Forming Intentional Disciples

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BOOK EXCERPT:

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples. These are times of immense challenge and immense opportunity for the Catholic Church. Consider these statistics for the United States. Only 30 percent of Americans who were raised Catholic are still practicing. Fully 10 percent of all adults in America are ex-Catholics. The number of marriages celebrated in the Church decreased dramatically, by nearly 60 percent, between 1972 and 2010. Only 60 percent of Catholics believe in a personal God. If the Church is to reverse these trends, the evangelizers must first be evangelized-in other words, Catholics-in-the-pew must make a conscious choice to know and follow Jesus before they can draw others to him. This work of discipleship lies at the heart of Forming Intentional Disciples, a book designed to help Church leaders, parish staff and all Catholics transform parish life from within. Drawing upon her fifteen years of experience with the Catherine of Siena Institute, Sherry Weddell leads readers through steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world. Learn about the five thresholds of postmodern conversion, how to open a conversation about faith and belief, how to ask thought-provoking questions and establish an atmosphere of trust, when to tell the Great Story of Jesus, how to help someone respond to God's call to intentional discipleship, and much more. And be prepared for conversion because when life at the parish level changes, the life of the whole Church will change.

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Sherry A. Weddell
Publisher : Our Sunday Visitor
Release : 2015-11-30
File : 179 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781612789439


Preaching For Discipleship

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The homily is a primary way that pastors and deacons can communicate how the whole parish community forms the catechumens. Many parishioners are not aware of their role in the Christian initiation process. In Preaching Discipleship: Preparing Homilies for Christian Initiation, Michael E. Connors, CSC, provides homilists and catechists with the tools to evangelize not only the catechumens present, but also to capture the imagination of the parish community so that they too realize their own role in the Christian initiation process. This resource will help the homilist: Build a homily Foster a deeper appreciation of the call to discipleship on the part of the assembly Instruct the assembly on their role in the Rite of Christian Initiation so that right from the outset the catechumens may feel that they belong to the people of God Bring the baptized and catechumens into a deeper personal relationship with the Lord Provide specific insights during the period of Mystagogy

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Genre : Religion
Author : Michael E. Connors
Publisher : Liturgy Training Publications
Release : 2021-01-25
File : 255 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781618332707


Following God S Pedagogy

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BOOK EXCERPT:

In the 2020 Directory for Catechesis, the Church calls for a renewal of catechesis that focuses on bringing people to a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. Solid formation is not only about teaching doctrine, but also, and more importantly, about forming disciples who have encountered and know Christ. In Following God’s Pedagogy, Sister Mary Michael Fox, OP, brings decades of experience in catechesis to offer a unique and proven model for children’s catechesis. She draws upon her deep catechetical experience and thorough research into the nature of the child, divine revelation, and catechetical methodology. She offers timely insight into how the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) offers an approach to children’s catechesis that forms the mind and heart of the child, leading them into a deeper relationship with Christ and a life of discipleship. Bishops, diocesan catechetical directors, and all catechists will discover a way of faith formation of children that is sure to renew and strengthen catechesis for years to come.

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Genre : Religion
Author : Sister Mary Michael Fox, OP
Publisher : Liturgy Training Publications
Release : 2023-02-01
File : 242 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781616717209


Preaching As Spiritual Leadership

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BOOK EXCERPT:

In this unique resource, Fr. Michael E. Connors, CSC, gathers and expertly guides the collective wisdom of experienced preachers and homilists to provide a unique resource that examines the preacher’s unique role as shepherd and a spiritual leader. The chapters will investigate these dual roles according to the roots of the Catholic spiritual tradition and provide practical advice for priests, deacons, seminarians in homiletics classes or preaching classes, retreat leaders, RCIA catechists—all who preach. Preaching as Spiritual Leadership provides solutions to the following questions: How is preaching embedded in the Church’s pastoral mission? What does it mean to be a shepherd and spiritual leader for others? How can a preacher flourish in the role of spiritual leader? How can we lead others into committed discipleship through preaching? To be a shepherd and spiritual leader, the preacher must be in some sense a mystic, who is filled with the Lord’s gracious presence, a presence to be shared with others. Homilists are a sacramental people, they must also be a mystagogues: ministers who can both lead the community’s ritual celebrations, and help the People of God to plunge into the liturgy with lively faith, to touch the holy realities behind them.

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Michael E. Connors, CSC
Publisher : Liturgy Training Publications
Release : 2021-05-15
File : 271 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781616716356


Saints Who Transformed Their World

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BOOK EXCERPT:

Our history is filled with the stories of ordinary men and women who were raised up by God for the people and needs of their times—people through whom God did extraordinary things as they followed Jesus in the midst of his Church. In saints Who Transformed Their World, Sherry Weddell presents stories of laypeople who said "yes" to God and shared the spiritual gifts given to them by God. Be inspired by the stories of lay saints: women and men whom God has powerfully used as channels of his beauty, mercy, wisdom, healing, and provision. In these short stories, you will discover people you can relate to. Their inspirational ways of living their faith can help you to recognize your spiritual gifts and help you live every day as an intentional disciple. When each one of us faithfully answers God’s unique call in our lives, the fruit that you and I bear will be the answer to someone else’s prayer. — Sherry Weddell

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Sherry Weddell
Publisher : The Word Among Us Press
Release : 2019-10-10
File : 68 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781593253035


Formation Of The Heart

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BOOK EXCERPT:

Formation in the faith for many Catholics seems to come to a halt in the teenage years after the Sacrament of Confirmation. With the Church facing a “change of era” in a post-Covid world, now is the time for Catholics of all ages to rediscover how to grow in faith, drawing on the rich resources and traditions of the Church. Formation of the Heart is an ideal resource for individuals who are seeking to grow in the faith using the practical resources of the Christian tradition and offers guidance for groups in schools or parishes who are engaged in formation programs.

