What does faith formation mean to you?

You know you've heard it as many times as I have from Fr. William, 'And how many of us stop our journey of Catholic formation after our First Communion catechesis?'  We know what he means--it's a challenge he's extended to us.  It's a challenge to go deeper, to question our beliefs in a way that draws us nearer to Truth, to God Himself.

And I ask you, how many of us despite our post-graduate degrees, life experience and reading lists, have really put our hearts into the teachings of the Church?  Have we become familiar with the four pillars of the Catechism?  Have we gotten our "why's" answered?    

I'd bet that each one of us has felt that divine nudge on our hearts pulling us towards something more because we are...made to know Him.

"The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself" (CCC 27).

But, if you're like me, you might not have gone to Catholic school and instead, as a young Catholic, just had a year or two of faith formation in order to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation (Confession) and the Eucharist.  And what a blessing and grace that preparation and milestone was!  However, if we are to live as true disciples of Jesus proclaiming the Gospel, we are called to know more, to be strengthened to live this "wonderful adventure" of life with Christ as St. John Paul II so beautifully shared.

How do we do this?  Well, we have everything literally at our fingertips--wonderful podcasts, books, videos and that is all pure gift.  But, if you have not yet been confirmed in the Church, maybe this is a little divine nudge to push you into adult catechesis this year.  I was 22 years old and in graduate school when I took that step into my campus Newman Center every Tuesday evening for a year and it changed me.  Truly, the grace  I received in the Sacrament of Confirmation was powerful and ultimately gave me the courage to let Jesus steer the ship of my life.

So, if that tug on your heart is tugging as you read this, we are thrilled to offer you a Sunday morning class for baptized Catholics at 9:30 a.m. each week that will prepare you, in a meaningful way, to receive this Sacrament of Initiation in the Church.  If you are a non-Catholic seeking to join the Catholic Church, we will have a convert class with Fr. William on Monday evenings at 6:30 p.m.

Those taking the class will follow the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Trent Horn's Why We're Catholic book, as well as other readings, videos and discussions to further understanding and answer deeper questions.

If you're interested, please plan to come speak with us in the Cloister Walkway after Mass this Sunday, September 21st after Mass.  You can register for class and learn more.

For our young Catholics, registration for this year's Youth Catechesis will also be this Sunday in the Cloister Walkway after Mass.  We have a special challenge for our kids--take a look at our poster and guess why we have fruit on it.  For every correct guess, we have a special gift!

As St. Augustine wrote, and is often credited to St. John Paul II, "We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song."  Let us be an Easter people who rejoices in the Good News, speaks Truth and are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to spread the Word of God everywhere we go!

See you Sunday and I pray that if you are wanting to receive this powerful grace in the Sacrament of Confirmation and you haven't yet, that you step forward and say "Here, I am." And if you're a parent, we pray that you bring your children to us and allow us to be a part of their faith journey.

Yours in the Heart of Christ,

Angela