Experience the Best of:

Faith Learning

Faith Sharing

Faith Living

 Register Online

• Why Catholic? is a UNIQUE adult faith formation program that is solidly based on Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

• Why Catholic? Offers a concrete approach to help adults DEEPEN their CATHOLIC FAITH and connect its teachings to their everyday lives.

• Why Catholic? Encourages participants to get to know others, while learning about the Catholic faith in a prayerful, small community setting.  No particular level of knowledge of the faith is needed to participate. You will learn regardless of where you are when you start!

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM Why Catholic?

• All Catholics who want to deepen their faith

• Parents who want to pass on their faith

• Current and recent RCIA candidates and graduates     

• Catholics that are considering “Coming home to the Church”

• All parish organizations whose members want to reflect on their faith

• Non-Catholics interested in the Church.

WHAT ARE THE THEMES OF Why Catholic?

• Book One: THE PROFESSION OF FAITH  What We Believe                 The first book in the series looks at the truths that we, as Catholics, believe.  It offers insights on what it means to be a Catholic following “the oldest Roman catechism, the Apostles’ Creed”.

• Book Two: THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY Sacraments                                                                                           The second book looks at the liturgy and an understanding of the sacraments, followed by a focus on Baptism and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA).  The second half of the book focuses on the remaining six sacraments.

• Book Three:  LIFE IN CHRIST Walking With God                              The third book begins with a look at the Beatitudes, on our freedom and responsibility, conscience, virtues, sin, mercy, moral solidarity, moral law, grace, and the Church.  This is followed by a focus on the implications of the Ten Commandments.

• Book Four:  CHRISTIAN PRAYER Deepening My Experience of God   The final book focuses on prayer and how God communicates with us, specifically looking at different forms of prayer and some difficulties we experience in prayer.  The book concludes with a deeper look at the Lords’ Prayer:  The sessions explore the concept of prayer, and include various styles of prayer for participants’ use.

HOW DOES THE WHY CATHOLIC? PROCESS WORK? 

• Takes place in small communities (a home or elsewhere)

• Focuses on questions for faith sharing occurring within the content of each lesson

• Faith sharing material includes prayer, Scripture reading, and reflections on the Catechism.

• The atmosphere is relaxed and informal.

• Each small community will have a trained leader to facilitate the experience.  The facilitator is a guide, not the one with all the answers.

HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED? 

• JOIN A SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY                         

  • Registration Online

  • Registration will be available after all Masses on the weekends of:

    • September 11/12

  Sign up and prepare to grow in your faith!!

• BECOME A FACILITATOR                                              Facilitators are not theologians or teachers, but persons who love their faith and who can lead the group in sharing and deepening their faith as they go through each lesson. Contact David Utsler in the parish office if you are interested. Facilitator training will take place:

  • August 22 from 7:00-8:00 pm

  • August 23 from 7:00-8:00 pm

• BECOME A HOST FAMILY                                                       Host a small group community at your home.  There are typically 8-10 people in each group.

 We hope you can be a part of this wonderful experience of Faith Learning, Faith Sharing and Faith Living.

SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHY CATHOLIC? DISCLOSURE

As per Diocesan regulations, St. Francis does not provide or organize childcare for meetings outside of St. Francis’ facility. Adequate child supervision (childcare) for “Why Catholic?” is the responsibility of each participant.