Tears, Hugs, Thanks, and See You Before the Fall Comes Along

As the St. Gabriel Tuesday night “Quilter’s Room” Why Catholic group wrapped up our final session on Sacraments, we reflected on the past six weeks.  The consensus was that we were not ready to end our meetings.  We felt saddened that we would not come together again in this format until the Fall session began!

Our group came together by choosing Tuesday evenings as a convenient time for each of us to meet on our sign-up sheets.  We started as a group of 13 people, some already acquainted with one another (4 members related to on another; a married couple, a mother and daughter, two friends) others just meeting each other for the first time.  At our very first meeting we all became bonded through conversation and discovering we had similar tender stories to share.  That first session ended with a few tears, lots of hugs and gratitude that the Holy Spirit brought us to this meeting with one another.

That first night allowed us to be more relaxed and open to sharing for the next five gatherings.  As we reflected on the program and the outcome of our sessions, we all proclaimed to return in the Fall for the Roman Missal faith sharing meetings and we all want to meet at the same place, same time and with the same group!  Before getting into our cars to drive home for the evening some of us even agreed to meet before Fall for lunch or dinner and to have a Summer get together with the entire group!

Lisa

Lisa Leister

Personnel Services Coordinator

Archdiocese of Louisville

Pop Quiz -- A Look Back @ Season 1 of Why Catholic?

Have a little fun, and offer us your feedback about your Why Catholic? group.

(1) Join Facebook -- access it at:  http://www.facebook.com/

(2) In the Search box, type -- Louisville Why Catholic

(3) Look for the fun pop quiz dated April 26.                                

https://www.facebook.com/mike.patin1?ref=hpbday&pub=2386512837#!/pages/Louisville-Why-Catholic/174806722565612

Got pix of your parish's Why Catholic?  group?  --  E-mail to us now:

WhyCatholicLouisville@gmail.com

Beyond Season 1: Wednesday Night Group Will Meet Monthly

"Our discussions helped me to reflect on my faith journey and deepen   my understanding. I feel this has helped lead me onto the path to a closer
relationship with  God. I truly feel that I wouldn't change anything about
the group."

                         --  Why Catholic? Group -- Jeffersontown, Season 1

     What does your Why Catholic? bunch have to report?

The Why Catholic? group above has chosen to meet once a month until  Season 2 gets underway, during Fall 2011.  Want some good ideas about what to do, and how to do it? Contact the Faith-Fomration office by telephone (502) 448.8581 and/or by e-mail: OLFE@archlou.org

*        *       *        *

"Yes. It all went really well. I was able to 'refresh my memory' so-to-speak, of the reasons why I do the things I do as a member of the Catholic faith . . . . I feel I have a closer relationship with God and Jesus. I feel I have a better attitude toward life. And, I feel that I have met a group of individuals that I look forward to seeing over the entire course of the Why Catholic? process."

Now That You Have Survived Lent

Take some time to visit the timely blog of our friend, author and editor Michael Leach. He lists 10 reasons to keep the Catholic identity flames lit with adolescents and young adults.

http://whystaycatholic.loyolapress.com/2011/04/10-good-reasons-to-raise-your-kids-catholic/

Be sure to "like" our Why Catholic? page on Facebook today! --  Log on to free webpage: www.facebook.com -- then search for Louisville Why Catholic.

Evaluacion -- Phase One of Why Catholic in Spanish?

     
A number of Spanish-language participants were asked recently about their experience of Season 1 of Why Catholic?

(They mainly used the Family Faith Bulletins as the basis for their meetings.) They wrote:

       ¿Que salió bien?  What went well?

·     Yo pienso que como todos compartíamos nuestras ideas pues estuvo muy bien por la convivencia y por las pláticas.

            I think that we all shared our ideas very well during the social time and our talk.

·     La comunicación entre los que estaban en distintos grupos.

The communication that occurred during the different groups.

·     Compartir nuestra fe con otros parroquianos.

To share our faith with other parishioners.

·    Pues se aprende mas a informarse sobre la fe que se tiene en dios y también se siente bonito como ser algo nuevo sobre la vida eterna

Well, learning more information about faith that we have in God and also feelings about eternal life.

·     Bueno pues me parece muy bien porque nos ayuda a no perder la fe y a unirnos más con la comunidad y principalmente con nuestra familia y a entender el porqué a veces creemos estar lejos de dios pero eso nos hace reflexionar y sabemos que dios siempre está con nosotros.

Good. it seems very good to me because it helps us not to lose the faith and to unite us with the community, mainly with our family and to understand the reason at times we believe to be far from God; but after reflection, we know that God is always with us.

·     A mi me gusta porque nos hace convivir y compartir, preguntas y respuestas diferentes de lo que uno sabe. Se aprende a reflexionar y sacar conclusiones. Nos ayuda a aprender y conocer mas y nos ayuda hacer oración y a convivir con la familia.

For me, I like being together and sharing questions and answers different from what I know. I learned to reflect and to draw conclusions. It helps us to learn and to know more and helps us to pray and be together as a family.  

Good Morning! Before Mass, Please Turn Your Cell Phone -- ON!

Does your parish have a social media plan? What are some (new, innovative) ways to communicate with your partcipants before, during, and after seasons of Why Catholic?

Imagine if you heard this one Saturday evening or Sunday -- in the near future -- as you settled in for Mass.

"Please Turn Your Cell Phone ON."

http://www.osv.com/tabid/7621/itemid/7771/Imagining-digital-parish-life-10-years-from-now.aspx

Average Catholic Meets Holy Week

A thoughtful new blog asks the question Why Stay Catholic?

         

It is produced by Michael Leach, editor-at-large and publisher emeritus of Orbis Books. His new book is called Why Stay Catholic?: Unexpected Answers to a Life-Changing Question (published by Loyola Press).

This will be a great blog to keep up with, between seasons of Why Catholic? and beyond.    -- Here is a perfect sample, dated April 18, of Mike Leach's thoughtful, skilled, and uplifting reflections:

"Holy Week is not about guilt but about freedom from fear. Jesus demonstrated by his life, death, and resurrection that God does not look on us the way we look on ourselves. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it: “so that thus we might know God’s love” (those are the Catechism’s italics, not mine). This is the message of Holy Week."

Blog:  www.WhyStayCatholic.com  --  

Book:  http://www.loyolapress.com/why-stay-catholic.htm

Popular Bible, Revision Edition, Now Available

New American Bible,  Revised Edition (NABRE)


The first major update to the New American Bible (NAB) text in 20 years has been approved for publication. The NABRE accomplishes three major goals in Biblical scholarship: (1) a more accurate translation aided by modern archeological and historical discoveries; (2) a more consistent rendering of the Greek and Hebrew regarding the original text; and (3) changes in modern, English usage of particular words.

The NABRE includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament (including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the New Testament.

Finding Community, Finding Church

'Everything I learned in grade school, I am confirming as an adult. It really teaches you to pray all over again!'

Great article about Why Catholic? in the Archdiocese. Thanks to Marnie McAllister, assistant editor of The Record, our Archdiocesan newspaper.

Put Yourself in the Picture for Season 2

Why Catholic is for all adults.  -- What a Lent we have had together -- in over 105 parishes and other settings. Participants are multi-generational, and represent many cultures and ethnicities. Living witnesses to an amazing variety of 20th century and 21st century eras in the Catholic community.

People of all ages and backgrounds are learning things that they've never considered before! What has drawn them together is a living, shared Catholic identity.

Put yourself in the picture for Season 2. Especially if you've had to miss the current start of Why Catholic? The second season is scheduled to begin during the Fall of 2011. Watch for details . . .