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Stay informed!
If you would like to receive periodic emails about upcoming Adult Faith Formation programs, click here!
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Staff Contact
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Laura Castnerlauracastnerstmichaelgl.orgDirector of Adult Faith Formation/RCIA, Evangelization, and Social Ministry
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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.
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Lent 2023
Breaking Open the Celebration of the Eucharist
Wednesdays, March 1 through March 29 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Fellowship Hall
Thursdays, March 2 through March 30 from 10:00 – 11:30 AM in the Fellowship Hall
If you would like more information, contact Laura Castner.
Have you noticed that the priest or deacon pours a little bit of water into the wine before the consecration? If so, do you know why? Would you like to take some time to reflect on the prayers that we use in our celebration? There's so much that happens in Mass that's easy to miss, or that we don't know the background for why we're doing it. During this five-week Lenten series, we'll watch segments of our own St. Michael Mass videos, paying close attention to all that is happening and delving into all the prayers, including the ones the priest/deacon say that we don't typically hear. Gaining an understanding of the richness of our celebration can help deepen our participation. Everyone’s welcome, whether you’ve been participating in the Mass for many decades, a few years, or are newly discovering the riches of the Mass, and whether you’re young or old or somewhere in the middle. We all have something to learn and/or share that will enrich our celebration. Children, probably 3rd or 4th grade and up, are welcome to participate, too - after all, they're sitting in the pews with us! We are planning to provide activities for younger children, so bring them along, too! (Please let me know if you plan to bring young children so we can be prepared with age-appropriate activities.)
As part of the three-year Eucharistic Revival, Fr. Juan Pablo Durán, LC offers five suggestions on how to enter into the celebration of the Mass more profoundly, or more reverently. He notes that if we want, as Catholics, to transform the world through the power of the Eucharist, then we need to first transform ourselves. He describes his suggestions using the acronym PRAYS. You can download the audio of the full talk by clicking on the left under Documents: Fr. Juan Pablo Duran - Celebrating the Mass Reverently.
Suggestions to Celebrate the Mass More Reverently
Alternatively, you can find the full video at https://metanoiacatholic.kartra.com/portal/ERC22login/subcategory/236. You'll need to create a free account. Once you log in, if it doesn't take you directly to the talk, look under "Recorded Presentations" then "Enculturated Reverence." Then you'll see Fr. Juan Pablo Duran's talk at the top of the list: "Reverence at Mass."
His five suggestions are to:
Pause and reflect on what the Mass is about: Quoting Dr. Timothy O’Malley, Fr. Durán notes, “Through the Mass we encounter the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus in this time and space. We are not just reading a script, not filling an obligation for Sunday Mass…the Lord of History is coming to dwell among us in our communion with one another as members of the Church.” We are all celebrating the Mass together – this is an action of every member of the Church. Although the priest is presiding, this is an action that we all celebrate together. Pausing and remembering that we are there not as spectators, but as active participants in the liturgy, and that our Lord is right there with us, can help us celebrate the Mass more reverently.
Remember to whom we are speaking: The prayers of the priest and the congregation are directed to many, including Our Heavenly Father, Jesus, all the faithful, the angels and saints, all our brothers and sisters, and Mary. So, at different times of the Mass, we’re not just talking to God, but to all these heavenly bodies and to each other. All the words that we say during Mass are a prayer. Remembering to whom we are speaking, and that we are praying and using sacred language, helps us to celebrate more reverently.
Allow time for silence: We experience several opportunities for silence during the celebration and several types of silence. For example, we have (a) the silence of listening for the readings and prayers, (b) total silence, and the (c) silence of contemplation, such as when the Eucharist being raised. The silence is important because some things we are called to do during the Mass are only possible in silence. We call to mind our sins; we apply the teaching of the homily to our lives; we pause after receiving the Eucharist in a moment of Thanksgiving. The silence is essential for living mass with reverence because it is in the silence that we tap into the inner conversation between the Lord and ourselves.
Your body matters: During Mass, Christ gives His body to us. Our response involves our body: we make the sign of the cross, marking ourselves as Christians while also receiving a blessing; we genuflect; we sit to receive the teaching from the readings; we kneel as a sign of total submission; we process out of pews to receive the Eucharist; we may kiss or touch the crucifix on Good Friday. Maintaining a conscious awareness of how we pray with our body can lead us into a more profound celebration.
Sign up for adoration: Pope Benedict said that “time spent before the Eucharist is never wasted.” Adoration is the extension of Mass throughout the week. When we go to adoration, we allow the “echo” of the Mass to transform our week and to make all our efforts be more fruitful. The saints give us the example of consecrating their time to God. You can participate in Adoration at the following parishes and times:St. Michael Parish: First Fridays after the 9:00am Mass; Fourth Tuesdays after the 7:00pm Mass
St. Gerard Parish: First Wednesdays 4:00pm to 6:00pm with Praise and Worship from 5:00 - 6:00 pm
St. Mary Cathedral: Every Friday after the 12:05pm Mass until 5:45pm
Immaculate Heart of Mary Adoration Chapel: 24-hour adoration; stop at their parish office to learn how to access the chapel -
Suggestions from the 2023 Stewardship of Time
Do you like a suggestion from the 2023 Stewardship of Time flyer but need more information? Find more here or contact Laura Castner.
Saints: Get to know a new saint each day through a Saint of the Day email or check the Vatican site. (There are other organizations that will also send you information.) If you want to know more about a particular saint, do an online search, which could start here. Is there a saint with your name? What saints have your birthday as their feast day?
Lectio Divina: This is Latin for “divine reading,” and is one method of prayer and reflection on Scripture that dates back to the early church fathers. It involves four steps: (1) listening to God's word by reading a short passage and listening for a word or phrase that speaks to you; (2) reflecting and pondering the word or phrase - what does it mean or what memories/feelings does it evoke? (3) praying or speaking with God about the word or phrase; (4) resting in God's presence. Learn more here.
Centering Prayer: This is a type of silent prayer and meditation, meant to help us less talking and more listening in prayer. Learn more here.
Mass readings: The readings for the day can be found here, along with short video reflections for each day.
Sunday reflections: Several organizations routinely provide free reflections on the Sunday readings. Along with the videos from St. Michael Masses, you might want to check one of these out: Word on Fire (Bishop Barron) or U.S. Bishops Conference.
Rosary: Find directions here or follow along with an online one.
Divine Mercy Chaplet: Find directions here or follow along with an online one.
Parish Mission Videos:
Night 1 - Sunday, September 25, 2022
Night 2 - Monday, September 26, 2022
Night 3 - Tuesday, September 27, 2022