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• Introduction
• Sacramental Programs for Adults
• Faith Enrichment Programs
• Young Adults
• Retreat Opportunities
• Community Prayer
• Library
• Oportunidades para Adultos en el Crecimiento del la Fe

Adult Faith Formation

Introduction

The faith formation of adults calls for and encompasses a lifelong process of evangelization, catechesis, liturgical life, moral formation, prayer and a spirituality open to mission and ministry. Communal and sacramental life is explicit when faith formation begins in the home and is nourished both there, the "domestic church" and in the life of the parish community.

As adults (single & married) and families strive to balance the joys of daily life while facing the struggles of today's culture, faith seeks understanding and religious development becomes a priority.

St. Brigid Parish offers a variety of opportunities for growth as persons, as families and as communities of faith and compassion. We invite you to join us since the growth of each person enhances that of the entire community. Many of the following opportunities are yearlong and some are seasonal. Please follow the Parish Bulletin or Newsletter for information or contact the Parish Office. If you are interested in collaborating as part of the team of any of the ministries (e.g., Formation, Sacraments, Small Christian Communities, Pastoral Care) in adult faith formation, please contact the Parish Adult Faith Coordinator or the Parish Office.

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Sacramental Programs for Adults

The process known as the R.C.I.A. brings adults to the sacraments of Christian initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. The process is successfully used for persons who are unbaptized; for baptized Christians who have been members of another denomination and seek to be received into full communion with the Catholic Church; and for baptized Catholics who are uncatechized and need either Confirmation and/or Eucharist.

The initial period of inquiry begins with an interview with the parish R.C.I.A. team and the pastor. The time is intended to be relaxed and informal, giving those interested in the process an opportunity to explore and question. The yearly cycle of conversion, learning and discipleship begins shortly after the interview process, about late August/early September. For the unbaptized candidates and those candidates for conversion from another religion, the classes help them to understand what it means to be Catholic and to discern their desire to enter the formal process of the R.C.I.A. For those baptized Catholics needing the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist, this becomes a time of renewed commitment, ongoing formation, and deepened awareness of God's presence.

The period of the Catechumenate provides an opportunity to learn the basic elements of the Catholic faith and become familiar with the practices and traditions of the Church. Particularly helpful are the times of reflection set aside to process the learning experience and the effects of our relationship with God and with others. Periodic Rites celebrated with the community mark the stages along the way and affirm the progress of the participants.

The group meets on Sunday morning with several Saturday reflections scheduled into the process.

Those adults who seek to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation (and who have already been baptized and celebrated First Eucharist are invited to a series of sessions in the Fall. These sessions to prepare the candidates may begin in late summer; therefore, please consult your weekly Parish Bulletin or contact the Parish Office for information.

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Faith Enrichment Programs

"They were faithful to the teaching of the apostles, the common life of sharing, the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts 2:42

Ecclesial communities meet in the homes and are a source of renewed self-understanding and hope for the entire Church. Rooted in scripture and small in size (6 to 12 persons), these small church communities provide opportunities to reflect deeply on the Christian message and the call to respond in service to the small community itself as well as to the larger faith community and the universal church. The members may include persons who are single, married, families, or intergenerational. The members gather as a large community on special dates throughout the year.

The Tuesday Morning Bible Study group meets on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. While the focus is usually on the Sunday Lectionary readings and shared discussion, the topic may vary according to the liturgical season. If interested in being a part of this group, please contact the parish office.

Advent is an excellent opportunity to reflect as community on the coming of Jesus Christ. Café y Pan Dulce is a gathering of parishioners after the 8:00 a.m. Liturgy which consists of reflections on the Sunday Lectionary Readings, on our Advent/Christmas traditions and fellowship. Participants are welcome to share their favorite dishes or traditions. The event is bilingual.

A program designed both for spiritual renewal and to inspire participants to go forth and bring the Good News of Christ to others. It is designed to move people who attend into small groups where they follow up on the topics of the course in greater detail. To find out more about this course, keep a lookout in the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter.

God touches our lives when we share fellowship, prayers and faith. This is YOUR opportunity to try out a Small Christian Community Scripture Study and experience yourself how God can touch your life. Come and See how scripture study and community can help us strengthen our faith and give us support to truly live our daily lives as Christians.

Jeff Cavins developed The Great Adventure in 1984 as a Protestant minister when he realized that many Christians did not grasp “the big picture” of the Bible. After returning to the Catholic Church in 1995, Jeff discovered that the Bible Timeline Seminar satisfied a great hunger among Catholics to know and understand the Word of God. With the basic background that the seminar provides, Catholics are able to take their own journey through Scripture. Mass readings can be put into the context of the bigger picture, and most of all, people can enter into the great adventure of hearing God through His Word more fruitfully. The series begins with, The Bible Timeline, followed by Matthew and Acts. These studies are each a 24-week period. The classes begin in September and normally conclude in March.

