Podcasts about adult faith formation

Send us a textMarcus Jones is a DAD. He is certified in the Diocese of San Bernardino in Advanced Theological Studies, Advanced Specialization Certification in Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization and is Certified and Commissioned as a Lay Ecclesial Minister. Our conversation in this episode runs the gamut of fatherhood to what it is like to be Catholic in an ever changing world and the dynamics of ministry.Remember to like, share and subscribe and don't forget to comment. Live a life of holiness, B Blessed & B3rd.You can support us through Patreon, PayPal Follow us on Instagram @catholic.dadOur mission is to connect generations and situations about faith life and whatever comes along the way - to not necessarily agree but be listened to. The statements shared on this podcast are the opinions of the host and the guests. For questions or comments, contact us at Catholic.dad50@gmail.comOr message us on our Instagram account @catholic.dadBook your stay at the cabin, Running Springs, CAInstagram: @thecabin2021Support the showYour blessing of support is needed and appreciated: https://www.buzzsprout.com/948010/support

Fr. Mark interviews Ken and Mary Anne Duppong, parents of Michelle Duppong, a remarkable Catholic laywoman whose life of faith and service is now being considered for sainthood. Michelle served as a campus minister with FOCUS, guiding college students in their faith, and later as the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Bismarck. Despite passing away from cancer at just 31, her legacy of holiness and joy continues to inspire many. Learn more about her extraordinary story in this moving episode!

We've mentioned some saints before here on the Mourning Glory Podcast including St. Faustina, St, Elizabeth Ann Seton, and recently touched on St. Dymphna. Some saints are more well-known than others like St. Teresa of Avila, St. Catherine of Sienna and St. John Bosco, just to name a few. However, one saint in particular, St. Therese of Lisieux seems to generate a mixed reaction. Yet, she suffered greatly throughout her life and is an inspiration for remaining faithful through grief and sorrow.About St. ThérèseSt. Thérèse of Lisieux was born January 2, 1873, Alençon, France and died September 30, 1897. She was canonized on May 17, 1925 and her feast day is celebrated on October 1. Therese was a Carmelite nun whose service to her Roman Catholic order, although outwardly unremarkable, was later recognized for its exemplary spiritual accomplishments. She was named a doctor of the church by Pope John Paul II in 1997. She is a patron saint of missionaries, florists, pilots, and priests. She is also invoked on behalf of the sick and is commonly referred to as the “little flower”.So what Is it about her that generates mixed reactions? Is it the fact that some think of her as a little girl dancing around with flowers in the French countryside, singing songs? What is it about her “little ways” that people DO respond to and what makes her so influential and adored by many?Guest BioRosaline (Roz) Cruz-Rine, MA, MFT has been a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist for over 19 years. She has treated Children, Adolescents, Adults, Families, and Groups in all areas pertaining to Mental Health. Having recently closed her private practice of 17 years, she now works for St. Michael's Catholic Church in Stockton, CA. as the Director of Adult Faith Formation which began as a volunteer position over 10 years ago. She continues clinical work with referred clients and has begun a faith-based grief support group in her parish. Her work continues to include Trauma, Mood Disorders, Personality Disorders, and other areas which can result in Grief and/or Loss.She is the mother of seven adult children, and a grandmother of four grandsons, Roz, and her husband, Kevin, live in Stockton, Ca with their youngest son, John, their three spirited dogs, and one very demanding cat. She enjoys gardening, and is devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to Mama Mary, is a self avowed clotheshorse, and must have coffee with her favorite creamer daily.Links from the show​Society of the Little Flower​Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux (the Little Flower)​The Context of Holiness: Psychological and Spiritual Reflections on the Life of St. Therese of Lisieux by Marc FoleyJournaling Questions​Where do you see joy in your life?​Reflect on today's episode. In what little ways are the saints reaching out to you?​When was a time in your life when you chose to do the hard thing first?​What is your mourning glory?Prayer for the souls of Isidro Morales and Robert KapinaIf you have questions or comments about today's show or to inquire about being a guest, head over to our website: ⁠www.mourningglorypodcast.com⁠. There you will find links to previous episodes as well as information on how to contact us or request to be a guest on our show. You can also find us on ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Facebook⁠.

Bishop Dolan joins us to talk about Sunday's Gospel. We'll explore ecumenism with Fr. David Loeffler. Dr. Tracey Lamont shares about a new adult formation program opportunity in the diocese. You'll catch up on the latest news and events from around the diocese.   Special thanks to Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes for making this show possible.

This week on The Open Door (August 7th) we will explore the thought of Servant of God Romano Guardini, a widely influential theologian whom both Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis deeply admired. So did Flannery O'Connor! Guardini is often thought of as a unifying figure in the Church. Our welcome guest is Christine Myers Miller. She is a graduate of the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and Family in Washington, DC, and is the Director of Adult Faith Formation, Marriage & Family Life at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish in Tulsa. Dr. Myers Miller researched Romano Guardini for her doctoral thesis, studying the topic of Christian responsibility for the world. She has published essays in the Catechetical Review, Humanum online review, and in the important theological journal Communio. Among the questions we'll ask are the following. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Have you always been an Okie?What was it like to study at the John Paul II Institute? How does the Institute reflect the vision of St. John Paul II?What are your responsibilities as Director of Adult Faith Formation and Marriage & Family Life at your parish?  Could you introduce us to Romano Guardini? A time-line would help. And how did he survive World War II? In these “interesting times” there's deep disagreement on just what it is to be a human being. What does this mean in terms of how we can best address ethical questions?On your view, crisis can be an occasion of growth. How might this come about with regard to scandals in the Church?Romano Guardini saw the apparent contradiction between faith and science as one of the main sources of crisis in his time, and it surely remains one for us. How might we effectively respond to it?How might Guardini advise us to manage AI technology?You have written that “faith needs culture to survive” and warned that “a faith without culture is a dying thing.” What would a Catholic culture look like today?  Might it involve a distinctive Catholic political presence?

We're live with Wendy Enloe, Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in St. Amant, LA and trained Spiritual Director, talks about Ignatian Spirituality, St. Ignatius of Loyola. Also, Tyler Mulkey, Catholic convert, talks about his Conversion story on Conversion Corner.

Dr. Timothy P. O'Malley is the Academic Director of the Notre Dame Center for Liturgy. He teaches and researches at Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, catechesis, and aesthetics. Today we talked about his new book on Ave Maria Press, Behold Believe Become: Meeting the Hidden Christ in Things We See, Say and Do at Mass. There are also free video resources available to help facility the use of this book in Adult Faith Formation and small group studies.

We interview St. Philip Director of Adult Faith Formation, Susan Skinner, and parishioner, Paul Chen, about the relic (remains) of St. Jude the Apostle being on display at St. Philip, March 7. Known as the Apostle of the Impossible, Saint Jude is revered for his unwavering dedication and steadfast faith. Millions have experienced his intercession in times of adversity and need. Visit StPhilipFranklin.com for complete details. Song featured only on our Nashville Hippie Radio 94.5 broadcast: Come Alive (Dry Bones) - Lauren Daigle.

Join Matt Lozano and Gilbert Rodriguez as they share details from the Freedom In Christ conference held in San Juan, Mexico, last summer.Gilbert is Associate Director of Adult Faith Formation in the New York Archdiocese and has extensive ministry experience. He helps run Freedom in Christ conferences in Spanish. Gilbert tells of first benefitting from Unbound ministry in 2012 and how he was set free from fear. He continued on to make major life decisions, including a marriage proposal!We hear Matt extol the hospitality of the Mexican people and the goodness of heart he witnessed there, saying, “The Father's blessing is imbedded in them.”Stories are shared about individuals set free through Unbound prayer with joy, even to the point of abounding laughter! Gilbert relates a funny memory involving caramel at a Cathedral and Matt follows up with a tale about a stolen Rolex watch. We even learn of a skeptical priest who was won over, saying the Unbound session he witnessed was “like heart surgery!”This encouraging episode reminds us that Unbound ministry is growing amidst our southern neighbors in Mexico. Listen and enjoy!Release: February 2024Music by Christian HarperArtwork by Rosemary StrohmProduction by Jacqueline Harper

In this week's episode of St. Joseph's Workshop, discover the true significance of the incarnation during this joyful Christmas season with Fr. Stephen and Alfredo Ramirez, Director of Adult Faith Formation. Their discussion helps the listener clearly see that God's love for the world is profound, as demonstrated by His ultimate sacrifice of His only son.

Father Blakey speaks with Rachel Willoughby, the director for Adult Faith Formation.

We interview Nashville Gerontologist, Katlyn Green, to gain practical advice on how to navigate and plan for the late in life phase. Katlyn is currently an Elder Care Coordinator with Takacs McGinnis Eldercare Law where she guides clients through a Life Care Plan. This episode also features a special co-host, Susan Skinner, Director of Adult Faith Formation and RCIA at St. Philip. Both Greg and Susan have mothers they care for, his at a facility near him and Susan's in her home. Songs featured only on our Nashville's Hippie Radio 94.5 broadcast: Come Close Now - Christa Wells | Be Still - The Fray.

