Small Faith Sharing Groups A Series of Articles in the 2013/14 Leaders Gram

Small Faith Sharing Groups A Series of Articles in the 2013/14 Leaders Gram September 2013 - Relationship, Relationship, Relationship The Trinity is relationship. Evangelization is relationship. Ministry is relationship. Discipleship is relationship. The human heart thirsts for intimacy, and everything we do in effective faith formation stems from, and leads to, relationship - relationship with Christ and others. Our faith is not for the lone ranger; our faith is communal. We are initiated into the life of Christ, and brought into further communion, through community. The primary goal of each FFC/CSB is to invite every person into a deeper and intimate relationship with God. This year a monthly article will showcase how small faith sharing groups can provide a fertile ground for growing in ones faith. Men and women are called to a personal conversion in Christ through individual reading and private prayer. Yet the power of formation lies in community, where men and women reflect on their lives together through meaningful conversations, prayer, and service. IMPACT, the archdiocesan lay formation program, launches with a retreat on the weekend of September 22nd. Seventy participants from the archdiocese will gather to explore life as God s beloved. The Holy Spirit will begin to connect them form community through conversations sparked in the conference room, around the dinner table, and in the hallways. The Spirit will draw them together as a praying community by lifting their hearts at Morning Prayer, Mass, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Together they will set off on this two-year journey of faith. The future of our faith depends on the strength of small faith communities, whether in the family, parish small groups, or Christian service experiences. As this new year of faith formation kicks off, look for more information and reflection on small faith communities in upcoming Leaders Grams. Remember, we re in this together! October 2013 - Becoming A Disciple Discipleship, formed in Christ, is the goal of adult faith formation. Conversion through an encounter with Jesus may be sparked through a retreat experience, a mission trip, or a graced-filled moment, but discipleship occurs over an extended period of time. Formation often begins when an individual feels connected to a community that is trustworthy, wise, and Christ centered. Parish life provides the initial, and hopefully lifelong, connection through liturgy, parish gatherings, and service opportunities. For many, however, small faith communities provide the fertile soil for deep formation through spiritual friendship, honest accountability, study of scripture and tradition, and rich conversation. Adults learn best through conversation, but it must be meaningful and sustained. One may have a meaningful conversation through a chance meeting at the local café. It may lead to an interesting new book or a novel idea, yet not needed formation. As adults, it seems so easy to have engaging conversations about our passions but seldom is faith sharing one of those passions why? The path to discipleship requires meaningful conversation, sustained over a significant amount of time. Small faith communities provide the safe, nurturing environment to adequately explore the profound questions of life guided in the light of faith: Who am I? Who is God? How is God working in my life? Where is the Spirit leading me? Small faith communities open the best environment to establish authentic relationship with others and with Jesus. Real relationship with Jesus is discipleship. How could your FFC/CSB foster opportunities where adults can share their faith stories so that a passion for discipleship begins to take root? November 2013 - Believers, Believers, Believers!!! - During the Year of Faith, we were encouraged by Pope Benedict XVI to rediscover the beauty of our Catholic faith. In response, we asked each parish/school to submit its Top Ten Reasons to be Catholic! The process initiated conversation all over the archdiocese about why we are Catholic. What is it that we love about our Catholic faith? What is unique about our faith? Why is it beautiful? The faithful did a wonderful job creating its Top Ten. We have taken the list and run with it! We have developed Top Ten posters, bookmarks, and pamphlets. We SFSG-Leaders Gram 2013/14 Page 1

