What is Why Catholic?

Why Catholic? is a unique adult faith formation program that is solidly based on Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is in response to our Bishop's invitation and recent pastoral letter.

Why Catholic? offers a concrete approach to help adults deepen their Catholic faith and connect its teachings to their everyday lives.

Why Catholic? encourages learning in a prayerful small-community setting.

What are Why Catholic? themes?

The program involves four themed 12-lesson faith-sharing sessions, corresponding to the four sections found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. The 4 sessions are:

The Profession of Faith: What We Believe
Explore the basic tenets of our Catholic faith using what the Catechism calls "the oldest Roman Catechism," namely, the Apostles' Creed.

The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: Sacraments
See Liturgy as the source and nourishment of our life; enrich our weekly participation in Sunday Liturgy; and see the Sacraments as doors to the sacred.

Life in Christ: Walking With God
Explore the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes as sources for moral wisdom and as blueprints for living the Christian life.

Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God
Experience different prayer models, e.g., Lectio Divina, as ways to grow more deeply in our relationship with God.

Who can benefit?

-Catholics who want to deepen their faith
-Parents who want to pass on their faith
-Catechists who want to enhance their faith
-Adult candidates and catechumens who want to learn the faith
-Parish organizations and staff who want to reflect on their faith

How can I be involved?

Join or lead a small community

You may sign-up to join a Group on Sign-up Sun-day weekends after all Masses. Dates for Sign-Up Sunday will be posted in the Parish Bulletin weeks in advance.

If you choose to become a Small Community Leader you will receive training and assistance at every step of the process. Call the Rectory if you would like to facilitate a small faith sharing group.

At this time we plan on launching Why Catholic? during Lent. The first session, The Profession of Faith: What We Believe, will run for 6 weeks. Each group member will have the resources needed to help enable the 6-week process.

Review with your Family Weekly Bulletins entitled Renewing Family Faith

This unique resource uses stories, blessings, Scripture, activities and additional materials to help families explore the important teachings of our Catholic faith.

Attend the Parish Retreats and Enrichment Sessions

Every six months the parish will gather to deepen understanding of our Catholic identity through a faith enrichment presentation or a retreat experience. The parish retreats and enrichment sessions are given by staff members of RENEW International. Watch the Bulletin for details and dates.

Pray A Disciple's Prayer

We ask that you support this parish-wide evangelization effort by prayer. On this page we have included A Disciple’s Prayer. As we approach our parish's Why Catholic? start-up, and as the process moves forward, we sincerely ask that you pray for its success.