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Young Adults

The Parish will promote opportunities throughout the Archdiocese or provide opportunities for faith sharing through Small Christian Communities or as needed by the young adults in the community.

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Retreat Opportunities

St. Brigid Parish strives to offer retreats and Days of Reflection for families and individuals throughout the year. We recognize the importance of taking time out of our busy schedules to be renewed in our relationship with the Lord. Parishioners are also encouraged to participate in the many other Retreat opportunities offered throughout our Archdiocese. Many of these are published under Adult Faith Formation "Around the Town" in the parish bulletin.

The Women's Retreats generally allow interested women of the parish to plan and assist in the implementation of the retreat which encourages participants to explore their relationship with Jesus, and their roles as wives, mothers and singles.

Like the Women's Retreat, the men of the parish plan and assist in the implementation of the retreat. The Retreat allows participants to explore their relationship with Jesus and their roles as husbands, fathers and singles.

The ACTS community strives to assist members of the parish family to attain a deeper relationship with the Lord and with fellow parishioners through:

• Adoration:     Prayer life
• Community:     Love and caring for each other
• Theology:     Study of the faith through scripture
• Service:     To God and to each other

To achieve this goal a three-day weekend experience is planned for both women and men.

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Community Prayer

At St. Brigid, there are many opportunities provided to deepen your prayer life and to join in prayer with the community. Below are some of the prayer opportunities currently available to the community.

Adoration takes place in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel from 9:30a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Healing Liturgy is held on the first Monday of every month at 7:00 p.m. in the Day Chapel. All those in need of spiritual and physical healing are welcome.

Open to the Gifts of the Spirit, a group of people gather together weekly as a community in prayer. Our appreciation for the Lord's greatness, power and love is expressed through informal prayer, singing, Scripture reading and sharing. St. Brigid prayer group usually meets on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. in the home of one of the parishioners. Please contact parish for information.

Parishioners are invited to pray the chaplet of divine mercy in the Day Chapel on Saturdays at
4:15 p.m. before the 5:00 p.m. Mass.

In 1935, St. Faustina received a vision of an angel sent by God to chastise a certain city. She began to pray for mercy but her prayers were powerless. Until she saw the Holy Trinity and felt the power of Jesus’ grace within her. Prayed on ordinary rosary beads, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy is an intercessory prayer. The Divine Mercy Ministry meets on Thursday evenings, please contact Loreta Young for more information at (210)558-4326.

Prayers are offered for expectant parents and baby by a dedicated group of persons who pray from the sacredness of their homes. Follow-up with the families takes different forms, according to the pastoral needs of the family.

The Catholic Church speaks of the family as the "domestic Church." The home is the sacred space where faith and human growth is nourished. Whether it is on the occasion of moving into one's "new home" or after a period of having lived there, a family may feel the need for prayer and a blessing for its family and house. Spiritual strength, healing and bonding occurs when the family and its home is blessed. As a community of faith, we are called to be present to one another in good and in times of need. Upon a personal request by the family, a team of persons prepared by the parish will bless the home of a parishioner.

The Rosary familiarizes the hearts and minds of the faithful with the Mysteries of Christ. There is a group that meets in the Day Chapel, Monday through Friday, to pray the Rosary after the 8:00 a.m. Mass or Communion service. There is also a group that comes together in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. to pray for vocations to the priesthood and an end to abortion.

The Stations of the Cross/Via Crucis are prayed on the First Fridays and on the Fridays of Lent. The Way of the Cross is also prayed in the neighborhood(s) during Lent.

A team of dedicated persons pray for those people who need special prayers.

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Library

We have a library of books and audio-visual materials which are available to the people of this parish and to the small faith communities. Our library system is set up much like public libraries for location of books and videos. Books and videos may be taken out for two weeks. The Library is normally open on Fridays from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (staffed by volunteers) or you may come to the parish office for assistance during office hours.

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Oportunidades para Adultos en el Crecimiento del la Fe

Algunos de los ministerios se pueden ofrecer en español para la comunidad Hispana según la necesidad y la disponibilidad de los presentadores.

Se ofrecerá un estudio biblico durante el otoño, dependiendo en el interés de la comunidad hispana y también de la disponibilidad de el presentador.

Las pequeñas comunidades son comunidades de seis a doce personas que se reunen seguidamente en un hogar para leer la sagrada escritura, reflexionar sobre el mensaje de Dios y como se puede vivir ese mensaje, en comunidad pequeña como en la comunidad de la parroquia.

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