are in the process of creating a faith formation session for each of our reasons to be Catholic, incorporating the best practices of adult faith formation. The most important aspects of these sessions are personal witness, small group questions for meaningful conversation, and flexibility (on-line, with many options for parish events, small faith communities, or individual use). To conclude the Year of Faith, we will host a closing celebration, Top Ten Treasures of the Catholic Church, on Sunday, November 10th, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Hiawatha, 1:00-4:30 p.m. Mass with Archbishop Jackels at 1:00, followed by dynamic speaker Allen Hunt, author of Confessions of a Mega-Church Pastor: How I Discovered the Treasures of the Catholic Church! No reservations (we ll make room). Free will offering. All are invited. Winning video shown. This will be a great family event. Perfect for Confirmation students. Plan to attend. Fun for all! December 2013 - Not an Ending, Just the Beginning - On November 10th over 700 Catholics from around the archdiocese gathered at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Hiawatha for what was billed as the closing of the Year of Faith. This may have been the closing to a special year where all were invited to rediscover the reasons why they fell in love with their faith. In reality the message was strong and definitive that this was a new beginning, a sending forth of the faithful with a sense of hope described by Archbishop Jackels in his homily, a hope that does not admit the possibility of disappointment. He stated that what we hope for, what is promised us by Jesus in his word and by his own resurrection, will indeed happen. We are already experiencing Jesus promises but we haven t yet begun to live it fully, and so we live differently now as if we were already in heaven. It is already though not yet. We go out to others, draw near to others, as the Word made flesh did to find the last place and to be the servant of all. The Year of Faith recalled the anniversaries of the Second Vatican Council and the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but mostly we come to celebrate and renew our faith in the hoped for promises of Jesus. As FFC/CSB members reflect on how these hoped for promises of Jesus permeate what we do each and every day. (For The Witness story on this event go to: http://www.arch.pvt.k12.ia.us/witness/pdfs/hundredsattend.pdf) January 2014 - This year the Leaders Gram is featuring a series of articles on how to form small faith sharing groups. What would one expect on a Saturday morning at a college campus when the mornings are dark and the temperatures low? Empty sidewalks? Sleeping students? Wrong! Approximately 40 students attended a workshop for small group leaders at St. Thomas Aquinas Student Center in Ames the Saturday before finals week! They were awake (kind of), alert (mostly), and eager (yes!) to discuss their experiences as small group facilitators. What can we learn from these busy and bright students? People respond when they realize the importance and urgency of the task. Each of these faith-filled young adults seems eager to introduce their fellow students to a relationship with Jesus through the Church. They are passionate about sharing the freedom found in Christ. Greater expectation can lead to a greater response. Each facilitator has committed to approximately 4-5 hours a week to small groups: once a week with their small groups; once a week with the small group coordinator for continued formation and inspiration; time to reach out to group members online or one-on-one. We must be equipped for our tasks. Small group leaders are equipped with skills for breaking open the Word of God. They are formed in prayer and learn how to pray with members of their small groups. They are shown how to discuss faith in real life situations. They take risks and go outside of themselves. These small group facilitators lovingly go into the peripheries of campus to strike up a conversation. They step outside of their comfort zones to invite others to large parish events, small groups, or non-threatening socials. SFSG-Leaders Gram 2013/14 Page 2

EVERYTHING they do is about authentic relationships. The facilitators are in relationship with Christ, the students they lead, and those they invite. They are committed to spreading the Gospel with genuine love, joy, and compassion. It was a cold, windy morning, but hearts were warmed by the enthusiasm of these disciples to carry forth the mission of the Church of leading others into an encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ. These five points offer FFCs/CSBs a list of key elements for small faith sharing groups if groups are to be relevant and engaging in parishes and schools. February 2014 - The Art of Accompaniment: The Gift of Faith Sharing Groups In the Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes of the disciple s need to acquire the art of accompaniment. This message was shared at a catechist in-service. After the presentation, one catechist sparkled with excitement: I m a music teacher and I couldn t agree more. As the accompanists, you re not the main show the vocalist is, but the accompanist is vitally important to the performance. You re there to listen, to support, and to anticipate their next move. How does this art of accompaniment inform ministry? The path toward conversion often involves the slow, deep process of accompanying, walking with, another. Certainly pastoral ministers are involved in this process through R.C.I.A., preaching, and mentoring. Yet by sheer numbers they are unable to accompany all those interested in going deeper with God. Therefore, we must encourage and empower all disciples to partake in this endeavor of accompanying, often through small groups. Musician Nicole Murphy gives valuable tips for being a wonderful accompanist, which are applicable to mentors and small group facilitators: 1. Know your role: you are to support, not dominate or overshadow. 