Adult Communities

Profile: A Small Church Group with Prayer as its Mission

Dr. Joe Klag is the facilitator for "Faith in Action," a small Church community of St. Patrick Catholic Community in Scottsdale, AZ He has been the group's facilitator for many years and a member of the parish's SCC Leadership Team.

Tell me a little about the group membership, when you meet, where you meet, etc.?
Our group started in December 1998 through our parish Lenten program. My wife and I had moved to Scottsdale only a year earlier. For the first three months we met every week. We had a discernment after 3 months, led by a current SCC leader, selected a facilitator and agreed to become a permanent group. People have been very faithful ever since. We have more than friendships, we are like family. The youngest was 25 when we first formed, the oldest was probably 65-70. The oldest lady still comes to the group - it is more challenging for her now but she still comes. Our group meets every other Wednesday. The meetings rotate between homes.

How do you recruit replacement members?
Most of the people we've added to the group came to us through the Lenten program run by the parish's SSC Ministry. All parishioners are invited to participate in SCCs during Lent. At the end of the Lent they are invited to join a group.

What resources do you/your group use/prefer?
We have really liked using the Celebrating The Word (CTW) resource and Fr. Frank Ruetz's style of writing. We also use materials from St Louis University's Center for Liturgy. When I run the meeting we usually look at that. We also use the Emmaus Journey, http://www.emmausjourney.org/emmaus_series.html, and try to incorporate its materials.
Lately we've also been using more ritual. This year's Lenten Program ("Disciples on the Journey" - Diocese of Victoria, Texas) has ritual built in. We've been working with that - it's been very meaningful. The other thing we do, that has really come to define us, is prayer.

Finding Common Ground Amid Diversity

Barbara Howard

I was privileged to visit with a small church community whose membership is all women. Some of them have been together for several years and some have just joined the community. As we settled in on a cold, snowy, Colorado Wednesday evening, the women greeted each other warmly and began a review of the week since they had last seen one another. Along with sharing the personal experiences of their week, the women candidly spoke about current events prominent on the nightly newscast or in the daily paper. Most of those events had their roots in the “prohibited” topics of politics and religion. I was interested to see where the discussion might lead.

It was clear that there were differing viewpoints on specific events and issues. But, there was honest and respectful dialogue among the women as they acknowledged the unmistakable tension between much of contemporary life and the message of the Gospel. They were able to make connections between faith and life in real, tangible ways. At the end of their evening they all agreed they wanted to bring items for the backpacks for prisoners reentering society (a larger, parish project) even though, not surprisingly, they had diverse opinions about the penal system.

As I reflect on that gathering, it strikes me that one of the richest blessings of belonging to a small community is the possibility for us to find common ground while still being respectful of the diversity of opinion that exists among us. The possibility can only be realized, however, when members are open to honest conversation – speaking without the need to convince and listening without the need to rebut. That is what faith sharing is all about. It takes lots of practice to put our opinions and biases aside and really listen to one another. The touchy part is that faith does not exist disengaged from the circumstances of ordinary life, including politics and religion.

Reprinted with permission from the newsletter of Spirit of Christ Small Church Communities, Arvada, CO.

Seasonal Small Christian Communities

Many parishes offer seasonal small Christian communities, usually for autumn, Advent, Lent, or Easter. Lent is the most popular season for these communities because parishioners are often looking for a way to deepen their spiritual journey during the Lenten season. Seasonal communities offer participants a chance to experience small group life without making a long term commitment.

Sometimes these groups are part of a larger strategy by the parish, for many participants go on to form longer-lasting groups. It can be an excellent “trial period,” either for the parish or for the participants. Issues such as how to recruit or train good facilitators can be worked out. But some parishes or other communities only offer the seasonal groups, either because their members are more transient (such as young adults) or because the parish doesn’t have the resources it feels it needs to support the long term groups. Either way, seasonal communities are important. They serve as a great way for large numbers of people to experience spiritual growth.

Helping Men Find God

Christ recognizes the power in fellowship. “Where two or three people meet together in my name,” Jesus states “I am there with them.” (Matthew 18:20) In other words, we are not meant to go it alone. God provides the gift of relationship so that we might seek the Holy Spirit through others and in others.

Men come to fellowship in unique ways. Though men may be slow to build relationships, they cherish friendship and a shared sense of purpose. They seek spiritual guidance and crave significance and know, down deep, that God holds the answer to both. Here, a small faith community that is devoted to the particular needs of men can serve as a powerful forum to nurture this need for friendship, purpose and faith. In plain words, a men’s faith group speaks to men in faith.

