Ascension. Adult Faith Formation and RCIA Programs. Catholic Church Boca Raton, Fl. September 2016 May 2017

Transcription

1 Ascension Catholic Church 7250 N. Federal Hwy. Boca Raton, Fl Website: accboca.net Adult Faith Formation and RCIA Programs At Ascension Catholic Church Boca Raton, Fl. Rev. Gavin Badway, Pastor Rev. Carl Hellwig, Parochial Vicar Rev. Peter Van Nguyen, Retired in Residence Deacon Lon Phillips, Permanent Deacon Deacon Bruce Turnbull, Permanent Deacon September 2016 May

2 Mission of Adult Faith Formation At Ascension Catholic Church we strive to provide educational experiences for adults that nurture the development of mature Christian faith within the adult community. Adult Faith Formation Coordinator: Phone: Adult Faith Formation & RCIA Facilitators: Fr. Gavin Badway Fr. Carl Hellwig Deacon Lon 2 Larry Dickson Janine Dickson Lucy Pratt Greg Pratt Scripture Studies P. 4-7 School of Christian Formation P. 5 Sunday Scripture P. 7 RCIA P. 8 RCIA Sponsors P. 9 RCIA Ministers of Hospitality P. 10 Small Groups P. 11 Small Groups You are hearing about a new season here at Ascension and we want to step up in many ways. One way is Small Groups. We are creating Small Groups to be signs of a church, signs of hope. We are made for relationships; we have a personal faith but not a private faith. Nothing in our mission speaks about keeping what we do to ourselves. The life of the church we read about in Acts was a common life, All who believed were together and had all things in common Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. (Acts 2:44, 46-47) Without Christ-centered friendships any journey of faith will most likely be slower, less steady and we ll likely fall and fail. When we have friendships in which Christ is a central part, we connect with him in a way we will not on our own. In other words, we grow [Ascend] in faith relationally. (Rebuilt, White&Corcorcan p. 153) Small Groups are intentional Christ-centered friendships. Gatherings are held once a week usually in a home. We watch a video and discuss it along with questions. Why not join Small Group? Meetings are held every day of the week. 11

3 RCIA Ministers of Hospitality If you have a wonderful smile, magnetic personality, and would like to help welcome new members to the Catholic Church, this ministry may be for you. As a bonus, you will get to sit in on all the classes and get to refresh your own faith walk. It s a wonderful way to help make new converts feel that they are a part of something very special. If interested in this very special ministry, Contact at adult-ed@accboca.net Adult Studies Knowing that everyone is at a different place in their knowledge of Scripture, we are attempting to provide a variety of courses that will meet whatever needs you may have. We will be offering Bible Studies for those who are just starting their study of Scripture as well as more advanced studies. Here is a list of what we will be offering this fall & spring. Beginners Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible An 8 wk. course starting in the spring of 2017 (see p. 4 for more info) Intermediate The Book of Genesis A 24 week study running Sept 21 Apr. 6 (see p. 4 for more info) Instructor: Church History A 13 week study running Oct. 10-Jan 16 (see p 5 for more info) Instructor: Janine Dickson Diocesan School of Christian Formation 4 Sessions Social Doctrine Advanced The Book of Revelation A 13 week study running Sept. 15-Dec. 15 (see p. 6 for more info) Instructor: Larry Dickson A Study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church Pillar 1 The Creed A 12 week study Spring 2017 (see p. 6 for more info) Spirituality Pastoral Ministry Intro to Bible (see p. 5 for more info) 10 3

4 The Book of Genesis In the beginning That s what Genesis is, the beginning of the world and all living things and God created it all. In this book one will also discover the answer to those age-old questions: Where did I come from? Why am I here? What is the purpose of my life? The answers to these questions and many more are found in this in-depth study. Genesis also sets the stage for God s plan of redemption and plants the seeds of many important doctrines and Christian teachings that unfold in the rest of the Bible. Without Genesis, the Bible is incomprehensible, which makes this a "must" study! Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible In this course you will learn the story of Salvation from beginning to end. You will learn to navigate through the Old Testament & the New Testament.. This simple program uses the Bible Timeline learning system to give people a useful framework from which to read and understand the Bible. We will take a chronological walk through the Bible story in a way that reveals God s plan for His Creation; what went wrong at the beginning; and how God worked through history to reconcile his lost children to Himself while building His kingdom. RCIA Sponsors Sponsors wanted! A sponsor plays a very important role in the journey of someone interested in becoming Catholic. As a sponsor you will accompany your catechumen/candidate during the rites and periods of election and initiation. You will offer support and guidance and help the individual feel at home among Catholics and our parish community. Attending meetings regularly with your candidate or catechumen is an important part of being a sponsor. If you are interested, please contact by ing her at adult-ed@accboca.net to fill out a sponsor form. 4 9

5 Church History RCIA Interested in learning more about the Catholic faith? If you would like to join the Catholic Church or learn more about the Catholic faith, please consider participating in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program. The program consists of meeting with others to pray and share questions and concerns of the faith. It is also a time to learn about the Tradition and history of the Catholic Church, while experiencing our beliefs and worship. This program is designed specifically for those who are not in full communion with the Catholic Church. If you have never been baptized, have been baptized in another faith denomination or are Catholic but have not received the Sacraments of Holy Communion or Confirmation, this program is for you. We meet on Monday evenings at 7:00 beginning September 21st, and the program culminates at the Easter Vigil Celebration in the spring. Please contact at adult-ed@accboca.net for more information. 8 The story of the Catholic Church spans thousands of years. With an unlikely beginning in a remote outpost of the Roman empire, the Catholic Church now claims over a billion living members. The persecutions, martyrdoms, conquests, and triumphs all came together to shape Western civilization as we know it today. Our identity as Catholics means that we are the inheritors of the deeds of holy men and women who for 2,000 years have built a great civilization and spread the Gospel throughout the world. Church history is not just the recitation of popes, people, places, and events; it is a story of adventure, intrigue, rebellion, reform, and devotion. This story is, in fact, our story; this is our family. If we know our past, and how we fit into the story, we will be better prepared to face whatever may come in the future. Diocesan School of Christian Formation This is a 3 year course of studies incorporating the Bible, The Core of our Faith (Christology), Church Studies (Ecclesiology), and the Practice of our Faith. Come share with other faithful your desire to learn more of the Sacred Scriptures and the Catholic Church; share your faith and your spiritual life. Knowing our scriptural, historical and theological foundations is fundamental for all Catholics and I highly encourage you to take part in the many courses offered by the Diocesan School of Christian formation. Most Rev. Gerald M. Barbarito Bishop of Palm Beach 5

6 The Book of Revelation The last book of the New Testament is also probably the most difficult and misunderstood book of the Bible. This is due to the fact that almost everything described in Saint John s vision is symbolic of something else. The Early Church Fathers believed that the Book of Revelation was an icon of the Mass. Discover the beauty that unfolds each time we celebrate the Marriage Feast of the Lamb! The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Creed Pillar I The Creed makes the Catechism of the Catholic Church come alive, showing you how your personal journey of faith fits into the amazing story of salvation told in the Creed. You will: Discover how the Creed tells the entire story of salvation in miniature See how our happiness is God s goal and the ultimate purpose of our journey Learn what God s innermost secret is and how we are called to participate in it. Learn why the Catechism should be treated less like a fact book and more like a road map for our faith journey. 6 Sunday Scripture A Personal Application of Weekend Mass Readings This Scripture Study is meant to better prepare you for the Mass for the coming weekend. We read the readings that will be read at Mass and discuss how we can apply its teachings to our lives. For more info contact the coordinator Larry galway@bellsouth.net 7