Preaching for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Casey Stanton invites us to say "yes" to the invitation to the feast of synodality: "To say yes to walk the synodal way is be part of God's work, reknitting the fabric of our belonging – to God, to one another, to creation – as Christ's living body in the world." Casey Stanton is the co-director of Discerning Deacons, a project serving the Church by engaging Catholics in the active discernment around women and the diaconate. She most recently served as Adult Faith Formation minister at Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham, North Carolina. She holds a BA from the University of Notre Dame, and a Masters of Divinity from Duke Divinity School where she graduated with a certificate in prison studies. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/10152023 to learn more about Casey, to read her text, and for more preaching from Catholic women.

Published: May 27, 2020Join us as we kick off our mini-series “Advancing Our Church Through Challenging Times” with our first session, “Engaging Young Adults.” The impact of COVID-19 has been felt by all ages, but how has the pandemic affected young adults? What will be the impact on Church engagement? Can we build a bridge between generations as we protect those who are most vulnerable? We discuss these questions and much more with our expert panel. Our Panelists Join our expert panel of ministry leaders for this critical discussion, featuring: Peter Blute, Vice President for the national office of Young Catholic Professionals, Paul Edward Jarzembowski, Director for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), Nicole Perone, Archdiocesan Director of Adult Faith Formation, Archdiocese of Hartford and Fr. Ryan Lerner, Chaplain of the St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University. Watch the video of this Presentation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UquPFHzQw58&t=1307s Don't miss Changing Our World's FORGING FORWARDDon't miss the webinar series FORGING FORWARD, a virtual philanthropic conference designed to bring you nonprofit experts from around the country who are leading through the COVID-19 crisis. Daily Spiritual Reflection and Prayers on “Kristin's Crosses” Join Jim and Kristin Friend and their family on Kristin's Crosses YouTube Channel for “Today's Catholic Prayers.” Jim and Kristin offer the daily Gospel and Reflection along with the Rosary and Catholic Prayers of the day. Click here to visit the YouTube Page and subscribe. If you would like to join the Kristin's Crosses prayer group on Facebook, click here to request to join.

This episode from the Catholic Marketing Network in Schaumberg, Illinois features Catholic Mom founder Lisa Hendey, with Allison Gingras and special guest Kelly Johnson, author of Nourish for Caregivers. Kelly Johnson is Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Mary of Gostyn Catholic Church in Downers Grove IL., active in parish and diocesan faith formation. It is in this position that Kelly met Deb and together they created Nourish for Caregivers, a curriculum to meet the practical, emotional and spiritual needs of family caregivers. It is from this perspective of sharing the hope and healing of Christ, that A Caregiver's Companion, published by Ave Maria Press, was created.  Show Note Links:  The Caregiver's Companion: A Christ-Centered Journal to Nourish Your Soul  Nourish for Caregivers  Nourish for Caregivers Facebook Community

Marriage on Purpose Ministry at St. Malachy Parish, Brownsburg - This segment of Faith in Action our guest Nathanael Rea, Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at St. Malachy Parish, Brownsburg, talks with Corky Aiken and Brigid Ayer about this marriage enrichment program called Marriage On Purpose Ministry and an upcoming event scheduled for Saturday, February 11th at St. Malachy in Brownsburg featuring national speakers Dr. Andrew & Sarah Swafford. For more details or to register see the website www.marriageonpurpose.info

We discuss the recent Board statement against racism and Islamophobia. You can read the statement below. Hosted by Roberto Henriquez   I'm Melissa Rowland, your St. John's Board President, and I've got some important information to share. Please read through thoughtfully.   In a blog post right before sabbatical, Rev Mitra said “...I challenged the board to address implicit and explicit Islamophobia experienced at church by your minister. What does it mean for you to be served by an Iranian-American minister?” You can find the blog post here: https://stjohnsuu.org/september-brings-a-sabbatical/   This was a deeply troubling revelation and has been thoughtfully considered over the past several months by all board members. The Adult Faith Formation team in partnership with Rev. Alice developed the 4-part class, Interpersonal Harmony, to provide tools to better respond to anxiety and tension among our congregation members and friends. It provided a sampling of many areas that can be more deeply studied in the future and gave us lots to think about in the present moment.   Did you see Rev. Alice's sermon this past Sunday? If not, you can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92RMjAX4SOk&t=4241s   Rev. Alice mentioned that the St. John's Board approved a statement that speaks out against Islamophobia. You will find that statement as a link in this very email. It has been thoughtfully written and we know it is not the end of the conversation. It is the beginning. There will be many opportunities for ongoing personal and spiritual growth. Listed in the attached document are actions already being taken that include:  Provided Interpersonal Harmony short series Collaborating on the Building the World We Dream About program to start in January, a multi-congregation effort. Engage the Social Justice and Adult Faith Formation Teams in creating and supporting programs, such as Beloved Conversations, Nonviolent Communication, and others.  Please continue to look for updates in the E-news and at Sunday services for information about actions currently under development that include: Review and update the 2016 Commitment to Racial Justice statement. Identify and invite speakers on Islam to St. John's. Explore facilitating the Intercultural Development Inventory program - or other cultural awareness programs. Provide further education on microaggressions.  You are also always welcome to reach out to your church Board of Trustees for any questions or concerns. You can email us at Board@stjohnsuu.org. Your opinions, concerns, and ideas are always welcome.   Yours in Faith,   Melissa Rowland St. John's Board President

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://www.smlutheran.org/connect-with-us/faith-formation To view the materials used in this forum, you can use this link.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://www.smlutheran.org/connect-with-us/faith-formation To view the materials used in this forum, you can use this link.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://www.smlutheran.org/connect-with-us/faith-formation To view the materials used in this forum, you can use this link.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://www.smlutheran.org/connect-with-us/faith-formation To view the materials used in this forum, you can use this link.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://www.smlutheran.org/connect-with-us/faith-formation

Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic […] The post ADULT FAITH FORMATION appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV.

Father Ed Broom, OMV, serves as Associate Pastor at St. Peter Chanel Church in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He is a member of the Religious Order, Oblates of the Virgin Mary, and was ordained by Saint John Paul II in St Peter's Basilica on May 25, 1986. Fr. Ed is a Retreat Master and teaches Catholic […] The post ADULT FAITH FORMATION CLASSES appeared first on Fr. Ed Broom, OMV.

Fr. Carter talks about the concept of time, the Jewish origins of feasting, what makes a feast, and how we can live the festive cycle of the Church's year within our homes and communities.

What We Hope To Accomplish Methods of Exegesis Covenantal Story Arch The Concept of Covenant Expansive Covenants Matthew's Kingdom-Church Underpinnings Luke's Banquet-Eucharist Underpinnings The New Testament is the Eucharist

Nicole M. Perone is the National Coordinator of ESTEEM, the faith-based leadership formation program for Catholic students at colleges and universities across the United States. ESTEEM prepares young adults for the transition from campus ministry to parish life, and to engage their temporal gifts as leaders in their faith communities. ESTEEM is a partnership between Leadership Roundtable and Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University. Nicole previously served as the Archdiocesan Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Hartford. She holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University. Her Bachelor of Arts in Theology with double minors in Italian and Catholic Studies was bestowed by Loyola University Maryland, where she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. Nicole is the chair of the Board of Governors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults, and on the writing team for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops' pastoral framework on youth and young adult ministry. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the All Africa Conference: Sister to Sister; the National Advisory Council for the Next Level initiative of the Center for FaithJustice; and the Advisory Board of the Youth in the 21 st Century Initiative of Sacred Heart University. In 2018, Nicole was a delegate to the Pre-Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, and served on the writing committee for the final document. Her work has been published by America Media, Catholic News Service, The Jesuit Post, and US Catholic. Nicole lives in Milford, Connecticut with her husband, John Grosso (director of digital media for the Diocese of Bridgeport), and their Golden Retriever, Ellie.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://smlutheran.org

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://smlutheran.org   The art discussed in this week's forum is used with permission from A Sanctified Art.   Lisle Gwynn Garrity "God of Justice" "You, Too, Must" | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org  

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://smlutheran.org A link to the image discussed in this forum can be found on the artist's website.

For more information about Adult Faith Formation at St. Mark's, visit our website: https://smlutheran.org A link to the image discussed in this forum can be found on the artist's website: https://www.pwkoenig.co.uk/Portfolio/Grasshopper    

Joe Tomaso, Director of Adult Faith Formation talks about the upcoming Good News Advent Series.

