Education &
Formation 2004
 Summer 2004
Education
Offerings
Events
Calendar
...
Sunday Mass Schedule
Saturday - 5:00 pm
Sunday - 9:30 &1100am
6:00 & 7:30 pm
246 Ionia, NW
Grand Rapids, Michigan
616-459-7267
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Course
Descriptions
 Education
and Formation Offerings—Summer
2004
Beginning
Experience Weekend
Grief
Liturgy
Inquiry/Update
Class
Interested
in Becoming Catholic?—RCIA
Landings
Little
Rock Scripture Series
Marriage
Preparation
New
Life Group
Project
Rachel
The
Living Room
Education
and Formation Offerings
This Spring and Summer,
the Catholic Information Center will offer a variety of programs for adult
religious formation and spiritual growth. All interested persons (from any
religious background) are welcome to participate in these courses. There
is no registration fee, but the CIC accepts donations (typically $5 per
course) from those who are able to contribute. For registration
information, please call the Center office at 459-7267.
The Resurrection
Wednesdays, May 5, 12 and 19, 7:00pm – 9:00pm - What really happened on
Easter Sunday morning? Who exactly saw the Risen Lord and why was it so
difficult for Jesus’ disciples to believe or explain what they saw? What
is the place of the Resurrection in the 21st century? What do
we believe about our own resurrection from the dead? Explore these
questions with Fr. Mark-David Janus, C.S.P., Ph.D.
Inquiry/Update Class Wednesdays,
May 5 – July 7, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Presented by Fr. John Kenny, CSP, this
ten week program is designed to teach non-Catholics about the Catholic
faith and way of life. It also serves as a good introduction for Catholics
who wish to update or renew their understanding of Catholic teaching.
Specific topics are taught and questions are encouraged.
The Gift of Ecumenism
Monday, May 17, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Ecumenal and Inter-Religious dialogue is more than tolerance; it is
good for our souls. In this presentation, Paulist priest and ecumenist,
Fr. Tom Ryan, CSP will share the unique spiritual gifts that he has gained
from different religious traditions and help us to discover how we might
also benefit from the wisdom of other faith traditions.
Fiction and Faith Mondays,
June 14, July 12 and August 9, 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Fiction writers often address issues of spirituality, faith and
religion in their stories. The Fiction and Faith series will
provide an opportunity for readers to gather together and explore some of
these themes. Each session will include a presentation and discussion,
facilitated by Mary Vaccaro.
June 14 The DaVinci Code by Dan Brown
July 12 The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
August 9 The Chosen by Chaim Potok
Copies of each book will be available for sale at the CIC or you may
purchase them elsewhere.
The Bible for Those Who Aren’t
Dummies, but Beginners Weds, May 26, June 2, 9 and 16, 7:00pm
– 9:00pm - This course presented by CIC member, Elyse Underhill,
covers everything you ever wanted to know about the Bible, but were afraid
to ask: how to choose a bible, translations, Catholic interpretation of
the Scriptures, how to pray with the Bible, etc. The format includes
individual home study, small group discussion, video presentations and
prayer. Participants are asked to pay a book
fee of $10.
"Earth Prayers" Walk of
Exploration and Reflection Thursday, June 17, 7:00pm –
8:30pm at Blanford Nature Center (rain date, Thursday June 24) - What does
our faith have to do with the great outdoors? We will explore this
question through various writers who have delved deeply into a
spirituality that involves caring for the earth. The CIC is offering an
outdoor walk reflecting on the poems, meditations, and invocations from
the book "Earth Prayers" which draws from writers of Catholic
and other traditions. The walk, led by naturalist and musician, Marcia
Good, and Grand Rapids Poet Laureate, Linda Nemec Foster, (both CIC
members) will include readings, music, natural interpretation, and an
opportunity for silent individual meditation in a beautiful wooded
setting. Registration is limited. More information and sign up sheets are
available at the front desk.
Voices of the
Early Church Thurs, June 17, 24, July 1 and 8, 7:00pm
– 9:00pm - A look at four of the leading thinkers and personalities of
the early centuries who helped lay the foundation for the Church’s
theology and its relationship to civil society. Presented by Fr. John
Kenny, CSP
(185-254) a Greek from Alexandria in Egypt, called the
first liberal Catholic theologian, he was a pioneer in the effort to
reinterpret the Christian message in terms of the Greek philosophical
thought of Roman society and thus encourage its conversion.
St. Jerome (331-420) A renowned controversialist and Scripture
scholar, he tackled issues like celibacy vs. marriage, the brothers of
Jesus and the perpetual virginity of Mary. His translation of the Bible
into Latin (the Vulgate) was the Catholic Church’s official Bible until
well into the 20th century.
St. John Chrysostom (349-407) A Syrian who for his eloquent
preaching was invited to be the Patriarch of Constantinople. There he
opposed the decadence of the imperial court and defended the freedom of
the Church. For these he was sent to die in exile.
St. Augustine (354-430) A North African bishop, author of the
classics Confessions and City of God; his examination of the
human condition, original sin, divine initiative and human freedom has
profoundly influenced Catholic and Protestant thinking to the present day.
Gardening and Grace
Tuesdays, July 6, 13, 20, 27, 7:00pm – 9:00pm - Every moment of
our lives, God is showering us with grace. Sadly, it seems we seldom
notice this gift of great love. This course is designed to help us
recognize and be open to God’s grace as it is expressed in nature, human
experience, and the sacraments. Each week, participants will read and
discuss sections of The Secret Garden, a novel by Francis Hodgson
Burnett (75-100 pages per week). Naturalist, Marcia Good and Pastoral
Associate, Mary Vaccaro will offer insights on our Creator’s amazing and
grace filled design of the plant world and the theology of grace in
Scripture and Tradition. Participants are asked to purchase copies of The
Secret Garden. (Copies will be available for sale at the CIC or you
may purchase them elsewhere.)
