You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.
The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults and Limerick Diocese Faith Development Programme
John interviews Lorraine Buckley about the role of Faith Development Coordinator in the diocese of Limerick and the need and importance of adult faith formation particularly in the Irish church at this time.You can listen to the interview with Lorraine excerpted from the main programme HERE.
The Faith Development Coordinator works at the direction of the Bishop, chief catechist of the diocese, in the promotion of and co-ordination of faith development initiatives in the diocese. Such initiatives range from preparation programmes for the sacraments of initiation to adult faith development. Why is faith development so important? Sherry Weddell wrote in Forming Intentional Disciples:
“The majority of Catholics in the United States are sacramentalized but not evangelized. They do not know that an explicit, personal attachment to Christ – personal discipleship – is normative Catholicism as taught by the apostles and reiterated time and time again by the pope, councils, and saints of the Church.”In an Irish context, the two questions Lorraine put to listeners:
- How can we renew and deepen our own faith so that we may share that faith with others?
- What can we do to facilitate that encounter with Christ in our Parishes and in our Pastoral Area?
There are many different ways in which we can deepen our faith – through prayer, through Scripture and Lectio Divina, through different retreats, courses, prayer groups, spiritual reading, different ecclesial movements etc.
There is a wealth of resources out there too. One of the tools or resources for helping to build our relationship with God is the new Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults, which was launched last year. Now before everyone turns off the radio, it is not about rote learning or question and answer style formats like the Penny Catechism.
The Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults presents adults with a renewed opportunity to study, reflect on and live by the faith we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the Sacraments, live in the Christian moral life and deepen through prayer. Each chapter begins with a short account of a saint or holy person who tried to follow the Christian path in their own time and circumstance. This is followed by a section explaining God’s revelation through Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit that relates to that story. It places this teaching alongside questions and doubts that arise from our daily life and our country’s culture and tries to resolve them.
During autumn this year, two reflection groups started using the Irish Catholic Catechism for Adults as part of the Growing Faith programme. Over ten weeks, we gathered together once a week to learn more about our story – who God is and who we are as God’s beloved children. It is not about learning things off by heart, but learning more about our faith through music, videos, chat and a cuppa at the end of the evening. One of those who attended said: “I find this course a great way of developing a loving rather than a fearful relationship with Our Father in Heaven.” Growing Faith is about change – looking at ways in which we can live our faith better and many were inspired by the “stories of great people who have and are living out their faith in action.”
Next week, LDPC will be starting the next ten week course on Part II – Sacraments: Faith Celebrated. They are running the course in two venues, Limerick Diocesean Pastoral Centre, which meets on Tuesday evenings, beginning next Tuesday, January 20th at 7.30pm, and Newcastle West Parish Centre, which meets on Wednesday evenings, beginning next Wednesday, January 21st at 8pm. Each group meets for an hour and a half – which isn’t as long as it sounds – as we use a mixture of media to share our faith and learn more about our faith.
Next week, LDPC will be starting the next ten week course on Part II – Sacraments: Faith Celebrated. They are running the course in two venues, Limerick Diocesean Pastoral Centre, which meets on Tuesday evenings, beginning next Tuesday, January 20th at 7.30pm, and Newcastle West Parish Centre, which meets on Wednesday evenings, beginning next Wednesday, January 21st at 8pm. Each group meets for an hour and a half – which isn’t as long as it sounds – as we use a mixture of media to share our faith and learn more about our faith.
If anyone would like to find out more about the Growing Faith reflection groups or indeed would like Lorraine to visit their Pastoral Area/Pastoral Council please contact Lorraine at 069-61816 or 061-400133 or email lbuckley@ldpc.ie
Gospel - John 1: 35-42 - "Come and see"
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas" (which means Peter).
Reflections on this weeks gospel:
Liturgical odds and ends
Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 2, Second week in Ordinary time
Saints of the Week
January 18th - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary time - also World Day of Migrants & Refugees
January 19th - Nine Martyrs of Numidia
January 20th - St Fabian and St Sebastian (martyrs)
January 21st - St Agnes (virgin martyr) - also the Blessing of the Lambs will take place in Rome today. The lambs wool will be harvested to make the palliums to be bestowed on new archbishops by the Pope on the feast of St Peter & Paul in June.
January 22nd - St Vincent (martyr)
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