Diane Erbacher and Carol Kmetz are catechists at the Church of Saint Mary specializing in Adult Faith Formation. Diane grew up in Central Kansas on a dairy farm and is second oldest of 5 children. She graduated from Fort Hays State University with a double degree in Elementary Ed and Special Ed. Diane is retired after teaching school for 4 years, was working as the Office Manager for her husband's medical practice for 6 years and substitute teaching at the School of Saint Mary for over 20 years. She has been married to George for 44 years. And they have 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren. Carol grew up in Tulsa with her four siblings attended the School of Saint Mary and graduated from Bishop Kelley High School. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma and is a registered respiratory therapist. Carol is retired after working as the nurse at the school of Saint. Mary and Bishop Kelley. She has been married to Andy for 41 years and they have five children and 10 grandchildren. Show Notes: FORMED.org: https://www.formed.org Biblical Timeline: https://ascensionpress.com/collections/the-bible-timeline-the-story-of-salvation The Wild Goose: https://www.churchofsaintmary.com/tag/wild-goose/

Rachel Willoughby, Director of Adult Faith Formation & Life Teen Core Member, joins to chat about one of the most powerful forms of prayer we have: the Rosary! We chat about the history of this prayer (including battles won thanks to our Mama!), asking Mary to pray for us (what that looks like & why we do it) and tips to build the habit of praying the Rosary more consistently. We also invite you towards the end of this episode (22:35), to pray with us! Whether you're taking a run, in the car, or have a quiet moment -- you can use this episode to pray the Rosary. We will be taking a couple weeks off to prep and plan for upcoming podcast episodes (including a few new series!) Please keep us in your prayers and be assured that we are praying for you. To check out previous episodes and show notes, you can click here : https://stmatthewcatholic.org/podcast-nottheonlyoneWhen we bring all of our intentions to Mary: "The Rosary is big enough to put all those gifts in that same basket and then present it to Mary and say "Mary can you make these beautiful and give them to your son?"" The Queen of the Universe is a mother -- and Jesus longs for her to be our mother, too. Tune in this week to hear how you can invite her more fully into your daily life. 

"I take advice from my namesake, Saint Paul who says, 'Pray unceasingly.' That means that prayer doesn't have to be a big formal exercise. During this pandemic and during the busy life I have, I must find time to pray." Paul Stokell is the Adult Faith Formation director at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Sunbury, Ohio. Show Notes: St. John Neumann Catholic Church: https://www.saintjohnsunbury.org/

Preaching for the Second Sunday of Easter, Nicole Perone offers another look at "doubting Thomas": "We realize that identifying as a disciple of Jesus Christ is not simply a matter of whether you believe or you don’t. Rather, it is about what we do with our belief...Can we become the living proclamation of Doubting – no, Believing Thomas, who gasps in breathless awe, 'My Lord and my God!'" Nicole M. Perone is the National Coordinator of ESTEEM, the faith-based leadership formation program for Catholic students at colleges and universities across the United States. ESTEEM is a partnership between Leadership Roundtable and Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale University. Nicole previously served as the Archdiocesan Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Hartford. She holds a Master of Divinity from Yale University. In 2018, Nicole was a delegate to the Pre-Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, and served on the writing committee for the final document. Her work has been published by Catholic News Service, America Media, The Jesuit Post, and US Catholic. Visit www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/04112021 to learn more about Nicole or to read her preaching text and for more preaching from Catholic women.

On this segment of Faith in Action, cohosts Brigid Ayer and Jim Ganley are joined by Tom Ponchak, Associate Director of Adult Faith Formation, St. Alphonsus, Zionsville to discuss his role at the new Encounter School of Ministry Indianapolis Campus, and how you can get involved at the campus with their upcoming events. For more information, their website is www.https://encounterschool.org/indianapolis.

With special focus on chapter 8, section 4 of the new Directory for Catechesis, this webinar explores stages of adulthood and the "gateway moments" that provide avenues for forming faithful adults in parishes and faith communities. We also discussed the lived experience of adult faith formation during a pandemic, and what threads of cultural shifts we can find to inspire our ministries moving forward in this COVID and post-COVID reality. This webinar was hosted by Nicole Perone, National Coordinator of ESTEEM and the former Archdiocesan Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Hartford, CT.

Rayna Neises, your host, interviews Kelly Johnson.  Kelly lives in Chicago where she serves as the Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Mary's of Gostyn Catholic church.  She is also the co-developer of the Nourish for Caregivers curriculum.  Kelly's caregiving journey began several years ago when her young son was unexpectedly diagnosed with a brain tumor.  Her experience formed her passion for providing resources and support for other caregivers.  Moving quickly through the “Why me?” phase allows you to focus and determine what is needed.  You are then able to deal with what is right in front of you allowing you to move forward.Advocating for your loved one is a vital skill of caregiving.Working within the system and opening communication to find solutions is an important part of advocacy. Avoid poking holes and finding problems - instead, work with those involved in your loved one's care to help find solutions.Remember to ask for help and prayers for not only your loved one but for you as the caregiver too.Advocate for your loved one by showing and telling others who they are, what they love, and what makes them happy.

Helping adults engage in their Catholic faith

  On this episode: Brooke shares several exciting announcements. Plus, special guest Joelle Maryn.  In her past, Joelle modeled for well known brands such as Jergens, was on a billboard in Times Square, appeared on numerous book covers, films and news interviews and is the former Host of Trend TV.  Joelle was also the founder/CEO of a luxury line of anti-aging makeup which has been featured on NBC, VH1 and in Vanity Fair, Star and Redbook. In 2012, she hit a spiritual rock bottom and realized she was completely empty despite these worldly accomplishments.  She had a major encounter with Jesus and in His mercy, was given another chance to love and lead others to Him.  She has served as Director of High School Youth Ministry and Confirmation and has taught Adult Faith Formation classes for several years. Click hereto see the full interview with Brooke and Joelle on InspireWord.com.   Like what you hear? Please consider becoming a Podbean Patron. Click here for more information. Thank you for your support! We would love to hear from you. Send an e-mail to: TheBrookeTaylorShow@gmail.com God bless you!

Tom, our Director of Adult Faith Formation, goes through developing a personal relationship with Jesus and learning what it means to be a Christian through the Holy Spirit.

On Tuesday May 5, regular guest Adam Arehart, Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at a parish in Arlington, Virginia, was on the show to talk about fatherhood. Specifically, being selfless for your family, and sacrificing your own needs and desires for the good of your Domestic Church. They talked about how giving yourself away as a husband and a father, is what leads to you the best version of yourself, and helps you become the man God created you to be. Dads, listen in for a great conversation on fatherhood!

On this week's show, we discuss the Church's teachings on the afterlife with Dr. James Papandrea, author of the newly released book What Really Happens After We Die from Sophia Institute Press.About Dr. James Papandrea:James L. Papandrea is a Catholic professor, author, speaker, and musician. Baptized Catholic but raised Protestant and eventually ordained in a Protestant denomination, Jim reverted to the Catholic Church through his studies of the Church Fathers. He holds an M.Div. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in the History and Theology of the Early Christian Church from Northwestern University. Jim is currently Professor of Church History and Historical Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary at Northwestern University, as well as a consultant in Adult Faith Formation and a regular speaker in parish and lay formation programs across the Chicago area.About What Really Happens After We Die:Here professor of Church history Dr. James Papandrea gathers in one place all that is known about the afterlife — drawn from the teachings of Jesus, the Apostles, the Church Fathers, and the Church’s Magisterium — affording, for the first time ever, a complete, authoritative, detailed portrait of the state of souls after death and the realms we enter. Learn more about What Really Happens After We Die from Sophia Institute PressCheck out books by Lisa Hendey at Amazon and find all of our book and movie suggestions at Lisa's Amazon Influencer list. For Lisa's speaking schedule visit www.LisaHendey.com. Send your feedback to lisahendey@gmail.com or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

With special guest, Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Dr. Mary Pedersen. Newsletters

On Tuesday, November 5, Trey reviewed, with regular guest Adam Arehart, the acronym F.I.R.E. (faith, integration, relationship and evangelization), that's been talked about in previous episodes. Adam is the Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Washington D.C. Listen to this episode to hear Adam's reaction to the F.I.R.E. concept, his thoughts about how it fits in with what he and his wife already do, and his suggestions for getting started with it as a template for family life. Remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you, and He will!

We're getting to know our Pastor for Adult Faith Formation, the Rev. Dr. Rodger Nishioka! He's presbyterian-famous. But does he know he has a wikipedia page?

On Mondays, St. Charles Church has lectures and talks as part of our Adult Faith Formation programs. This talk, given by Fr. Don Planty on Monday, October 7, 2019, is the fourth of a series of four St. Charles Challenge workshops to help us live out our Catholic Faith. In describing the Christian community, Acts 2:42 displays for us the four foundational habits of Christian discipleship: "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles (LEARN) and to the communal life (SHARE), to the breaking of the bread (CELEBRATE) and to the prayers (PRAY)." We encourage every member of our parish community to pursue the more abundant life of Jesus, devoting him or herself to the four pillars of Christian discipleship by adopting the St. Charles Challenge.