"Poetry of the
Landscape" Walk of Healing and Celebration Thursday,
Sept 2, 7:00pm – 8:30pm at Blanford Nature Center (rain date,
Thursday, September 9) -
"But ask now the beasts and they shall teach thee, and the fowls
of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth and it shall
teach thee: And the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee." Job
12:7-8
Poets from the Bible, including the Psalmists, as well as the saints
and contemporary writers have much to say about how the earth and faith
are connected. One way in which we are called to care for the earth is to
celebrate God’s creation. Please join Linda Nemec Foster and Marcia Good
for a walk that will draw upon all the emotions as we explore the poems of
touching, healing, and celebrating the earth through writers who see God
in all creation. Registration is limited. More information and sign-up
sheets are available at the front desk.
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Beginning
Experience Weekend
The Beginning Experience weekend is designed to help the
widowed, divorced,
and separated. It offers a wonderful opportunity to work through the
grief
process associated with a loss and provides an excellent opportunity to
begin and/or continue the healing process. A trained peer ministry team
leads participants through the weekend. For more information or to
receive
a brochure, please call 616-459-7267.
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Grief
Liturgy
A very sensitive and special liturgy to honor the varied
losses that
people have experienced and continue to grieve, which may include
parent
loss, miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion, abuse, the loss of a spouse, a
child, a relationship, a job, the death of a loved one to AIDS, or by
accident—whomever
and whatever you have lost and grieve.
This ecumenical liturgy seeks awareness for the necessity to
grieve,
to acknowledge losses, to share grief in safety and with dignity. We
gather
in the communal ritual to offer and to find continued support.
Small group sessions will be available following the service
for those
who wish to share their grief with safety and dignity. For information,
call the Center office, 616-459-7267.
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Inquiry/Update
Class
This twelve week program is designed to teach non-Catholics
about the
Catholic faith and way of life. It also serves as a good introduction
for
Catholics who wish to update or renew their understanding of Catholic
Teaching.
Specific topics are taught each week and participants are encouraged to
present questions. This program is normally offered three times per
year.
New sessions begin throughout the year. Call 616-459-7267 for
more details.
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Interested
in Becoming Catholic?—RCIA
The Rite for Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will be
starting
again this Fall at the Center. If you have taken or are taking an
Inquiry
class and are interested in joining the RCIA, please call Fr.
John
Kenny, CSP at 616-459-7267.
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Landings
Landings is a ten week program for returning Catholics led by
trained
volunteers and conducted in small groups of faith. Landings groups meet
for two hours once a week, during which time they share prayer, faith
journeys,
and discussion of Catholic faith issues. Landings groups provide a safe
place for returning Catholics to share their faith and concerns with
other
practicing Catholics, as they integrate back into serious lives of
faith
within the Church. Volunteers are sought who are committed to their
Catholic
faith and desire to welcome back other Catholics.
Contact: Fr. Chuck Cunniff, CSP at 616-459-7267.
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Little
Rock Scripture Series
A community based program that leads people to a greater
understanding
of the Bible, an awareness of God's living presence in Sacred
Scripture,
and an appreciation of how the Bible can be applied to daily life.
Through
personal study, small-group discussion, lecture and prayer, the program
provides a solid balance of scholarship, reflection and application.
Groups
meet weekly; several meeting times are offered to fit a variety of
schedules.
Contact: The Center, 616-459-7267
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Marriage
Preparation
Ecumenical Marriage Class:
This is a marriage preparation program for couples entering an
ecumenical
marriage, where one person is Catholic and the other person is actively
practicing a different Christian tradition. This is a day-long program
held at the Catholic Information Center.
Love Following Upon Love:
This is a pre-marriage program which covers a variety of topics
including
communication, common conflicts, praying as a couple and more. It is a
broad-based preparation for any couple who desires to be married in the
Catholic Church and offers personalized attention by use of a profile
packet,
homework and one-on-one work with the couple.
Contact: Center office for more information, 616-459-7267.
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New
Life Group
New Life is a support group which ministers primarily to separated,
divorced, widowed and never married Catholics. They have monthly
meetings with a speaker or a educational video, special retreats,
stations
of the cross, annual outdoor mass and potluck, a special Mass with
Bishop
Rose, and several other activities published in a monthly newsletter.
The New Life Divorce Support Group hosts ten-week sessions.
Men and
women who are divorced or going through a divorce will help you learn
ways
to cope with the stress and strains.
For more information about New Life and/or to register for
Support Groups,
call the Center at 616-459-7267.
New Life Mission
Statement
To support, enrich and give one another hope
consistent
with our Christian values; to provide social, spiritual and educational
activities to meet our needs; to inform, educate, persuade and
create
empathy with the church for the problems we face. New Life
encompasses
all ages, genders and religious backgrounds.
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Project
Rachel
Project Rachel is a ministry of outreach and reconciliation to those
who suffer from the trauma of an abortion. It is not just for the woman
who had the abortion. Others who can suffer are family members, friends
and the father of the child. It is an opportunity for counseling (group
or individual), sacramental reconciliation or just talking with someone
about how you feel. Contact Fr. Chuck for more information
(616-459-7267)
or call 1-800-800-8284. All conversations are confidential. Web site http://www.iserv.net/~projrach/
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The
Living Room
A youth group for high schoolers meets in the third floor
living room
to discuss issues and matters of faith. The schedule varies to check
the Youth
Ministry page for the latest meeting dates and times.
Questions?
Call Mary Vaccaro at 616-459-7267.
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