Adult faith formation aims at helping us grow deeper in our love relationship with God and with others. Knowledge and reflection on our faith is essential if we are to deepen our faith and take ownership of it. Vatican II called for the church, the people of God, to be full, conscious and active participants in their liturgy as well as their faith lives.
St. Sabina Parish community takes this challenge seriously, providing a variety of opportunities for faith growth to happen. Let us continue to be a parish community that is serious in deepening our relationship with God and others, by being full, conscious and active participants in the growth and development of our faith lives.
– Six sessions, offered twice, on Special Topics in Paul's Letters
– Six sessions, offered twice, on the Gospel according to Mark
– Four sessions in Spanish on the Sunday Readings, La Biblia Para Los Domingos
– Four sessions, offered twice, on the Cultural and Religious World of Jesus
– Six sessions, offered twice, on Christian Jewish Relations Through the Centuries
– Six sessions focused on the Lenten Sunday readings for Year B
– Four sessions, offered twice, on a Basic Introduction to the Prophets
– Four sessions, offered twice, on Christology or a Study of Jesus
– Individual Sessions on
Advent/Christmas/Epiphany Seasonal Planning
Lent/Easter/Pentecost Seasonal Planning
Eucharistic Minister Training both in English and Spanish
Ecumenical Prayer service for the Week for Christian Unity
– Monthly Participation at the Belton Ministerial Fellowship
– Our Advent Parish Retreat: A Season for Hope, facilitated by Fr. Joe Nassal, CPPS on three Tuesdays of Advent
JustFaith is a weekly program that immerses participants in Catholic social teachings. They not only study but also put that study into action in various ways, highlighting the concern for justice while valuing the dignity and worth of every human being. It challenges all of us to be, as our baptismal call requires of us, Christ to the world. Three groups have completed their training and we have laid the groundwork for starting a new group this fall.
Social Ministry and JustFaith groups offered a variety of event throughout the year to assist our parish in discovering what “acting justly, loving tenderly and walking humbly with our God” truly mean to us as Catholic Christians.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
The RCIA is a process of instruction, community building, learning to pray and developing a sense of service to all of God’s people. It is intended for all those interested in becoming Catholic, or who want to learn more about Catholicism.
The process is for:
– Adults never baptized who might desire to become Catholic
– Adults baptized in another Christian church who might desire to become Catholics
– Adult baptized Catholics who have not received full reception into the church through the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation
– Adult Catholics who would like to update or deepen knowledge of their faith
We held weekly sessions which began in September, highlighted by full initiation and reception into full communion at the Easter Vigil, and ended at Pentecost with liturgy and a meal celebration. We have worked with the Adult Faith Formation directors of the eight Southland parishes, meeting monthly to resource and support one another, as well as share programs. A variety of people from other parishes, as well as from other Christian denominations have attended and felt most welcomed by the St. Sabina parish community at all of our formation sessions.
We provided a booklet gathering all the faith formation offerings for this coming year and asked the parish community to commit themselves to at least one formation opportunity, if at all possible.
Saint Sabina is always happy to welcome new people to the faith and to our local community. Whether you have never been baptized in any faith community or whether you have been baptized in another denomination and are not active or whether you were baptized Catholic, but never really got to know much about the faith as a child, we can help. If you are searching for a faith family, please call our office 816-331-4713.
1. The RCIA is a process of instruction, community building, learning to pray and developing a sense of service to all of God’s people. It is intended for all those interested in becoming Catholic, or who want to learn more about Catholicism.
2. The process is for:
– Adults never baptized who might desire to become Catholic
– Adults baptized in another Christian church who might desire to become Catholics
– Adult baptized Catholics who have not received full reception into the church through the sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation
– Adult Catholics who would like to update or deepen knowledge of their faith
3. Process sessions this year begin on September 3, 2009 and continue till May 6, 2010. They are held on Thursday evenings from 7-9 PM, in the Education Wing of the Parish Hall.
4. Full initiation into the Christian Community through Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, as well as full reception for those already baptized in another Christian tradition is celebrated at the Easter Vigil, April 3, 2010, beginning at 9 PM.
5. Unpacking the Easter vigil and discerning service to the community are know as Mystagogy, a process integral to the RCIA. Mystagogy is part of our group process as we continue to meet after the Easter Vigil till May 6, 2010.
6. If any of this intrigues you or attracts you, or if you know of anyone who would benefit from the RCIA, please do not hesitate to call either Biagio or Kris at the parish office, 816- 331-4713.
The Rite of Christian Initiation is not a program of exact timing. It is the gradual process of a spiritual journey which may take a short period of time or a number of years. At Saint Sabina Parish we normally offer the RCIA program from the early fall through the winter with the Sacraments of Initiation being received at Easter. The period of Mystagogy is for the six weeks following Easter.
Once your baptism is verified you will not be baptized again. In the Rite of Initiation, those who have received baptism will make a profession of faith in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and will receive the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation.
If you are seriously considering becoming a Catholic or would simply like more information about the Catholic Faith please contact Biagio Mazza in our Parish Office at 816-331-4713.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (RCIC) is similar to the RCIA, but is geared for children from 7 years old through high school. Classes also begin in the fall of the year and lead to reception into the church at Easter.
LINK TO PSR
http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU.asp
Archived and recent Catholic Updates
www.usccb.org/nab
Daily Mass Readings from the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops
www.vatican.va
The official Vatican website with Papal and Vatican documents and resources
www.textweek.com
A lectionary and liturgical year resource site with many links to various liturgical resources, biblical commentaries and cinema and art images.
http://www.beliefnet.com/
A site devoted to world religions and their various beliefs and practices
http://www.jcrelations.net/en/
A site devoted to studies in Jewish Christian relationships past and present
http://www.catholicgoldmine.com/
A site devoted to information about Catholics, with links to dioceses, history, documents and much more
http://www.papalencyclicals.net/
Devoted to the papal encyclical indexed by popes
HTTP://WWW.CCEL.ORG
Good source for texts on the Church Fathers, as well as bible study
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/catholic_sources.html
Documents on Catholic Teachings