On Mondays, St. Charles Church has lectures and talks as part of our Adult Faith Formation programs. This talk, given by Fr. Don Planty on Monday, September 23, 2019, is the second of a series of four St. Charles Challenge workshops to help us live out our Catholic Faith. In describing the Christian community, Acts 2:42 displays for us the four foundational habits of Christian discipleship: "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles (LEARN) and to the communal life (SHARE), to the breaking of the bread (CELEBRATE) and to the prayers (PRAY)." We encourage every member of our parish community to pursue the more abundant life of Jesus, devoting him or herself to the four pillars of Christian discipleship by adopting the St. Charles Challenge.

On Mondays, St. Charles Church has lectures and talks as part of our Adult Faith Formation programs. This talk, given by Fr. Don Planty on Monday, September 16, 2019, is the first of a series of four St. Charles Challenge workshops to help us live out our Catholic Faith. In describing the Christian community, Acts 2:42 displays for us the four foundational habits of Christian discipleship: "They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles (LEARN) and to the communal life (SHARE), to the breaking of the bread (CELEBRATE) and to the prayers (PRAY)." We encourage every member of our parish community to pursue the more abundant life of Jesus, devoting him or herself to the four pillars of Christian discipleship by adopting the St. Charles Challenge.

As we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima, which falls on the night of our Monk's Cellar event, we do well to meditate on the seer's eerie prophesy: "The final battle between the Lord and the kingdom of Satan will be about Marriage and the Family.' Don't be afraid, she added, because whoever works for the sanctity of Marriage and the Family will always be fought against and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue. Then she concluded: ‘nevertheless, Our Lady has already crushed his head'.” How can we promote the sanctity of the Family in the midst a hostile culture? Is starting a family while this "final battle" rages something to be avoided? Is it time to head for the hills? Tune in to find out! Aaron is a life-long Catholic and a Knight of Columbus. He has lived in Auburn, CA, for most of his life. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and currently works as a Real Estate Mortgage Professional and a Retail Grocery Clerk. Aaron is a proud uncle of 2 nieces, and enjoys spending time with his extended family. Due to the grace of God and the generosity of the parishioners in the Diocese of Sacramento, Aaron holds a Bachelors degree in Philosophy from Mount Angel Seminary, in Oregon, and a Bachelors in Sacred Theology from the Angelicum in Rome. Aaron has traveled to a variety of countries, including Hawaii, Japan, Okinawa, Australia, Mexico, and Poland. In his free time, Aaron enjoys working with his brother and volunteers teaching Adult Faith Formation at St Josephs and St. Teresa of Avila parishes in Auburn.

Theology on Tap Catholic Fellowship of Frederick April 24, 2019 Edward Herrera serves as the Director for the Office of Marriage and Family Life at the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Prior to this, he was the Director of Adult Faith Formation at a parish in Houston, TX, where he was an adjunct instructor of theology and Director of the Rev. William J. Young Social Justice Institute at the University of St. Thomas. Edward earned his BA from the University of St. Thomas and his Masters from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Edward resides in Parkville, MD with his wife, Joanna, and their three children.

The process of becoming Catholic as an adult with guests Susan Skinner, Director of Adult Faith Formation & RCIA at St. Philip and Joshua Ridgeway. Joshua entered the Church at the St. Philip 2019 Easter Vigil.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this episode, Father looks at CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this episode, Father looks at death, judgment, heaven, purgatory, and hell.

Ramon Luzarraga, Ph.D., division chair of undergraduate studies and theology professor at Benedictine University, Mesa explores the reasons behind a recent surge of abortion legislation. Kevin Saunders, Bible teacher, brings the Gospel to life. Claire Dwyer, coordinator of Adult Faith Formation at St. Thomas the Apostle in Phoenix, gives us an update on how they are building community, fellowship and study for women. Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted continues a series of reflections on his Apostolic Exhortation, Complete My Joy. Today's broadcast is brought to you in part by Catholic Cemeteries and Funeral Homes of the Diocese of Phoenix. www.dopccfh.org

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this eleventh installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley gives a brief overview of Mariology and also our belief in the saints.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this tenth installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Pellessier takes you on a journey through 2000 years of Church history.

Presentation on The Four Last Things (death, judgment, heaven, & hell) given at St. Ann Catholic Church on Tuesday, November 13, 2018.

On Tuesday, October 23, 2018, Trey and Stephanie welcomed Adam Arehart, former campus minister at St. Mary's Catholic Center and currently Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation for St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Arlington, Virginia. They discuss the open letter of His Excellency, Bishop David Konderla of Tulsa, Oklahoma to the 2018 Synod on Youth. The touchstone of their discussion is Bishop Konderla's declaration that "leading people to choose to give their lives to Jesus Christ is not one of the things shepherds must do. It is the only thing." And as Stephanie notes, "Parents are the shepherds of their children." The rest of the conversation takes Bishop David's letter and helps parents apply its points to their roles and the life of the family. This week's Memory Verse is Mt 19:14, "But Jesus said, 'Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Enjoy the episode, take a moment to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. And remember to pray, parent with a purpose, and prepare for God to amaze you!

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this ninth installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley explores the mystery of the Church.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this seventh installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley continues to look at Jesus Christ mainly focusing his person and mission

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this eighth installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley explores the mystery of the Trinity.

In this episode, Jason talks to Joan Watson, Director of Adult Faith Formation (AFF) for the Diocese of Nashville, on the topic of Adult Faith Formation. In this episode, we discuss: - The primacy of adult faith formation in the Church's understanding of ministry - The goal of AFF - Formation for mission - The principle of subsidiarity in faith formation - How parishes can get started - Gradualness in formation - Primacy of the study of Sacred Scripture - Need for systematic formation Check out Joan's work at: joanmwatson.com and 3minutetheology.com

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this sixth installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley begins to look at the person of Jesus Christ mainly focusing on the Christ of the Gospels.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this fifth installment of the CREDO series, Heather Fasnacht looks at the Old Testament through the lens of covenants and salvation history. She also tries to explain why God seems so vengeful and angry in the Old Testament

Faith Formation presentation at St. Ann Catholic Church in Morganza, LA on October 1, 2018.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this fourth installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley looks at Sacred Scripture and offers 12 points to deepen our understanding of the Bible.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this third installment of the CREDO series, Fr. Sibley looks at the theory of evolution, the creation stories in Genesis 1-3, and the essential nature of God's revelation to man.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this episode, Father Sibley discusses arguments for God's existence and how to evangelize atheists.

CREDO is the Adult Faith Formation program for Our Lady of Wisdom Church and Catholic Student Center taught by Fr. Bryce Sibley. Each week Father will explore a different facet of the Catholic Faith. In this episode, Father looks at the nature of faith in today's modern world and why it appears so difficult to believe.

Praying With Scripture (Adult Faith Formation) by Fr. Brent Maher

A talk by Fr. Brent Maher on '5 Ways to Pray the Holy Rosary' presented at St. Ann Catholic Church on May 15, 2018.

Christ is Risen! Join Fr Michael and Fr Isaiah as they converse with Michael O'Smith, Director of Adult Faith Formation at St Dominic's, about his journey to Divinity School, his upbringing, the impact of the Camino de Santiago in his life as well as upcoming events and programs in our parish. Check out all our upcoming ministries here:  https://stdominics.org/ministries   _____________________________________________________________ Have you downloaded Formed yet? https://formed.org/ We call it the Catholic Netflix plus more! There are audio books, movies, talks and much more. Here is the code to recevie the free access as a gift from St Dominic's parish 8ZV4MN.

Tom Ponchak—Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana returns for the conclusion of Strange Verses. Listen as Rachel, Jason and Tom deepen the discussion on myths and truths from the Book of Revelation.

Tom Ponchak—Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana returns for the conclusion of Strange Verses. Listen as Rachel, Jason and Tom deepen the discussion on myths and truths from the Book of Revelation.

Rachel and Jason are joined by guest, Tom Ponchak—Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana. Listen as they explore the myths and truths of the Book of Revelation and the notion of the rapture.

Rachel and Jason are joined by guest, Tom Ponchak—Director of Adult Faith Formation at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish in Carmel, Indiana. Listen as they explore the myths and truths of the Book of Revelation and the notion of the rapture.

In the second hour, hosts Brad Gray and Jeanine Bitzan first spoke with Lisa Beyer about the pro-life efforts happening in Bemidji, MN in front of the local Planned Parenthood. Brad and Jeanine then visited with Liz Hoefferle and Dan Johnson in the Diocese of Duluth about a great opportunity to learn about the basics of our Catholic faith, through an Adult Faith Formation program beginning in November. Finally, our hosts joined Janece Rieman to talk about ways we can begin to work through the pain of losing a loved one and an opportunity for those in the Diocese of Rapid City to further promote healing.

