Religious Education

Confirmation

All parishioners are invited to join us on Tuesday, May 21st at 7pm when Bishop Harris will confirm students in our Religious Education program. Please pray for our students as they continue to prepare for their big day.

Catholicism – Episode X

Thursday, March 21st, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“WORLD WITHOUT END: THE LAST THINGS”

Explore the Church’s conviction that life here and now is preparation for an extraordinary world that is yet to come – a supernatural destiny. Father Barron presents the Catholic vision of death, judgment, heaven, hell and purgatory as he journeys to Florence, Ireland and Rome.

The vision of the Church sees beyond this world and invites us to consider a world without end. Father Barron shows how this vision is supported by the mystery and truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.

Catholicism – Episode IX

Thursday, March 14th, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“THE FIRE OF HIS LOVE: PRAYER AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT”

In this lesson, Father Barron explores Catholic spirituality, which is centered on prayer. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church states: “Prayer is the lifting up of the mind and the heart to God.”

On pilgrimage to the places where the great saints and spiritual masters lived, Father Barron explores the different types of prayer: contemplation; adoration; petition; and intercession. In telling the stories of Catholics like Thomas Merton, St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, Fr. Barron demonstrates how the human person can be transformed through prayer that manifests a deep, spiritual commitment centered in Christ.

Catholicism – Episode VIII

Thursday, March 7th, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“A VAST COMPANY OF WITNESSES: THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS”

The story of the Church is told in the examples of those men and women who dedicated their lives to knowing and serving Jesus Christ. The Catholic Faith is made visible in real human lives.

Father Barron gives consideration to some of the Church’s greatest heroes, and demonstrates how their extraordinary examples display both the passion and creative potential of the Catholic Church. Highlighting Katharine Drexel, Therese of Lisieux, Edith Stein, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Father Barron tells the story of the Church as a vast company of witness who are called by Christ to be a Communion of Saints.

Catholicism – Episode VII

Thursday, February 28th, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“WORD MADE FLESH, TRUE BREAD OF HEAVEN: THE MYSTERY OF THE LITURGY AND THE EUCHARIST”

Father Barron explores the ancient practices of the Church’s worship that endure to this very day, and the notion that “all value is summed up in the liturgy, the supreme act by which we commune with God.”

Considered by the Catholic Faith to be “the source and summit” of its identity and mission, the Eucharist is the central practice of the Church’s culture. Father Barron describes all the parts of the Mass, and shows how the Sacred Liturgy embodies the whole of the Faith in diverse places as Jerusalem, Rome, Chicago, Orvieto, Mexico City.

Catholicism – Episode VI

Thursday, February 21st, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“A BODY BOTH SUFFERING AND GLORIOUS: THE MYSTICAL UNION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH”

Clearly answering the question, “What is the Church?” Father Barron presents the reality of the Church as “one, holy, catholic and apostolic.” The Body of Christ can be seen on earth from the Church’s center in Rome to the cities of New York, Sao Paolo, Manila, Namugongo and Uganda, while still escaping total understanding as the mystical union between Christ and his Church.

Father Barron also explores the Catholic conviction that the life and presence of Christ continues to embrace humanity in all its joys and sorrows through the presence of the Church.

Catholicism – Episode III

Thursday, January 31st, 7pm in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center

“THAT THAN WHICH NOTHING GREATER CAN BE THOUGHT – THE INEFFABLE MYSTERY OF GOD”

Father Barron considers St. Anselm’s description of God as “that than which nothing greater can be thought,” and goes on to explain St. Thomas Aquinas’ arguments which support the claim that God truly exists. He also speaks from the Catholic tradition about the nature of God and the challenging question of evil and the existence of God.

To provide a vision of the ineffable majesty and mystery of God, Father Barron invites us to the heights of the Sinai desert and makes his way to mysterious Istanbul, walks the glittering streets of Paris and then captivates the viewer with the glories of the Sistine Chapel in Rome.

Religious Education

Our Religious Education coordinators would like to start a program after Christmas for 4 & 5 Year olds. They are also looking for volunteers to help with this new program. Contact Jean Donaldson (jeandonaldson42@gmail.com) for more information or drop by the hall before Sunday morning Mass.

The Religious Education program continues to accept donations of CDs and DVDs for their education library.

Adult Religious Education

Don’t forget, our 7-week Adult Religious Education program, “Eucharist” continues every Thursday, 7pm, in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center. It is not necessary to have attended any of the previous weeks in order to participate.

Adult Religious Education – The Eucharist

Even though the Eucharist is foundational to our faith life as Catholics, very few Catholics understand or appreciate the deep significance of what we celebrate during Mass, which profoundly impacts our daily life. Therefore, everyone is invited to attend a 7-week program on the “Eucharist” every Thursday, 7pm, until December 13th, in the Saint Joachim’s Parish Center. Each session (7pm – 8:30pm) has a 1-hour video presentation followed by a question & answer period. It is not necessary to have attended any of the previous weeks in order to participate.

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