2. Provide a safety net: provide a safe warm environment that is confidential and non-judgmental. 3. Know the soloist: listen deeply to his or her life story. 4. Expect the unexpected: prepare to be surprised by the Spirit. 5. Prepare to adjust the movement: sometimes faith develops slowly, other times quickly, adjust to each individual s rate of growth. 6. Know the geography of the piano: know God s story. 7. Learn the harmonic outline: know the bigger picture by understanding how God s story and our stories are interwoven. 8. Always keep a steady beat - don t stop regardless: continue to walk with her or him, no matter how long or difficult. Any person who has been accompanied toward conversion would probably concur with Murphy, that a good accompanist is worth their weight in gold. To walk with another in faith is not a duty or obligation, but the joyful art of accompaniment! As FFCs/CSBs plan for 2014/15, what opportunities will be present to engage and sustain adults deepening their relationship with Jesus? How will faith sharing experience be structured when adults are gathered? How will adults be accompanied on their journey? Are faith sharing groups with accompanied trained leaders a place to start? (Excerpts taken from: http://www.musicteachershelper.com/blog/the-art-of-accompanying/ March 2014 - Breaking the Silence This is the next in the series of articles on faith sharing. In speaking to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, Pope Francis exhorted the faithful: What we need, especially in these times, are credible witnesses who can, through their life and words, make the Gospel visible, awaken the attraction to Jesus Christ, for the beauty of God. Are people in your parish giving personal witness to the transformative power of Jesus Christ? Do you often hear the name of Jesus spoken in formal or casual conversation? In Forming Intentional Disciples, author Sherry Weddell warns of the critical need to break the culture of silence, as it is stifling the emergence of a culture of discipleship and all that flows from it. As Christian leaders, it is critical that we begin to create a culture of witness by modeling it ourselves and by empowering the members of our parishes to witness to their faith. Where do we start? How do we witness? We begin by telling the story of God SFSG-Leaders Gram 2013/14 Page 3

working in our lives in big and small ways. We encourage others to catch a glimpse of God s compassionate presence in the ordinary and extraordinary events of life. We speak of God s goodness and glory and of our dying and rising. The driving energy behind the Top Ten Faith Formation Sessions lies in the personal stories of credible witness from members of our archdiocese. These witnesses are neither strangers nor experts; they are our friends, family, neighbors, and parishioners who simply share stories of God s active presence in their lives. Their witness is compelling because their stories are personal - up-close credible - real! Weddell continued, One of the most powerful ways to challenge the silence is by making a safe place for others to talk about their own lived relationship with God. Envision small faith sharing groups where friends share weekly stories of joy and struggle. Picture families gathering around the table each evening to discuss the events at school and work in the light of Christ. We can break the culture of silence and begin to transform our parishes and homes through a culture of witness. We can, through witness, make the Gospel visible and attract others to Jesus Christ! As FFCs/CSBs, how can you structure happenings where the silence can be broken? Where are the safe places in your parish/cluster? How can we help to create these safe environments? Imagine parish committees praying, serving, and sharing God s stories together. April 2014 - I Want What They Have Last month, in our series on small faith communities, we discussed the importance of breaking the silence and creating a culture of witness in our schools and parishes. Witness to Jesus Christ is critical for passing on the faith, whether parent to child, teacher to student, or friend to friend. Credible witness can awaken curiosity, kindle fledgling faith, or deepen growing faith. As the old marketing slogan goes, I want what she has! Credible witness, given within real relationships, can create the necessary space for inviting others into a small faith community - often the best ground for forming disciples. Our younger generation no longer responds to an ad in the bulletin or a notice on the website. Instead, these men and women are most likely to accept an invitation based on a personal witness to the power