Joan Watson, the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Nashville gave our larger group talk on “The Paradox of Beauty”. Her website is https://joanmwatson.com. The address by Cardinal Ratzinger that was referenced in the talk can be found at “The Feeling of Things, the Contemplation of Beauty”

On this weeks programme the SS102fm interviews one of our own with a friendly discussion with Lorraine Buckley about her new role in as Faith Development Coordinator in the diocese of Limerick and the opportunity for people to learn more about their faith with a particular focus on the Irish Catholic Catechism for AdultsThe Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults and Limerick Diocese Faith Development ProgrammeJohn interviews Lorraine Buckley about the role of Faith Development Coordinator in the diocese of Limerick and the need and importance of adult faith formation particularly in the Irish church at this time.The Faith Development Coordinator works at the direction of the Bishop, chief catechist of the diocese, in the promotion of and co-ordination of faith development initiatives in the diocese. Such initiatives range from preparation programmes for the sacraments of initiation to adult faith development. Why is faith development so important? Sherry Weddell wrote in Forming Intentional Disciples:“The majority of Catholics in the United States are sacramentalized but not evangelized. They do not know that an explicit, personal attachment to Christ – personal discipleship – is normative Catholicism as taught by the apostles and reiterated time and time again by the pope, councils, and saints of the Church.”In an Irish context, the two questions Lorraine put to listeners:How can we renew and deepen our own faith so that we may share that faith with others? What can we do to facilitate that encounter with Christ in our Parishes and in our Pastoral Area? The first question is really important – a lot of people say ‘we must do more to get the young people back into Church', but what are we inviting them back to? Are we convinced by what we believe? Do we live as if we believe in Jesus? Do we worship and celebrate liturgy as if we believe in Jesus? If we have gone lax in our own relationship with God, how can we speak of that relationship with others? This is why Pope Francis encourages us to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus. We know from our experience of human relationships that relationships take work! They don't just happen. It is the same with our relationship with God. He will fill our hearts with love – He will do most of the work for us – but we have to be open to Him.There are many different ways in which we can deepen our faith – through prayer, through Scripture and Lectio Divina, through different retreats, courses, prayer groups, spiritual reading, different ecclesial movements etc.There is a wealth of resources out there too. One of the tools or resources for helping to build our relationship with God is the new Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults, which was launched last year. Now before everyone turns off the radio, it is not about rote learning or question and answer style formats like the Penny Catechism. The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults presents adults with a renewed opportunity to study, reflect on and live by the faith we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the Sacraments, live in the Christian moral life and deepen through prayer. Each chapter begins with a short account of a saint or holy person who tried to follow the Christian path in their own time and circumstance. This is followed by a section explaining God's revelation through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit that relates to that story. It places this teaching alongside questions and doubts that arise from our daily life and our country's culture and tries to resolve them.

This podcast is a recording of a talk I gave at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Minneapolis on September 22, 2013, on the theme of Charity and Evangelization. (The first of a three-part Adult Faith Formation series on Catholic Social Thought and Evangelization.  The podcast runs for 35:54.

This podcast is a recording of the talk given by Bill Nolan and me at an adult faith formation program at St. Thomas Apostle for parishioners of STA and Christ the King.  The subject is the final two issues in part 2 of the USCCB's document, Faithful Citizenship.  

This podcast is a recording of the talk given by Bill Nolan and me during the second session of the Adult Faith Formation unit on Faithful Citizenship on Oct. 3.  In it we talk about the first two issues covered in the second part of the USCCB's Faithful Citizenship document - human life and human family.  The podcast runs for 49:00.

This podcast is a recording of the opening gathering of the adult faith formation program at St. Thomas Apostle for parishioners of STA and Christ the King parishes.  The spekers are Bill Nolan and me.  After an introduction to the the year, some words abou the Year of Faith, and a brief introduction to the major themes of Vatican II, we talked about the first part of Faithful Citizenship.  The podast runs for 49 minutes.

