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Where are you on your Journey of Faith?
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As a Catholic parish community, St. Bartholomew is committed to providing total and lifelong faith formation for all people. We take seriously the challenge of Vatican II to provide formation for our community so that we can all become “full, conscious and active participants” in carrying out the mission and ministry of Jesus.
Based on the bishops’ Pastoral Plan for Adult Faith Formation in the United States, Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us, adult faith formation in our parish community appropriates the three major goals that guide and direct efforts in adult faith formation:
1. To Invite and Enable Ongoing Conversion to Jesus in Holiness of Life.
2. To Promote and Support Active Membership in the Christian Community.
3. To Call and Prepare Adults to Act as Disciples in Mission to the World.To accomplish these goals we offer many and various spiritual and educational opportunities. We do this in a manner that is accessible to adults, always relating our common baptismal call to our life experience in both church and world. Christian faith formation provides adults with methods of exploring and reflecting on our faith, enabling them to forge their own path to God while helping them form their consciences according to the teachings and example of Jesus. Adult faith formation integrates actual life experience, diverse adult learning needs, the study of Scripture, and the teaching of the Church’s tradition, thus creating an environment that promotes intellectual, moral, and spiritual faith development.
All adult faith development aims at forming Christians to be followers of Christ immersed in the world to carry on the mission and ministry of Jesus. Whether you have been a faithful Catholic or have recently joined or returned to your faith, whether you attended Catholic schools or religious education/faith formation as a child, there is still so much to learn about Catholicism. We, at St. Bartholomew, invite you to take an active part in our faith formation opportunities and programs. Come and see. Come and be fed. Come, learn and reflect with us on how we can be more effective disciples of Christ in both church and world.
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Adult Sacramental Preparation
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Adult Confirmation
We look forward to journeying with you as you prepare for Confirmation. The sacraments of the Church presuppose faith. Knowledge informs faith and in turn, faith informs action. In order for us to approach the sacraments we need to understand what we are receiving, what the spiritual gains are, as well as the expectations. Our 10 week preparation provides a solid foundation to help us understand and ready us for the sacrament of Confirmation.
Sessions begin: February 2023
Donation: $110
For more information, please contact Kellie De Leo.
Adult Confirmation Registration Form
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Order of Christian Initiation: OCIA
The Catholic Church always welcomes new members into its community. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the present-day process by which adult men and women can explore the Catholic faith, and make a decision to become Catholic.
Through OCIA, individuals are introduced to the life of the Catholic Church through catechesis (teaching the faith), liturgy (worship), scripture (reading the Bible), prayer and community development. This is accomplished by attending sessions on Sunday and participating in Mass. Several volunteer and prayer experiences are scheduled on the weekends as well.
Session begins: August 14, 2022, at 11 am - 2pm, in the Faith Formation Office
Donation: $110If you are interested or would like more information, please contact,
Kellie De Leo. To register, please complete the following forms and return to the Faith Formation Office.
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In-Person Scripture Study
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” -2 Timothy 3:16
50+ Scripture Study
50+ Scripture Study to Begin New Study Series
A new study series from Threshold Bible Study featuring The Mass is underway. Author Stephen J. Binz says, “Worship of God in the Mass is the most distinctive activity of Christ’s Church, the summit toward which all its activity is directed and the font from which its life flows.
From the procession to the altar and the Sign of the Cross to the final blessing and sending forth, the eucharistic liturgy of the Church is a mosaic of words, images, and actions drawn from sacred Scripture. Explore the biblical foundations of each part of the Mass and learn how the saving truths of Scripture are made present for us in the eucharistic liturgy.”
The 50+ Scripture Study meets every other Wednesday at 8:30 am in the Seton Room. The next meeting is April 5. For more information, contact Ted Flood at (562) 706-6048. Books are available through Amazon.com and Twenty-third Publications.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
The next session of our Wednesday Night Bible Study will be Wednesday, April 12, 6:30-8:00 pm in the Parish Hall. The group is studying The Bible and the Virgin Mary.
Our sessions include fellowship, prayer, videos provided by the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, and discussion of scripture. All parishioners are welcome to attend. For more details, contact Robert Cordova at (562) 438-3826.
Praying with Scripture
How do we pray with Sacred Scripture? Spiritual reading of Sacred Scripture, especially the Gospels, is an important form of meditation. This spiritual reading is traditionally called lectio divina or divine reading. Lectio divina is prayer over the Scriptures. When we engage in lectio divina of the Gospels, this form of meditation enables us to spiritually connect the gospel message to our everyday lives.
If you have participated in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), “Breaking Open the Word” is a process that is similar to Praying with Scripture. This group meets during the high liturgical seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter. For additional information, contact Ted Flood at (562) 706-6048.
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Online Faith Groups
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Join Us Online!
Evening Prayer Reflections – once a month
You are invited to gather for an online reflective prayer experience every month hosted by Sr. Paulynne. The themes for Evening Prayer will vary according to the liturgical calendar. Please contact the Parish Office at (562) 438-3826 for the upcoming dates.Evening Prayer Experience – March 30
Holy Week: Walking with Jesus. All are invited to a Virtual Reflective Prayer Experience on Thursday, March 30, from 6:45–8:00 pm, presented by Sister Paulynne. We will explore the themes of the Triduum: Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil through prayer, song and intercessions. Bring a candle to the service as we will celebrate Christ, our Light. Please contact the Parish Office at (562) 438-3826 to register. You will receive an e-mail link to the Zoom prayer service. Let us journey with Christ, our Hope and Life!
Online Book StudyWomen at the Well Virtual Book Study
The Women at the Well Virtual Book Study began on Thursday, Jan. 26. There is still time to join! We will meet virtually once a month at 7:00 pm.
Upcoming dates: April 20 & May 18. We will be reading and sharing spiritual tidbits from the book “The Inner Chapel,” by Becky Eldredge.This study offers readers down-to-earth stories, prayer experiences to try, Scripture connections and invites us to enter our “inner chapel” where God meets us. Please contact the Parish Office at (565) 438-3826 to register and you will receive an e-mail link to the book study. The book can be purchased on Amazon or wherever books are sold.
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