What is it all about?

Christian Initiation is a Journey of Faith for all adults who wish to become members of the Roman Catholic Church. It involves the formation of the total person into a believing, living, praying and serving member of the church community.

1. EVANGELIZATION/INQUIRY: A chance for people to ask questions about Catholic beliefs.
2. CATECHUMENATE: An opportunity for participants to learn about and mature into the Catholic Faith while being guided by a Catholic sponsor.
3. ENLIGHTENMENT: A time for deep spiritual reflection during the Lenten Season. It culminates with the administration of the three Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
4. MYSTAGOGIA: An ongoing process for spiritual growth while entering fully into the community of Catholic believers.

CHRISTIAN INITIATION is a year-round process which may be entered into at any time. If you know someone who is curious about our Church or who is trying to decide whether to become a Catholic, or if you are interested in becoming a Catholic Christian, please contact Deanna Saxton at the Parish Office for more information (787-6354 ext. 251)

Everyone is called: Everyone is welcome!

FAITH MATTERS

Parishioners meet each Thursday morning in the Family Enrichment Center to discuss various matters of Faith including: Sacraments, Commandments, newly released spiritual books, church documents and practices. These informal discussion sessions are meant to build faith and fellowship among the participants. Everyone has a Faith Story to share and is welcomed to do so.

APOLOGETICS

Can you answer these questions?

• Why do you Catholics call your priests “father” when Mt 23:9 clearly says, “call no man father”?
• Why do you Catholics worship the Eucharist? Isn’t it just a symbolic piece of bread?
• How can you believe in God when there is so much suffering in the world?
• Why are Catholics opposed to abortion?
• Aren’t there errors and contractions in the bible?

Most Catholics can’t. But you don’t have to be tongue-tied the next time your non-Catholic friend asks tough questions like these. Learn how to explain your faith clearly, defend it charitably, and share it confidently with the enormously popular ongoing Beginning Apologetics series.

Sessions are held in the Family Enrichment Center room 216-218 on Wednesday mornings from 10:30 A.M. – Noon. These sessions will give you answers to the most common objections about your faith: Eucharist, papacy, Confession, Mary, purgatory, prayer to saints, and many other Catholic Doctrines. If you want to keep your friends and family members Catholic, if you want answers for door to door evangelizers – COME!

CHRISTIAN NEIGHBORHOODS

These are small groups of adults who gather together in homes to discuss how to live Gospel values and share their Catholic faith through study, prayer, friendship and service. Currently, there are six groups meeting regularly in communities around town.