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Wrentham **Today's guest(s):** Sister Terry Rickard, President of Renew International, Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Mary Ann McLaughlin, Co-Director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life and Director of Arise: Together in Christ * [Renew International](http://www.renewintl.org/) * ["Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us": A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States](http://www.nccbuscc.org/education/ourhearts.htm) * [Arise: Together in Christ](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) * [Why Catholic?: Journey Through the Catechism](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/whycatholic.aspx?pid=464) **Today's topics:** Adult faith formation and the new program called Why Catholic? **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Fr. Chip talk with Sr. Terry Rickard, Janet Benestad, and Mary Ann McLaughlin about adult faith formation and the new program in the Archdiocese of Boston called "Why Catholic?" that will take parishioners through the Catechism. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Chip as a substitute co-host for Fr. Matt Williams who is traveling. He has been pastor at St. Mary's for three years as of May 1. He's working hard to try some new things, bringing people closer together and bring people back to God. He also co-hosts the movie review show Spotlight with Fr. Bill Kelly on CatholicTV. He's been a big fan of movies as long as he can remember. They've completed their second season of the show. Scot said they'll be speaking today about the centrality of adult faith formation in the Archdiocese of Boston and specifically about the new program following on Arise and Catholics Come Home called Why Catholic? Fr. Chip said he's excited to hear about these programs coming from the archdiocese because not every parish has the resources to do it all on their own and re-inventing the wheel. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Sr. Terry and Janet to the show. Scot said most of what Renew does is helping dioceses and parishes with adult faith formation. Renew came out of the renewal of the Second Vatican Council and focuses on the methodology of small groups. They have worked in 24 countries and 160 dioceses in the US over the past 30 years. Currently they are working in 51 dioceses. Scot said there are about 176 dioceses in the US. Scot said to Janet that the US bishops wrote in a document about 10 years ago that adult faith formation is central to the mission of the Church. Janet said Bl. John Paul wrote in [Catechesi Tradendae](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae_en.html) about this centrality for the first time. Our parishes do a good job educating and forming children, but we haven't done as well at ongoing formation for adults. Scot said he was surprised to read in the US bishops' document: >The Church wisely and repeatedly insists that adult faith formation is "essential to who we are and what we do as Church" and must be "situated not at the periphery of the Church's educational mission but at its center." While most Catholic parishes place a high priority on the faith formation of children and youth, far fewer [Catholic parishes] treat adult faith formation as a priority. Fr. Chip said it's important that we do it, but we're not doing it. We're so focused with our limited resources on forming children that we let parents and other adults slip through the cracks. He did a formation series last fall on Church history and it was sporadically attended. But that can't be discouraging because people do tell him they want such formation. We just have to find what works for them. The US bishops said well-formed adults are our next generation of catechists and other volunteers within the parish. Sr. Terry said such programs are not just informational transferral, but information for transformation of the person. At Renew they start where people are at and as people gather in the small groups, they start with prayer, then read the Word of God, and then apply it to their lives. Fr. Chip asked Sr. Terry how do you involve young parents, with everything that they have going on in their lives? She said you can't do adult faith formation without evangelization and you need evangelization strategies. The strategies of inviting are important. Part of Renew's success is that the groups can meet at any time, any day. You can have many groups with a variety of times. Scot said the US bishops' document talks about the characteristics of a spiritually mature faith: frequent reading of the word of God, sacred writings of our tradition, and the official documents of the Church; involvement in the community life and mission of the Church; personal prayer; participation in the works of justice and service to the poor; and the fulfillment of our human obligations in family and society through the active practice of love for God and neighbor. It goes on: >A living faith is a searching faith-—it "seeks understanding." Adults need to question, probe, and critically reflect on the meaning of God's revelation in their unique lives in order to grow closer to God. A searching faith leads to deepening conversion.  Janet said so much of the confusion about the faith is that when people hear what the Church says about a controversial issue, they just shut down rather than to study and learn and understand. Taking seriously the practice of faith within the community and taking seriously the formation of conscience are fundamental to faith. Adult faith formation takes seriously the obligation to give answers or help people seek answers. The Church wants you to question what she says, but not to just stop there. Find the truth and be open to the truth wherever it is found. Doing this in a group is a way to help each other find their way.Sr. Terry said the methodology of the small groups is to see, judge (based on the truth of Scripture and Tradition, applying it to our lives), and then turn it into action. Scot said research tells us that those who are most engaged in the parish are those who have one of their best friends in the parish and so faith-sharing groups can nurture acquaintances into friendships and deepen friendships even more. **3rd segment:** Scot said the Bishops' document talked about six dimensions that good adult faith formations programs would include: knowledge of the faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer, communal life, and missionary spirit. The idea is to pick one or two at a time and grow a little bit in the different seasons of our lives. Fr. Chip said missionary spirit and communal life often get left behind. People pretty much know how to pray and people come to Mass, but when he talks about going out and proclaiming faith in what they say and what they do, they balk at that. People like to keep their faith in a box on a shelf and take it out for a time on Sundays. The Church tells us you can't do that. He talks about community all the time to stress that Church is a place to come any time. Scot said there are 5 different places for learning: in families, large groups, individual and self-study, and individual activities. Scot would add programs of the various Catholic media. Scot asked Sr. Terry why small group faith formation has proven to be so successful. Sr. Terry said when Renew was founded in New Jersey, the two priests who began it had been active in the Catholic family movement and the RCIA and both of those had been successful with small groups. If we're bringing in people through RCIA, then we want the parishes to have that same experience of small group faith-sharing. Scot said that in his professional experience as a manager, he's found that people have different learning styles and he's had to adapt to other learning styles. Sr. Terry said small-group learning is so good because our faith is communal and is essentially lived together. Renew is also exploring new media, just starting podcasts and webinars and creating a [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/RENEWIntl).  Scot asked Janet about her hopes for Why Catholic? This will be the opportunity to get the Catechism into the hands of thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese and the small faith-sharing groups will help people overcome their discomfort at approaching a new document. Why Catholic? begins with the last section of the Catechism on Prayer because they've found it to be most effective. Fr. Chip said the new [YouCat](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586175165/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1586175165) youth catechism would be effective  for adults as well as youth. Janet agreed because it gives a beautiful treatment of the topics covered by the universal Catechism. She said the new [US Catechism for Adults](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574554506/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1574554506) would be suitable as well. YouCat is in a question and answer format that works well for some people. Janet said Pope Benedict wrote the introduction for YouCat and it's an explicit invitation to those who may have been away from the Church. **4th segment:** Scot welcomes Mary Ann McLaughlin to the show. Mary Ann led ARise and now leads the Why Catholic? program. Why is it a good followup to Arise. She said small groups has proven to be an essential experience to the life of the Church. She said Cardinal Sean confirms that one needs to be immersed in the community when learning the language of faith, just like immersion helps one learn a foreign language. The small community in faith-sharing gives us a place to learn that language of faith. Of course, the Church has always had small groups: Cursillo, prayer groups, Bible studies. Gathering in community is the nature of the Church. Scot asked Sr. Terry for an overview of Why Catholic? They are starting this week with informational sessions on the program for pastors and parish leaders. Similar to Arise, parishes will have teams of 8-12 people to prepare and get the word out. In October, there will be a training on implementing Why Catholic? In January, there will be a small community leader training on the first book, Prayer, which is actually the fourth pillar of the Catechism. They've found that people are open to learning about prayer and an deepening the relationship with God opens them to more. They will do six weeks in the spring and then another six weeks in the fall. In the second year, they will study the Creed. The third year, the sacramental life of the Church. The fourth year, the moral life of the Church. Scot said each of the semesters is structured as six lessons. Mary Ann said the lessons start with an opening prayer, then a reflection of a human experience, then a Scripture, then questions to jumpstart faith-sharing, then an invitation to act. The invitation to act has worked to cause people  to think about what has just been prayed and taught and to ask how it works in their life. What starts individually often ends up becoming the groups asking what they can do together.  Sr. Terry said each small group has about 8-12 people meeting in someone's home. There is a one trained leader. The sessions are 90 minutes. Some people do a lectionary-based prayer in between the six-week sessions.  **5th segment:** Welcome back. It's time to announce the winner of the weekly WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is a copy of the book “[Synergy: Science Reasons with Atheists](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040342/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1601040342),” from BrideGroomPress.com. Historian and theologian Steven Kellmeyer has assembled over 50 of the most common questions about science and faith in order to lay out the clear, concise answers you have been looking for. This week's winner is **Ann Bouchard of Nashua, New Hampshire**. Congratulations Ann! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org.  For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for our weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **6th segment:** Scot said Cardinal Sean has sent a letter to all pastors about Why Catholic? and encouraging them to take part. Scot said that Renew working with an archdiocese is able to take a good program and make it available to every parish and in many different languages for many different cultures. In Boston, for the first time they'll make the materials available in Chinese for Why Catholic? Scot asked her what the group leaders do and how they can let their pastors know they're interested. The pastor works with the pastoral council to come up with the names of people who would be willing to be leaders. The parish leader then goes to training sessions where they receive tools and support from the archdiocesan office and Renew directly. The small group leaders also go to regional training sessions. Fr. Chip asked if it's beneficial for a parish to have a professional staff be the local leader? Sr. Terry said most of the time the leaders are volunteers, but if a parish has a staff member like that, then they should be at least on the team. They don't want to overburden religious ed directors. Mary Ann said people can learn about Why Catholic by calling 617-779-3640 or by going to the website of BostonCatholic or Renew International (see above). That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guests, Sister Terry Rickard, Mary Ann McLaughlin, and Janet Benestad. For our co-host, Father Chip Hines, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful evening!

