Adult Faith Formation
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Ongoing formation
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops describes adult faith formation as an essential process inviting Catholic Christians to integrate their own life experiences with knowledge of the faith, love of God, and love of neighbor.
As its first goal, faith formation helps adults "to acquire an attitude of conversion to the Lord." This attitude fosters a baptismal spirituality for adults. It means putting on the mind of Christ, trusting in the Father's love, obeying God's will, seeking holiness of life, and growing in love for others. As adult believers, we learn and live our faith as active members of the Church. God calls us to community and adults find this community of faith in the parish and diocese, as well as in their families, small church communities, and personal relationships. Faith formation helps adults make a conscious decision to live the gift and choice of faith through membership in the Christian community. Adults not only receive the ministries of the Christian community, they also contribute to its life and mission by sharing their gifts with others. The Church and its adult faithful have a mission in and to the world: to share the message of Christ to renew and to transform the social and temporal order. This dual calling to evangelization and justice is integral to the identity of the lay faithful; all are called to it in baptism. Faith formation seeks to help each adult believer become a Christian disciple in the world.
—adapted from Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us: A Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States
There are a variety of options for Adult Faith Formation at Holy Spirit parish! In addition to the Sunday morning (at St. Martha) and Tuesday evening (at St. Mary's) adult classes, we have ongoing groups that have been meeting for many years.
These ONGOING groups include:- The Bible Babes - a group of women who have been meeting at St. Martha at 1pm on Tuesdays for many years. The group is facilitated by Rosanne Smith and selects a book to read and study together.
- Centering Prayer - facilitated by our retired Deacon Darrell Blackwell and parishioner Virginia Calvo, there are three meeting times for centering prayer - at St. Martha on Wednesday at 10am and 3pm, and on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm via ZOOM.
- Monday Mature Couples Study - Beginning September 12th, this group of mature married couples will resume meeting on Mondays at 6:30pm at St. Martha. Their topic will be Bishop Barrons program "The Mass." The group is facilitated by Regina Fife.
- Thursday Book Club - this group meets at St. Martha after daily Mass at 10am to discuss a faith-based book of their choice. Virginia Calvo and Marie Guerin are the facilitators for this group.
- Wednesday Bible Study - led by parishioners Joan Fowler and Marla Blackwell at St. Mary's at 10am, this Bible study uses the bulk of its meeting time focused on a particular book of the Bible, then finishes with a study and discussion of the Sunday readings.
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Guest Speaker Series on Eucharistic themes identified during our 2024 Parish Lenten Eucharistic Revival Retreat
You are invited to come to Mass at 3:30pm and stay for Dinner at 5:30pm.
Speakers include:
11/3/24—Fr. Paul Sullivan, SJ on “Mercy”
12/8/24—Prof. James Roche on “Service”
1/5/25—Fr. Joseph Manship on “Prayer”
2/9/25—Bishop Ruggieri on “Sacrifice”
4/6/25—Dr. Mary Colombo on “Humility”
5/4/25—Holy Spirit Parish Music Ministry on “Praise”
- at St. Martha at 4:30pm on Sundays Nov, 3, Dec. 8, Jan. 5, Feb. 9, April 6, May 4
The Creed with Bishop Robert Barron. An in-depth review of the fundamental tenets of the Catholic faith as presented in the Nicene Creed.
- at St. Martha at 11am on Sundays Oct. 6, 13, 20, Nov. 3, 17, 24
- at St. Mary's at 6pm on Thursdays Oct. 10, 17, 24, Nov. 7, 21, Dec. 5
Presentation on the National Eucharistic Congress Mary Colombo, Paula Moses and Rosanne Smith will provide an overview and presentation of what they experienced at the National Eucharistic Congress and will relay the mission we have all been called to in this final year of the Eucharistic Revival.
- at St. Martha at 11am on Sunday December 1
Advent Reflections with Fr. Hyacinth and Fr. Venantius
- at St. Mary's at 6pm on Tuesdays Dec. 3, 10, 17
Eucharistic Congress Keynote Addresses Keynote speeches from the National Eucharistic Congress, July 2024, by Bishop Robert Barron, Mother Olga, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Gloria Purvis, Chris Stefanik, Sr. Bethany Madonna, Jonathan Roumie
- at St. Martha at 11am on Sundays Jan. 5, 12, 26, Feb. 2, 9, 23
- at St. Mary's at 6pm on Thursdays Jan. 9, 16, 30, Feb. 6, 13, 27
The Chosen - Season five of the eight-episode series inspired by the life of Jesus
- at St. Martha at 11am on Sundays March 2, 16, 23, 30, April 6, 27, May 4, 18
- at St. Mary's at 6pm on Thursdays March 6, 20, 27, April 2, 10, May 1, 8, 22
Registration for any of the adult faith formation sessions may be accomplished by filling out the registration form for each session below, or by completing a hard copy registration form found on the back of the Adult Faith Formation brochure. Brochures may be picked up in either church office or narthex.
If you are in need of further assistance, please contact the director of faith formation, Carolyn Houston, at [email protected].
