not be afraid! We also hide in the comfort of our American lives and the communities to which we belong. Then, we are awakened with the words: Our Christian lives call us to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Finally, we are cornered and have no recourse as the Hound of Heaven nears and we are driven deep within and hear: "Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me." Our lives are graced otherwise the Call and the Cross would be impossible and community would be but a good idea instead of a people pulsating with God’s love and readiness to say: Here, I am, Lord, I come to do your will.
Barbara Darling's Getting a Grip on Your Group will help you discern the call to community and draw you to reflect on your growth and priorities as a faith sharing community as you enter 2006. Her thoughtful reflections and challenging questions invite oneness of heart and offer a call to covenant and to become missionary in keeping with authentic Christian life. Available through Good Ground Press at 800-232-5533 or their website: www.goodgroundpress.com
How Can We Draw More Participants to Our Groups?
Discover the Catholic approach to bring Jesus to all that we meet daily and invite them into our groups. Come to "Share Your Faith Without Losing Your Head!" Intensive Training for Parish Evangelization." This nine session, (45 hours) training course includes course books and handouts. Speaker: John J. Boucher, Director, Office of Parish Life, Evangelization Ministry, Diocese of Trenton.
Date/Time: Begins January 21, 2006, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at Church of the Visitation (Rectory), Brick, NJ. Registration deadline is Jan. 13, 2006. For more detailed information and cost: contact Judy Paronett, 609-406-7400, ext. 5585, e-mail: jparon@dioceseoftrenton.org.
Liturgical Cycle B Resources
Dennis Sweetland's Mark: From Death to Life is a study of the Gospel of Mark and offers both an excellent commentary and with the Evangelist unfolds discipleship. Order from New York City Press at 800-462-5980 or www.newcitypress.com
Margaret Nutting Ralph's Breaking Open the Lectionary, Cycle B places the Sunday readings into their biblical context and presents three alternatives to delving into the scriptures: questions for breaking open the word, for faith sharing groups and bible study. Paulist Press is reached at 800-218-1903 or www.paulistpress.com.
Women's Resources
Judy Ritter is the author of two publications in a Graced Women Series that are suitable for group sharing and/or journaling. St. Sholastica, Graced Woman of Hope helps contemporary women deal with issues of equality and harmony through prayer and meditation. Woman at the Well, Graced Woman of Joy uses the scriptural story of the Samaritan woman at the well to explore the issue of isolation experienced by many contemporary women. Resource Publications at 800-273-7782 or www.rpinet.com carry both books.
More Resources at the Faith Enrichment Centers
The Office of Catechesis has recently opened Faith Enrichment Centers in host parishes in each county to serve parishioners in the Diocese. Each Center offers many audio and visual materials, covering almost every aspect of Catholic life, teaching and practice. Four Centers also have Spanish materials available. Staff members in each parish have a card to borrow the material for your personal or group use. These Centers also schedule faith enrichment sessions in the fall and spring, sponsored by the Office of Catechesis. These sessions foster adult Catholics opportunities to deepen their faith and baptismal call to spread the Gospel message and participate in the transformation of society. Everyone is welcome to enroll in these sessions. The courses are also applicable to diocesan Level II/III Catechist Certification.
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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