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chip Hines, pastor of St. Mary Parish, Wrentham **Today's guest(s):** Sister Terry Rickard, President of Renew International, Janet Benestad, Secretary for Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Boston, and Mary Ann McLaughlin, Co-Director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life and Director of Arise: Together in Christ * [Renew International](http://www.renewintl.org/) * ["Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us": A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States](http://www.nccbuscc.org/education/ourhearts.htm) * [Arise: Together in Christ](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/ARISE.aspx?pid=464) * [Why Catholic?: Journey Through the Catechism](http://www.bostoncatholic.org/whycatholic.aspx?pid=464) **Today's topics:** Adult faith formation and the new program called Why Catholic? **A summary of today's show:** Scot and Fr. Chip talk with Sr. Terry Rickard, Janet Benestad, and Mary Ann McLaughlin about adult faith formation and the new program in the Archdiocese of Boston called "Why Catholic?" that will take parishioners through the Catechism. **1st segment:** Scot welcomes Fr. Chip as a substitute co-host for Fr. Matt Williams who is traveling. He has been pastor at St. Mary's for three years as of May 1. He's working hard to try some new things, bringing people closer together and bring people back to God. He also co-hosts the movie review show Spotlight with Fr. Bill Kelly on CatholicTV. He's been a big fan of movies as long as he can remember. They've completed their second season of the show. Scot said they'll be speaking today about the centrality of adult faith formation in the Archdiocese of Boston and specifically about the new program following on Arise and Catholics Come Home called Why Catholic? Fr. Chip said he's excited to hear about these programs coming from the archdiocese because not every parish has the resources to do it all on their own and re-inventing the wheel. **2nd segment:** Scot welcomes Sr. Terry and Janet to the show. Scot said most of what Renew does is helping dioceses and parishes with adult faith formation. Renew came out of the renewal of the Second Vatican Council and focuses on the methodology of small groups. They have worked in 24 countries and 160 dioceses in the US over the past 30 years. Currently they are working in 51 dioceses. Scot said there are about 176 dioceses in the US. Scot said to Janet that the US bishops wrote in a document about 10 years ago that adult faith formation is central to the mission of the Church. Janet said Bl. John Paul wrote in [Catechesi Tradendae](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_16101979_catechesi-tradendae_en.html) about this centrality for the first time. Our parishes do a good job educating and forming children, but we haven't done as well at ongoing formation for adults. Scot said he was surprised to read in the US bishops' document: >The Church wisely and repeatedly insists that adult faith formation is "essential to who we are and what we do as Church" and must be "situated not at the periphery of the Church's educational mission but at its center." While most Catholic parishes place a high priority on the faith formation of children and youth, far fewer [Catholic parishes] treat adult faith formation as a priority. Fr. Chip said it's important that we do it, but we're not doing it. We're so focused with our limited resources on forming children that we let parents and other adults slip through the cracks. He did a formation series last fall on Church history and it was sporadically attended. But that can't be discouraging because people do tell him they want such formation. We just have to find what works for them. The US bishops said well-formed adults are our next generation of catechists and other volunteers within the parish. Sr. Terry said such programs are not just informational transferral, but information for transformation of the person. At Renew they start where people are at and as people gather in the small groups, they start with prayer, then read the Word of God, and then apply it to their lives. Fr. Chip asked Sr. Terry how do you involve young parents, with everything that they have going on in their lives? She said you can't do adult faith formation without evangelization and you need evangelization strategies. The strategies of inviting are important. Part of Renew's success is that the groups can meet at any time, any day. You can have many groups with a variety of times. Scot said the US bishops' document talks about the characteristics of a spiritually mature faith: frequent reading of the word of God, sacred writings of our tradition, and the official documents of the Church; involvement in the community life and mission of the Church; personal prayer; participation in the works of justice and service to the poor; and the fulfillment of our human obligations in family and society through the active practice of love for God and neighbor. It goes on: >A living faith is a searching faith-—it "seeks understanding." Adults need to question, probe, and critically reflect on the meaning of God's revelation in their unique lives in order to grow closer to God. A searching faith leads to deepening conversion.  Janet said so much of the confusion about the faith is that when people hear what the Church says about a controversial issue, they just shut down rather than to study and learn and understand. Taking seriously the practice of faith within the community and taking seriously the formation of conscience are fundamental to faith. Adult faith formation takes seriously the obligation to give answers or help people seek answers. The Church wants you to question what she says, but not to just stop there. Find the truth and be open to the truth wherever it is found. Doing this in a group is a way to help each other find their way.Sr. Terry said the methodology of the small groups is to see, judge (based on the truth of Scripture and Tradition, applying it to our lives), and then turn it into action. Scot said research tells us that those who are most engaged in the parish are those who have one of their best friends in the parish and so faith-sharing groups can nurture acquaintances into friendships and deepen friendships even more. **3rd segment:** Scot said the Bishops' document talked about six dimensions that good adult faith formations programs would include: knowledge of the faith, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer, communal life, and missionary spirit. The idea is to pick one or two at a time and grow a little bit in the different seasons of our lives. Fr. Chip said missionary spirit and communal life often get left behind. People pretty much know how to pray and people come to Mass, but when he talks about going out and proclaiming faith in what they say and what they do, they balk at that. People like to keep their faith in a box on a shelf and take it out for a time on Sundays. The Church tells us you can't do that. He talks about community all the time to stress that Church is a place to come any time. Scot said there are 5 different places for learning: in families, large groups, individual and self-study, and individual activities. Scot would add programs of the various Catholic media. Scot asked Sr. Terry why small group faith formation has proven to be so successful. Sr. Terry said when Renew was founded in New Jersey, the two priests who began it had been active in the Catholic family movement and the RCIA and both of those had been successful with small groups. If we're bringing in people through RCIA, then we want the parishes to have that same experience of small group faith-sharing. Scot said that in his professional experience as a manager, he's found that people have different learning styles and he's had to adapt to other learning styles. Sr. Terry said small-group learning is so good because our faith is communal and is essentially lived together. Renew is also exploring new media, just starting podcasts and webinars and creating a [Facebook page](http://www.facebook.com/RENEWIntl).  Scot asked Janet about her hopes for Why Catholic? This will be the opportunity to get the Catechism into the hands of thousands of Catholics in the Archdiocese and the small faith-sharing groups will help people overcome their discomfort at approaching a new document. Why Catholic? begins with the last section of the Catechism on Prayer because they've found it to be most effective. Fr. Chip said the new [YouCat](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1586175165/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1586175165) youth catechism would be effective  for adults as well as youth. Janet agreed because it gives a beautiful treatment of the topics covered by the universal Catechism. She said the new [US Catechism for Adults](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574554506/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1574554506) would be suitable as well. YouCat is in a question and answer format that works well for some people. Janet said Pope Benedict wrote the introduction for YouCat and it's an explicit invitation to those who may have been away from the Church. **4th segment:** Scot welcomes Mary Ann McLaughlin to the show. Mary Ann led ARise and now leads the Why Catholic? program. Why is it a good followup to Arise. She said small groups has proven to be an essential experience to the life of the Church. She said Cardinal Sean confirms that one needs to be immersed in the community when learning the language of faith, just like immersion helps one learn a foreign language. The small community in faith-sharing gives us a place to learn that language of faith. Of course, the Church has always had small groups: Cursillo, prayer groups, Bible studies. Gathering in community is the nature of the Church. Scot asked Sr. Terry for an overview of Why Catholic? They are starting this week with informational sessions on the program for pastors and parish leaders. Similar to Arise, parishes will have teams of 8-12 people to prepare and get the word out. In October, there will be a training on implementing Why Catholic? In January, there will be a small community leader training on the first book, Prayer, which is actually the fourth pillar of the Catechism. They've found that people are open to learning about prayer and an deepening the relationship with God opens them to more. They will do six weeks in the spring and then another six weeks in the fall. In the second year, they will study the Creed. The third year, the sacramental life of the Church. The fourth year, the moral life of the Church. Scot said each of the semesters is structured as six lessons. Mary Ann said the lessons start with an opening prayer, then a reflection of a human experience, then a Scripture, then questions to jumpstart faith-sharing, then an invitation to act. The invitation to act has worked to cause people  to think about what has just been prayed and taught and to ask how it works in their life. What starts individually often ends up becoming the groups asking what they can do together.  Sr. Terry said each small group has about 8-12 people meeting in someone's home. There is a one trained leader. The sessions are 90 minutes. Some people do a lectionary-based prayer in between the six-week sessions.  **5th segment:** Welcome back. It's time to announce the winner of the weekly WQOM Benefactor Raffle. Our prize this week is a copy of the book “[Synergy: Science Reasons with Atheists](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040342/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399349&creativeASIN=1601040342),” from BrideGroomPress.com. Historian and theologian Steven Kellmeyer has assembled over 50 of the most common questions about science and faith in order to lay out the clear, concise answers you have been looking for. This week's winner is **Ann Bouchard of Nashua, New Hampshire**. Congratulations Ann! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org.  For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for our weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program. **6th segment:** Scot said Cardinal Sean has sent a letter to all pastors about Why Catholic? and encouraging them to take part. Scot said that Renew working with an archdiocese is able to take a good program and make it available to every parish and in many different languages for many different cultures. In Boston, for the first time they'll make the materials available in Chinese for Why Catholic? Scot asked her what the group leaders do and how they can let their pastors know they're interested. The pastor works with the pastoral council to come up with the names of people who would be willing to be leaders. The parish leader then goes to training sessions where they receive tools and support from the archdiocesan office and Renew directly. The small group leaders also go to regional training sessions. Fr. Chip asked if it's beneficial for a parish to have a professional staff be the local leader? Sr. Terry said most of the time the leaders are volunteers, but if a parish has a staff member like that, then they should be at least on the team. They don't want to overburden religious ed directors. Mary Ann said people can learn about Why Catholic by calling 617-779-3640 or by going to the website of BostonCatholic or Renew International (see above). That will conclude today's presentation of The Good Catholic Life. For recordings and photos of today's show and all previous shows, please visit our website: TheGoodCatholicLife.com. You can also download the app for your iPhone or Android device at WQOM.org to listen to the show wherever you may be. We thank our guests, Sister Terry Rickard, Mary Ann McLaughlin, and Janet Benestad. For our co-host, Father Chip Hines, our Production team of Rick Heil, Anna Johnson, Justin Bell, Dom Bettinelli, and George Martell, this is Scot Landry saying thank YOU for listening, God bless you and have a wonderful evening!