of belonging to a small faith community. They WANT to BELONG. Credible witness, given in conversation through the sharing of God s presence in one s life, sustains a small faith community. Everyone is too busy to waste time gathering for non-essentials. Small groups dissolve quickly if members are not challenged to grow in faith and friendship. Small communities are strengthened when members delve deeply into Scripture, pray together, serve together, and share life together through conversations about real issues, real concerns, and real faith through credible witness. They WANT to WALK together on this journey of faith. As faith formation leaders: Do we give credible witness? Do we extend personal invitations for others to join us for Mass, service in the community, a retreat experience, a parish event, or a small faith community? Do we encourage parishioners/staff to share their faith and invite their friends into small communities? Do we step outside our comfort zone to share the joy of the believing? To view some examples of people witnessing their faith see: http://dbqarch.org/adultfaith/ffsessions.html May 2014 - They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers (Acts 2: 42). From the beginning of the church, disciples have been formed through intimate community, where they believed together and had all things in common (Acts 2:44). An effective small faith community offers authentic relationship, credible witness, pastoral care, spiritual formation, meaningful conversation, intimate prayer, and outreach to one anther and those in need, in other words discipleship. So, after a yearlong series on small faith communities, where to begin? Decide, Identify, Invite, Brainstorm, Equip, Encourage, Thank. Decide on the importance and need of small faith communities in your parish or school. Identify persons who have the spiritual wisdom and ability to lead a faith community. Invite identified parishioners to pray about this opportunity to further the kingdom of God. Brainstorm with leaders ideas for members, meeting times, and materials. SFSG-Leaders Gram 2013/14 Page 4

Equip leaders with the necessary tools for being successful for forming disciples through scripture, faith-sharing materials, and prayer. Encourage leaders by sharing articles on spirituality and leadership, making phone-calls, or sending notes. Thank your leaders, on a regular basis, for the investment of their time and care. Small faith communities have never been easy (and often messy), but with the Holy Spirit they can serve as a powerful path toward discipleship as members explore faith and share life. If we work together and create a movement toward small communities, we could see the tide turn, as with every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). Small faith communities were the way of forming disciples in the early church; they are a way of discipleship today! What steps will you take toward creating small faith communities? Can you identify five men or women who could lead small faith communities next year? How will you reach out to them? June 2014 Faith Beginnings - When has your heart been set on fire? The power of a small faith community lies in its ability to set hearts afire for Christ through mutual prayer, study, service, and witness to make disciples. IMPACT, our newly initiated lay formation program, has been successful largely due to deep conversation ignited within small groups, whether face-to-face or online. Small communities provide the necessary elements for conversion, which St. Augustine described as one heart setting another heart on fire. No small community has a greater ability to transmit faith to set hearts ablaze than the family. As Scott Hahn writes in Evangelizing Catholics: A Mission Manual for the New Evangelization, The family is where it starts. It s the primary field of evangelization, the primary place each one of us is called to proclaim Christ. And what we do there, in that innermost field of evangelization, radiates outward, affecting our work in every other field (pg. 86). The family, designed by God as the place where children first learn and experience the message of Jesus Christ, remains the primary site for forming disciples. How do we proclaim Christ in the family? How do we set hearts on fire? By announcing the message of God s love (the kerygma) in word and deed, by loving and sacrificing for one another in a million little ways (reading to children instead of watching television), by praying together, by attending Mass together each Sunday, by serving our neighbors, and by participating in the corporal works of mercy together. When a family shines with the joy of believing, with the light of Christ, it becomes the most powerful force in the world for good by setting hearts afire for Christ as members become disciples and evangelizers. How will you set hearts on fire? How will you share the good news of Jesus Christ? How will your home become a small faith community where Christ s love radiates outward? SFSG-Leaders Gram 2013/14 Page 5