St. Robert of Newminster Parish at 6477 Ada Drive, Ada, MI 49301 US

Adult Faith Formation

Overview

“Why Do Catholics…?”

Bible Study

Online Resources

Marriage Enrichment

OVERVIEW

The passing on of our Catholic tradition depends on the witness of adults in continuing their own faith development. The quality of faith formation for children and youth is directly related to an adult community that is well-formed in the Catholic faith. Thus, our primary focus is on adult faith formation. Many adults long for a deeper personal experience of God and involvement in a community of faith. We provide opportunities to satisfy the spiritual hunger of adults and to talk about the importance of Jesus Christ in their lives.

St Robert of Newminster Church offers a variety of activities for the spiritual growth and faith development of adults of all ages, including

· Bible Study

· Marriage Enrichment

· Parenting Presentations

· Catholic Inquiry & Renewal

· Christian Initiation

· Guest Speakers

· Seasonal Spiritual Enrichment

For additional information on adult faith formation opportunities at St Robert of Newminster Church, contact

Terri Nausieda, Initiation & Adult Coordinator terrin@strobertchurch.org 616.676.9111 ext 18

Teri Burns, Director of Faith Formation tburns@strobertchurch.org 616.676.9111 ext 15

WHY DO CATHOLICS…?

Throughout the Easter season in 2013, the Anchored in Christ bulletin columns will offer insights into some Catholic practices. The links below are additional resources for those topics.

DIVINE MERCY Second Sunday of Easter

o http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/notes-and-quotes-for-reflection-on-divine-mercy.cfm

o http://www.catholicity.com/prayer/divinemercy.html

o http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

o http://youtu.be/Rbw4QuGksXA

POSTURES & GESTURES AT MASS

o http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/postures-and-gestures-at-mass.cfm

o Sign of the Cross

§ http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/9190/Why-Catholics-make-the-sign-of-the-cross.aspx

§ http://lifeteen.com/why-do-catholics-make-sign-cross/

o Blessing ourselves with holy water

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_water

o Making the Sign of the Cross on forehead, lips & heart before the Gospel

§ http://lifeteen.com/why-do-catholics-cross-their-head-lips-heart-mass/

Kneeling/Genuflecting

§ http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06423a.htm

§ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genuflection

§ http://lifeteen.com/why-do-catholics-genuflect-in-a-church/

Receiving Holy Communion

§ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdGkTdv4Dt4

THE HIERARCHY Good Shepherd Sunday
HEAVEN, HELL & PURGATORY

o http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a12.htm

o http://lifeteen.com/why-do-catholics-believe-in-the-personal-and-final-judgements/

THE ROSARY

o http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/rosaries/

o http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/devotionals/rosaries/how-to-pray-the-rosary.cfm

HOLY DAYS OF OBLIGATION Ascension of the Lord

o http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/canon-law/complementary-norms/canon-1246.cfm

o http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=1371

PENTECOST, THE HOLY SPIRIT Pentecost

o http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15614b.htm

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentecost

THE CREEDS – APOSTLES’ CREED & NICENE CREED Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

o http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/

o http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/credo.htm

o http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostles'_Creed

REAL PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST Solemnity of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ
Other Resources
- Bausch, William J. While You Were Gone: A Handbook for Returning Catholics…and those thinking about it. Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1994.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.
  - Free Online at
    - http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_INDEX.HTM
    - http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church/
- Dietzen, Fr John J. Catholic Q&A: All You Want to Know about Catholicism. New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2009.
- Dues, Greg. Catholic Customs & Traditions. New London, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2009.
- Groom, Thomas H. What Makes Us Catholic. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2002.
- Handbook for Today’s Catholic. Liguori, MO: Liguori, 2004.
- Johnson, Kevin Orlin, PhD. Why Do Catholics Do That? New York: Ballantine Books, 1994.
- Santa, Thomas M, CSsR. Dear Padre: Questions Catholics Ask. Liguori, MO: Liguori, 2003.
- The Catholic Source Book. Orlando, FL: Harcourt Religion Publishers, 2007.

BIBLE STUDY

Several options are offered for Bible study:

· For all adults – Tuesdays 9:45 a.m. year-round

· For women – Wednesdays 9:30 a.m. October 10-March 27

· For all adults – Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. October 10-March 27

Contact Teri Burns, tburns@strobertchurch.org, 676-9111 ext 15

ONLINE ADULT FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES

Faith formation is a life-long process. In our tech-savvy world, there are a variety of web resources to help you enhance your spiritual growth.

· Boston College School of Theology http://www.bc.edu/schools/stm/c21online/

C21 offers non-credit courses of spiritual renewal and on-going faith formation. They provide some free on-line courses as well as the C21 online network where a parish or diocese pays $100 for 10 people to take a course for $35 per person.

· Catholic Family Faith http://catholicfamilyfaith.com/

· Catholic Information Center http://www.catholicinformationcenter.org/

· Dominican Center at Marywood http://dominicancenter.com/

· Diocese of Grand Rapids http://www.dioceseofgrandrapids.org/growing_faith/Pages/Resources_Faith_Formation.aspx

· Catholic Distance University http://cdu.edu/GrandRapidsDiocese/index.html

The Diocese of Grand Rapids has partnered with Catholic Distance University in a Diocesan Subsidy Plan. This means that anyone can take a three week seminar or each workshop on the Catechism for $30. Click on the link above and go directly to the site for further instruction. All seminars provide hours for catechetical certification.

· Catholic Education Center http://catholiceducationcenter.org/

Offers online courses for catechist and adult formation.

· eCatechist http://ecatechist.com/

· Faith Alive Books http://faithalivebooks.com/

· Loyola Press http://www.loyolapress.com/

· Our Sunday Visitor http://www.osv.com/

· RTJ’s Creative Catechist http://www.rtjscreativecatechist.com/

· Virtual Learning Community https://vlc.udayton.edu/

Provides on-line courses in theology, scripture, sacraments, liturgy and many others for catechists. The Diocese of Grand Rapids is a partner and can provide the five week courses at a reduced rate of $40 per person.

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

Marriage is not just a matter of love; it is also a matter of on-going development of your commitment to your spouse. It takes regular prayer and practice in self-less giving to make your marriage fruitful in God’s love and joy. The parish occasionally provides opportunities for married couples of all ages to enrich their relationships with one another and with God. Check out these online resources, as well:

For Your Marriage from the USCCB http://foryourmarriage.org/

USCCB Marriage Home Page http://usccb.org/issues-and-action/marriage-and-family/marriage/index.cfm

Marriage Resources from Susan Vogt http://www.susanvogt.net/Marriage.htm

Diocese of GR Marriage & Family http://dioceseofgrandrapids.org/growing_faith/marriage_family/Pages/Resources.aspx

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St. Robert of Newminster Parish at 6477 Ada Drive, Ada, MI 49301 US - Adult Faith Formation