**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Chris O'Connor **Today's guest(s):** Drs. David and Angela Franks and Dr. Aldona Lingertat of the Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary/ * [TINE](http://www.tineboston.org) * [St. John's Seminary](http://www.sjs.edu) * [TINE on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/pages/Theological-Institute-for-the-New-Evangelization/173683042661394) * [Photos from press conference launching TINE on March 17](http://www.flickr.com/photos/bostoncatholic/sets/72157626161918993/) * [Co-Workers in the Vineyard Conference](http://sjs.edu/News/2011CWITV.html) **Today's topics:** The new Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary and a new degree and certificates for laity, deacons, and religious that join the existing Master of Arts in Ministry program. **A summary of today's show:** The Theological Institute for the New Evangelization at St. John's Seminary is preparing laypeople, deacons and religious to become energetic and knowledgable evangelists and missionaries within their own parishes and out in their homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces to bring about the new evangelization envisioned by Pope John Paul II and Cardinal Seán. **1st segment:** Is God calling you to serve the Church as a professional lay minister or catechist? Or is God calling you to receive strong adult faith formation to know, share and defend the faith? If so, than today's program is meant for you as we'll be discussing the exciting new Institute at St. John's Seminary for Adult Faith Formation. Fr. Chris said last week that they had the annual St. Patrick's Day dinner at St. John's Seminary, including Irish song, Irish cheer, and limericks that poked fun of the faculty. On St. Joseph Day, he had Mass with the Missionaries of Charity and lots of zeppoli throughout the day. It's an Italian pastry. Scot said his wife had her birthday this weekend, so he was able to break his Lenten diet as planned. He also wished a happy birthday today to Maria Bain, station manager for WQOM. **2nd segment:** Scot and Fr. Chris welcomed Aldona Lingertat and David and Angela Franks from TINE. David explained that St. John's has gathered immense resources to train men for the diocesan priesthood, so St. John's has made available these resources to laypeople who want to serve the Church. For the past decade that has been available through the Master's in Ministry and now the institute further expands the offerings of those resources. St. John's feels it's crucial to make these resources available to support the new evangelization. Angela said St. Patrick's feast day was chosen to launch because he was an evangelist and missionary to a hostile culture and we live in a society and culture that is hostile to our faith. Scot also pointed out that as St. Patrick is the patron of the archdiocese it ties the work to the archdiocese. Fr. Chris concurred and added that they hope it also offers resources for other dioceses in the region as well. A seminary is the heart of the diocese, he said. Aldona said the program students are all active in their parishes. The program makes sure the students are already active or asks them to become so first. They also offer a course in the basics of the Catholic faith as well. Scot noted that many Catholics, through no fault of their own, sometimes have not studied the faith as adults because formal religious instruction ended at confirmation. Angela said they found many people who come to their programs haven't read the Catechism. Scot said being part of a community while learning the faith is more fun and rewarding than studying alone. Aldona said there's an excitement in finding other people who care as much about the faith as you do. It helps grow and deepen your faith. Scot finds two significant aspects to the name. First, that it is an institute at the seminary and, second, that it is for the new evangelization. Fr. Chris said it responds to Pope John Paul II's call for a new evangelization marked by a newness in ardor, method and means. Pope Benedict has picked up on that theme and created a curial office dedicated to this work. It focuses not just on the missions abroad, but also on places where the Gospel has been proclaimed but the faith has been dimmed. Re-presenting the Gospel in ways accessible to today's culture. David said that calling it an institute means that the intention is to grow it larger. It is important that it is a theological institute, because a failure in theological work in recent years has led to a breakdown in communicating a straightforward belief in the divinity and resurrection of Christ and his mission in the world. The theological institute makes the riches of the faith available and says the seminary is here to empower the people to take hold of the means of theological communication, that you don't have to wait for some theologian to speak, but you can make the Gospel known in the world.   Aldona said it is beneficial to have laypeople and religious study side-by-side in many cases with seminarians because when the students go out in to parishes the priests know that they have received solid instruction and a foundation for ministry. **3rd segment:** Discussing the Master of Theological Studies for the New Evangelization program. Angela said it is different from the Master of Arts in Ministry, which is is a ministerial degree. Many students were asking for an academic degree. The whole-person formation of MTS is toward evangelizing the world, as opposed to parishes and the church sphere in MAM. She said it is an innovative degree, one of only a few programs of its type in the country. David said that Vatican II said it was up to laypeople to evangelize and transform the world. The MTS degree takes theological, human, and apostolic formation and empowers the students to go out into their homes, workplaces, the political arena, and the marketplace. The MAM program is better for those looking to work in the Church, while MTS is about going out into other professions. Angela said the whole-person formation goes beyond simply providing books and syllabi and instruction in the classroom. It acknowledges the need to nourish the vocation through spiritual formation and social formation and other ways that lead the person to the kind of depths they need to have the rich vocational role to play.  Fr. Chris made the distinction between education and formation. A typical university is concerned with the mind, but the institute is concerned with the mind and soul. Aldona added that they are teaching for belief. In most schools, people learn things, but not so they can believe. But TINE is educating for a believing community. David spoke of the Friday colloquia for the MTS. They get together once per month on a Friday night to discuss great works of literature, art, music, philosophy and more. There's a dynamism of ideas as the substance of the evening. They will engage these cultural treasures at a personal level. It's more relaxed than a classroom setting. Angela said the tasks of evangelization require practical experience in working with others and so literature can help one to gain life experience through understanding the insights that people before us have had. The MTS classes will meet evenings on Tues, Wed, Thurs, 5pm-9:30pm. Taking classes full-time, the program should take 2 years. It is intended to allow people who have regular jobs to take part. **4th segment:** Now discussing the Master of Arts in Ministry program, which has been in place in the archdiocese for more than 10 years. Fr. Chris said the people who enroll in MAM are moms, dads, people with full-time jobs committing to this additional work in order to serve the Church. Right now, in one class, he has a mechanic, a court stenographer, and a pastoral associate in a parish. Aldona said they are approaching their 100th graduate. After they graduate, students often go into professional positions in parishes that are open to laity, including director of religious education, Catholic school teacher, high school and college campus minister, pastoral associate, health care ministry and chaplaincy. Some continue in their regular jobs outside the ministry, but become involved part-time or volunteer in their parishes. Scot said pastoral planning surveys show there is a trend that parishes are going to need even more lay ministers in the future. Aldona said there's a new trend as well that shows a number of adults who are ready to retire, who are still young and healthy and energetic, who want to still study and serve their parishes. There are MAM students who go full-time, but most students take 3 or 4 years. There is no pressure on students to complete on a particular schedule. Scot said he has noticed a spirit in the MAM program and that the students are very close. Aldona said the classes have been built into a schedule that allows a lot of interaction. Classes take breaks at the same time, they have breaks for evening prayer. There are required monthly evenings where they have dinners and prayer together. Students stay in touch after graduation. She said the typical workload requires 4-6 hours per week of study outside of the 1-2 classes per semester. They also have scholarship money available for tuition. She encourages interested people not to let money be an obstacle. Fr. Chris said they are seeing pastors supporting pastoral ministers in the parishes by paying for tuition. There also audit options available for those who aren't interested in the degree. Aldona said she sees the auditors even doing all the papers. She believes auditing is mostly due to finances, not time commitment. This Thursday, March 24, at 149 Washington Street, Brighton, will be an open house, starting with evening prayer at 7pm and then a presentation afterward, a time for questions, and then meeting faculty and students. **5th segment:** In addition to the degree programs, there are 4 catechetical certificate programs, some meeting on evenings and some on Saturdays. This is the main avenue for reaching large numbers of laypeople. They are geared to those who want to get a formation in the faith, grounded in the Catechism, so that they are able to communicate the love of Jesus Christ to the world. They have had the program for about 2 years. One track has been for catechesis, teaching the faith, and apologetics, knowing and defending the faith. This fall, one Saturday per month for eight months, there will be two programs on catechetics and the basics of the Catholic faith. On the Saturdays they will have classes, small group sessions and the rest of the whole-person formation. They want Catholics to feel they can go out and talk about the truths of Jesus Christ and the Church without being defensive or nervous. Before and after the programs, they survey students about their comfort levels sharing their faith and afterward they always see students agree that they look forward to opportunities to evangelize in the world. Scot said these programs meet a real need to learn the faith at a low cost, $300 or less, and without a large time commitment. Fr. Chris said the seminary's goal is to help people to know the love of Christ and this helps people to come to know what the faith is all about. It acknowledges that the faith is attractive and the truth is attractive. The catechetical certificate is aimed at DREs and catechists by providing practical skills in addition to theological instruction. The Catholicism certificate is for people who just want to learn more about their faith with the same sort of theological content, but aimed at helping them share their faith with friends and family. Parents are encouraged to attend the catechetical certificate to educate their own children.   As Cardinal Sean advances initiatives like Catholics Come Home, he needs an army of Catholics who know their faith and are energized to evangelize. There will be a free Biblical study seminar on the Mondays of June, 7-9pm this year with Prof. Cecilia Sirois. This year the topic will be on the women of the Old and New Testament. They are planning a graduate certificate for teaching Scripture in parishes. Next spring, they will offer certificate on the New Evangelization. It is a more advanced level after the basic certificates. It will focus on explaining the tough issues that come up, including the hard teachings on sexuality, reservation of priesthood to men, and other controversial and misunderstood issues in the Church. Fr. Chris said the wonderful thing is that TINE will be going out to parishes around the archdiocese to bring the good news of TINE to the people in the pews. On April 8, TINE is holding the Co-workers in the Vineyard conference, whose topic is the parish of the future. It will include several keynote talks, breakout talks, and Mass with Cardinal Seán. On April 9, from 1-3pm, St. John's Medieros Classroom, chaplains from prison ministry will speak on the ministry and how one can support the ministry even for those who don't feel called to go into prisons. Fr. Chris said it is part of the corporal works of mercy.                                                                    

is a priest of the Archdiocese of San Francisco currently serving at Our Lady of Loretto Parish in Novato Ca, in northern Marin County.  Ordained on June 23, 2001, Father Nicholas writes regularly for the and is the author of .  Father Nicholas has taught classes in Adult Faith Formation in both Scripture and Liturgy since his first assignment. takes on a question from Mark S. of Philadelphia about how to keep positive in spite of the problems and scandals we hear about these days. Tom's Answer? Perspective. shares a reflection on serenity and surrendering to God with a prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola.  recommends "running a tight ship" in your faith formation efforts. shares a guilty confession about her language in this week’s Mary Moment, and a tip for how you might find help from Mary if you share her struggles. Also, a special thanks to , who graciously agreed to let us use her Ave Maria music. This episode of Catholic Moments is sponsored by , the Leading Catholic Singles Community.  Share your feedback at 206-339-9272, comment here on the blog or email . Links for this Episode: Music – , The Handbook for Catholic Moms:  , , or , , , Subscribe to the | Subscribe with

Authors Neil Parent, ("A Concise Guide to Adult Faith Formation") and Joan Guntzelman ("Surrendering Our Stress").