Adults

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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.

As we continue with the Bishop's Year of the Bible, we are focusing some activities that help us dig into Scripture. Plus we've got an inspiriting book to read and discuss. Will you be able to participate in one of these?

Lectio Divina

We will gather online the second Thursday of each month to join in this centuries-old way of reflecting on Scripture. We will reflect on a portion of that day's chapter from the Bishop. No experience with lectio divina is needed, as you will be guided through the process each week. And join in as often as you can, even if it's just one or two of the months. Learn more about this practice here. 

7:00 - 8:00 pm
Thursdays January 14, February 11, March 11, April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14, November 11
Meeting ID: meet.google.com/xhc-swfg-igi
Phone Number: 1 832-598-7904‬   PIN: ‪232 118 130#‬
 

Bible Study Series 

We are hosting 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. We will watch the videos on our own, then gather together on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:00 pm for small group discussions using Zoom. Please register for the series so that we can have our small groups ready by the first night. (We will remain open to the possibility that it will be safe to gather in person to both watch the videos and meet in small groups at some point before the end of the series, but to start we will gather online.)

You can register here or email Laura Castner directly.
Learn more about this series here.   

7:00-8:00 pm
Wednesdays from January 20 - March 31, 2021 (we will not meet Ash Wednesday, February 17)

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.) You can order the materials directly or through the parish. Once you register, Laura will be in touch to discuss your preference for obtaining materials and will provide the link for the online discussion.
 

Book Discussion: The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row  by Anthony Ray Hinton

In this inspirational memoir, Hinton describes how he lived, unjustly, for 30 years on death row before being exonerated. We will gather online for a 6-week discussion on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 -7:00 pm (so you can still join in for Mass at 7:00!).  We will have a few copies of the book available to purchase from the office or you can purchase the book on your own. We'll discuss a few chapters of the book each week. You can use the following links to join online or by phone:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82312933077?pwd=ZHg2cnVWY1BTZkpBNy9lMDRZNEE4dz09
Meeting ID: 823 1293 3077    Passcode: c8z6RS
Phone: 301-715-8592   Meeting ID: 823 1293 3077   Passcode: 779134

PLUS Register for the Los Angeles Religious Education Conference, which will be held online. This is a fabulous opportunity to hear from many well-known Catholic speakers without needing to travel to California! The registration fee is $35, which is an amazing bargain considering the number of workshops and the caliber of the presenters. If there is interest, we can plan to watch a few specific talks and gather online to discuss them. Please let me know if you are planning to participate and would be interested in discussion some of the presentations. 

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.

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.

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/

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.