Adults

If you would like to receive periodic emails about upcoming Adult Faith Formation programs, click here!

Each one of us is called to holiness, to become like Jesus. As Catholics we believe that this journey is life-long and culminates in us one day becoming saints.  At St. Michael we offer a wide variety of opportunities for adults to grow in knowledge and love of the Lord and community with fellow believers. 

For other Adult Faith Formation opportunities happening in our area, visit  Catholic Event Finder.

Online Discussion Group. Let’s gather online each week in Advent to discuss the previous Sunday’s Gospel reading. We’ll use the Little Blue Books as the basis for our weekly discussion. Come as often as you can!  Wednesday December 2, Thursday December 10, and Wednesdays December 16 & 23 from 7:00 – 8:00 pm. Join using Google Meet at  https://meet.google.com/wxx-dfkw-ikn.  You can also join via phone by calling 1-352-720-0259 and entering the PIN ‪186 542 132#.

Bishop's Year of the Bible.  Bishop Boyea is inviting everyone in the diocese to read the Bible together over the next year – one chapter each day. He’ll be supplementing it with weekly videos and other events throughout the year. If you want to sign up to receive the chapter on your cell phone, you can text BYOB (short for Bishop’s Year of the Bible) to 84576. You can get more information at the diocesan website. Pick up a prayer card in the back of church, and watch the bulletin for additional information about the Bible and upcoming parish activities.

EXTRA discussion on the Bible for young adults! Get more info here.

Bible Resources. We have a selection of resources for you to borrow to help with the Bishop's Year of the Bible. We have books as well as videos and materials from our previous Bible studies. Stop by the table in the coat room in church to borrow a book and get a list of available videos (videos need to be checked out from the office). We just ask that you return the books and Bible study materials as soon as you are finished so that others can borrow them.

Other Advent resources to explore on your own. Many trusted organizations have free options. Here are a few: 

• Dynamic Catholic continues its Best Advent Ever video series. Sign up here to get videos in your email inbox each day.
• Ascension Press is offering a series of live meditations, called Rejoice, focused on Mary and Joseph as they await the birth of their son. Get more information about these sessions that run at 8:00 pm every Sunday of Advent. Video introduction here.
• Renewal Ministries is also offering a Sunday evening series at 8:00 pm (it would have been nice if they'd coordinated better with Ascension Press!).Author Ralph Martin will discuss content from his book, Fulfillment of All Desire. Sign up at Advent Mission - Renewal Ministries.
• Formed also has an Advent series, with reflections sent to you each day. Sign up here.
• Word on Fire Ministries, with Bishop Barron, has daily Advent reflections that you can have sent to you. Sign up here.

Called & Gifted online. Numerous parishioners have gone through the Called & Gifted workshop, and others have wanted to but just haven't been able to make it to one of the workshops offered here at St. Michael or around the diocese. A new option is to do it in a self-study format using the online course from the Catherine of Siena Institute. The workshop has been a really valuable experience for so many people across the diocese (myself included!). It's currently being offered for $49, which gives you 6 months access to the online videos plus a link to complete the spiritual inventory. Once you complete the program it's extremely helpful if you also do a one-on-one interview with a trained interviewer. You can pay through the Institute to have someone interview you over the phone or just call Laura, who can do the interview with you at no charge. https://learning.siena.org/product/called-gifted-self-study-edition/

As we continue with the Bishop's Year of the Bible, we are really focused on activities that help us dig into Scripture. What sounds helpful for you?

Lectio Divina. We will gather online monthly to join in this centuries-old way of reflecting on Scripture. 

Bible Study Series. We will participate in a video-based study of Scripture through a new series called "Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and the Life." This 10-week series helps us encounter and learn about more about the life and teaching of Jesus. The $30 price includes online access to the videos, an online workbook, plus hardcopies of the workbook and a book. (If the $30 cost will prevent you from participating, please let Laura Castner know and we can cover 50% of the cost.) Learn more about this series here.   

Resources for Learning at Home

This time at home has helped us see the wide range of resources available for people to grow in faith. We would love to gather with you to discuss what you're learning and learn from each other!

Focus on your prayer life

Maybe you're finding yourself with some extra time or interest in praying, or your old methods of praying just aren't getting you through right now. Try something new!

Lectio Divina: This is a great way to dig into the Bible! Pick a reading (an easy place to start is the Gospel from Sunday - get that here by clicking on the date  you want). Learn more about this practice here. 

Centering Prayer: Take some quiet time with our Lord. Learn more about this ancient practice here. 

Liturgy of the Hours: This is the official public prayer of the church, pulling in the Psalms and other scripture readings and marking the hours of the day. The same prayers are said all around the globe. It's also referred to as the Divine Office or the Breviary. DivineOffice.org is making their site free for public use for the time being. If you've never prayed it before, scroll down and click on either morning prayer or evening prayer and let the recording guide you through it. (You'll need to register to get access.)

Novenas: Catholics have a rich tradition of praying the same prayer over 9 days. Here's a prayer written specifically for use as a novena to bring an end to Covid-19. 

Litanies: Sometimes it's hard to focus, and praying with the words of others can be helpful. These litanies can be done individually or with family. http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/litanies/index.cfm

Divine Mercy Chaplet: The Sunday after Easter (the "octave" of Easter) is designated as Divine Mercy Sunday. You can pray this chaplet anytime, though!
 

Watch with family

Online reflections

Many publishers have made their resources available for a limited time. In addition to Formed, which has numerous books and talks, you may find one or more of the following useful for personal or family discussions.

Give Us This Day: Offers prayers for each morning and evening as well as a reflection for the day and background information on a saint each day (use the drop down menu that defaults to "morning")
The Word Among Us: Offers a reflection on the daily Mass readings.
Salesian Perspectives: Reflections and discussion questions on the Sunday readings (scroll down to get to the date you're looking for)

Still haven't found what you want? Check out USCCB's list of resources.