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Genre : Religion
Author : Raymond Friel
Publisher : Liturgical Press
Release : 2024-01-15
File : 256 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9798400800610


Forming Intentional Disciples Study Guide To The Revised And Expanded Edition

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BOOK EXCERPT:

How can we transmit a living, personal Catholic faith to future generations? By coming to know Jesus Christ, and following him as his disciples. As we emerge from a pandemic into a post-Christian world, these are times of immense challenge and enormous opportunity for the Catholic Church in the United States. Ten years after it was first published, Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell is still helping scores of Church leaders, parish staff, and all Catholics transform parish life from within. Her book leads you through the steps that will help Catholics enter more deeply into a relationship with God and the river of apostolic creativity, charisms, and vocation that flow from that relationship for the sake of the Church and the world. This companion study guide will help you transform your parish or small faith community. Created by people who have experienced the transformative impact of discipleship firsthand, this study guide to the revised and expanded edition of Forming Intentional Disciples provides tools and resources to initiate conversations, share the story of faith, and begin walking the path of discipleship together.

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Ximena DeBroeck
Publisher : Our Sunday Visitor
Release : 2023-02-13
File : 30 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781639660568


Developing Disciples Of Christ

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BOOK EXCERPT:

St. Pope John Paul II reminds us in Catechesi Tradendae that catechesis is a moment—“a very remarkable one—in the whole process of evangelization.” In other words, catechesis is an essential part of evangelization, not something separate from it. Therefore, it is critically important that catechetical leaders recognize how to effectively catechize in a way that advances the Church’s primary mission to evangelize. To that end, this third volume of The Effective Catechetical Leader will explore a Catholic understanding of evangelization grounded in Scripture and Tradition, how the New Evangelization supports and enhances today’s catechesis, the inseparable nature of content and methodology in catechesis, the absolute importance of adult catechesis, and so much more. The Effective Catechetical Leader series, developed in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and written by some of the top catechetical leaders in the country, is the only series to encompass all the various aspects of catechetical leadership. This series provides the practical skills, strategies, and approaches that ensure successful parish faith formation in an evangelizing manner, which leads directly to a vibrant Church. From best practices to new approaches for proclaiming God’s word in a rapidly changing world, this groundbreaking series will empower catechetical leaders to excel at everything from administrative duties to effectively catechizing people of all ages within our diverse Church.

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Julianne Stanz
Publisher : Loyola Press
Release : 2017-10-01
File : 110 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9780829445299


Becoming A Parish Of Intentional Disciples

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BOOK EXCERPT:

"It is not the same thing to have known Jesus as not to have known him, not the same thing to walk with him as to walk blindly, not the same thing to hear his word as not to know it.... We know that with Jesus life becomes richer."-Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel In her first book, Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus, Sherry Weddell, cofounder of the Catherine of Siena Institute, captured the attention of Catholics across the globe as she uncovered the life-changing power that accompanies the conscious decision to follow Jesus as his disciple. Now, in the groundbreaking Becoming a Parish of Intentional Disciples, she has gathered together experienced leaders and collaborators whose exceptional field-tested wisdom and enthusiasm for transforming Catholic parishes into centers of discipleship and apostolic outreach is both inspiring and practical. The authors consider: The role of intercessory prayer in parish transformation How "fireside chats" can help a pastor connect with his parishioners and call them to personal discipleship and mission The co-responsibility of lay people andpastors in the work of making disciples The revolutionary impact of a discipleship approach to youth ministry How one parish successfully fostered a culture of intentional discipleship, and much more As Sherry asks in her own chapter, "Are we willing to answer the call and pay the price necessary to become a new generation of saints through which God can do extraordinary things in our time?"

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Sherry A. Weddell, Editor
Publisher : Our Sunday Visitor
Release : 2015-01-15
File : 106 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781612783796


One Disciple At A Time

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BOOK EXCERPT:

What if the Church radically shifted the focus of her mission to making disciples one person at a time? Everett Fritz outlines a framework for one-to-one outreach that helps us develop as mentors in faith, furthering the Kingdom of God as Jesus commanded when he told us to go and make disciples. When we learn how to focus on a ministry of one, we will multiply our efforts to create a movement that meets the spiritual needs of many. Whether you’re someone who’s actively involved in professional or volunteer ministry or an everyday Catholic who wants to share your faith, One Disciple at a Time reveals how you can live out your calling to spread the Gospel by focusing on forming disciples one at a time. Drawing on insights gleaned from his personal spiritual journey and work in Catholic parish ministry, Fritz—founder and executive director of Andrew Ministries—shares practical steps for transforming our approach to living our faith and sharing it with others. In this book, you will learn: There is great power in a personal invitation because it becomes the seed to develop a relationship. If you want to make a lifelong disciple of Jesus Christ, you have to be committed to accompany them throughout their lifetime. Lessons from Jesus’s relationship with Simon Peter can transform the way we mentor in faith. Taking someone from disciple to sainthood requires assisting that person with the crosses that they bear, as well as witnessing to the reality of the cross in your own life. Formation needs to include identifying the person's God-given gifts and working with them to use those gifts to build up the Church.

Product Details :

Genre : Religion
Author : Everett Fritz
Publisher : Ave Maria Press
Release : 2022-05-06
File : 128 Pages
ISBN-13 : 9781646801442