Fuel: Catholic Men. Living the Faith. A Guide for Small Groups (Ave Maria Publications 2008) is designed to provide parishes and individuals with the tools to form and grow strong faith communities that meet the spiritual needs of men. The book provides guidelines for more than 100 meetings that focus on issues of particular importance to men: their relationship with God, faith in the family, the role of faith at work, and the importance of bringing faith into the community. For further information, visit the website www.faithbalance.com where materials, discussion, and video are available to help men and women of all faiths nurture that faith in their daily lives.

So how do men find God? They find God alone and in groups. They find God at work and on the sports field, especially when praying for miracles. And they find God at home, out in nature and, occasionally, in traffic. There is no universal avenue or end point where all men find God, but there is one constant. They, like all people, find grace in the way that they seek God. For God is everywhere and is waiting for us to find grace in the most public and private of places. The key, of course, is to engage in the search, which is why we gather together. A men's faith group, if we invest in it, can be one way to bring God into our lives and our lives into God.

Lenten Materials for Small Groups

“Called to be Faithful” by Catherine Nerney, S.S.J. Pilgrimage Series Paulist Press Mahwah, New Jersey

Contains reflections on Cycle B Readings for the Sundays of Lent. Material includes opening and closing prayers, reflections on the readings,sharing questions, and suggested outreach.Cost - $1.50

“Share Your Bread” by Joan Jungerman, S.S.N.D. Pilgrimage Series, Paulist Press, Mahwah, New Jersey

Can be used with all three liturgical years. Contains opening and closing prayers, sharing questions, reflection on the readings and suggested outreach. Also, has a reflection for each day of the Lenten week. Cost - $1.25

“Quest” Prepared by the Pastoral Department for Small Christian Communities of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Connecticut.

Material is based on the Sunday Gospel for Lent through Pentecost. Contains opening and closing prayers, reflections on the readings, sharing questions and suggestions for outreach. Cost - $4.50

“A Covenant People” Published by the Office of Christian Communities, Diocese of Orlando, Florida Contains materials for the six Sundays of Lent. Brief opening and closing prayers, longer reflection and questions for sharing. Also, available in Spanish.

“Lenten Journey” by Joann Simcik Published by Sheed and Ward

Contains material for Ash Wednesday, the six Sundays of Lent and the Easter Vigil. Format includes opening prayer, focus question, readings and reflection, questions for sharing a Christian Witness, faith response and a closing prayer. Cost - $2.95

“From Gospel to Glory” Today’s Parish special Lenten edition, Twenty Third Publication

Material contains reflections, prayers, and readings for each day of Lent. At the end of each week there are listed some possible questions for group use. Cost - $3.00 each

“Journey of Faith” by John Craghan, A. Wolf, E.McGrath Published by Liguori Publications (314 / 464 - 2500)

Geared to the Catechumenate by able to be used by any group. Contains readings, reflections and points for reflection and discussion for every week of the liturgical year. Cost - $3.95

“Lenten Guide for Parish Leaders” by John Craghan

This book is divided into four parts: 1. Liturgical Resources 2. Homily Suggestions 3. Parish Prayer Services 4. Resources for small group leaders (includes reflection prayer and sharing questions)

“Pilgrims in Lent” Donald Neary, S.J. Published by the Liturgical Press

More for personal prayer, the material contains a scripture reading, a mediation and reflection for each day of Lent.

“Follow Me” Karen Sue Smith & Donna Ciangio, O.P Published by St. Anthony Messenger Press

Lenten Reflections: Cycle B Cost: $2.60

“Growing in Love With God” Paul Bondreau Published by Twenty-Third Publication – 1-800-321-0411

Includes an excerpt from the Scripture and a down-to-earth reflection for each reading of each Sunday. After each Scripture reflection there is a prayer to help inspire our own prayer, and a suggestion for actions to help us explore how we are growing in love with God and how we might live our faith more fully. Each week also has questions to help us examine our lives and to help celebrate the sacrament of penance.Cost: $4.00

“Crossroads to Easterlife” by Mary da Silva Abinante, James Eblen and Judith Robb Published by Ministry Center for Catholic Community P.O. Box 70521, Seattle, WA 98107 206-763-6222

Includes segments which build on one another and guide the overall experience. Contains opening prayer, reflections and sharing questions. Cost - $3.50 (1-12 copies) $3.25 (13-49 copies)

Disciples On The Journey, Lent 2009, Faith Sharing Booklet for Small Groups, by the Diocesan Team, Victoria, TX, Diocese of Victoria Texas 361-573-0828 www.victoriadiocese.org cost - $35 per packet of 10 books

List from the Diocese of Erie

http://www.eriercd.org/pdf/Cycleb.pdf.