The number one way to feel more "at home" here in the parish AND to enrich your faith is to join a Small Faith Group! Small Faith Groups are made up of 8-12 people and meet in homes with a trained facilitator. The five components of each Small Faith Group are: Sharing, Learning, Mutual Support, Mission, and Prayer. The "texts" used are the readings of the upcoming Sunday. All groups use some kind of commentary on the readings to facilitate study, discussion and prayer. YOU choose which day and time is best for you! A variety of groups meet in the fall and in Lent. Year-round groups are also available. Sign-up is usually late in September for the Fall Groups and late January/early February for the Lenten Groups.

Comparison of seasonal and on-going Small Faith Groups.

We offer many ways to enrich your understanding of the Bible.

1. One opportunity is our Wednesday Bible Study class, offered from 9:30-11:00am during the school year. We use either Little Rock Scripture Study texts and videos OR Six Weeks with the Bible texts from Loyola Press. The Wednesday Bible Study group is welcoming and great fun too.
2. Seasonal Scripture Reflection is offered in Advent and Lent. Our texts are the readings of the upcoming Sunday. We meet on Wednesdays in Advent and Lent, 9:30-11:00am. You can come to all the sessions or just one or two.
3. Scripture Classes are offered at various times of the year on various topics from "Introduction to the Bible", to classes on particular topics like "Women in the Gospels" or "The Parables".
4. Women's Noon Bible Break: is a bible study group for women during the day. The sessions use the "Six Weeks with the Bible" series from Loyola Press and involve brief home study followed by small group discussion and prayer in the bi-weekly meetings. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, October through May, from noon - 1:30 pm in the parish center.

1. Christian Parents Group is made up of both moms and dads who have pre-school age children. They meet the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month, September through May. Their goal is faith enrichment, mutual support and encouragement and fun! Childcare is provided for children 4 and under.
2. Enrichment Sessions on various topics important to parents are offered during the year. In Fall 2007, we are offering "Parenting and the Media". Other topics will be offered in the future to so that parents and grandparents feel less overwhelmed in this busy and challenging world.

1. Women's Retreat Day is usually in early February, 8:30am - 3:30pm. All adult women in the parish, all ages, are welcome to come and spend a bit of time "away" with Christ and with one another.
2. Christ Renews for Women is an on-going process for personal spiritual renewal of women over the age of 18 that results in the renewal of the parish community. The process begins with a weekend of prayer, reflection, fun and discussion. The many activities include: prayer, reflection, talks, small group discussions, social activities, all in a relaxed, prayerful and caring atmosphere. Participants are free to share as much or as little as they wish. The next weekend will take place November 1 & 2, 2008.

Brochure
Printable Registration Form
Registration Deadline: October 1, 2008

1. Fall Morning of Reflection is a great way to get a "taste" of men's fellowship here in the parish. The morning is filled with prayer, presentation, discussion, reflection and community. It's usually offered on a Saturday morning in October or November from 8:30am to 1:00pm.
2. Men's Retreat Day is a full day of prayer, reflection, quiet time and enrichment, usually offered just before or at the beginning of the season of Lent.
3. Men's Small Faith Group is a men-only group that meets here in the Parish Center or in the home of one of the members. The "texts" used are the readings of the upcoming Sunday. The group uses "Sunday by Sunday", a great commentary and reflection guide to prepare for and guide the discussion in the session. The Men's Small Faith Group usually meets during the school year and the date or time varies depending on the men in the group.

1. Whole Community Catechesis means exactly what it says: catechesis for the WHOLE community! Any time this is offered you can be sure it will be fun, entertaining and enriching. Whole Community Catechesis events are usually offered during Advent, Lent and Easter season.
2. Fire Up Your Faith: is offered during the month of June when our schedules are a bit less crazy. It's four evenings of learning with a little social time thrown in. Classes are offered on many different kinds of topics, from Islam to Eucharist, Vatican II to the Da Vinci Code. Four nights, four chances to learn and four times to meet other people in our parish who are as curious about our faith as you are!
3. Topical Classes are offered during the year, as the need arises. For example, some parishioners requested that a few of the Fire Up Your Faith sessions be offered during the school year, since they were out of town. Other times, classes will be offered if a situation arises, such as an Election Year when we'll offer a class on "Faithful Citizenship" which is the guide for Catholics discerning how they should vote.

This committee, in existence for over 20 years, is made up of a group of people committed to justice and peace issues. We welcome anyone who is interested in learning more about the church's teachings on social justice or who is interested in helping the committee in its work of education and raising awareness here in the parish about social justice and peace issues. Meetings occur every month from September to May on the first Thursday at 7:30pm.

1. Alternative Bazaar takes place on the 2nd Sunday in November. You can purchase great gifts for a great purpose! Fair trade and other items are sold at the Alternative Bazaar. All of the purchases "give back" to the organizations selling them! Some of the organizations that have benefited have been: Cafè Campesino, Global Exchange, Eagle Village, Midland Emergency Food Pantry, UNICEF, and Youth Outreach.
2. Spring Justice Workshop: many years ago, the Social Awareness Committee hosted a series of workshops called "Kaleidoscope". In 2008, the committee will revive this tradition by offering a workshop in the spring, which will help people better understand a particular social justice issue.