Hello Holy Family Community,
According to the evangelist, Matthew, Jesus’ parting words to his disciples were:
“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
Every disciple of Jesus Christ shares in His mission. Adult Catholics look to grow in faith and become more equipped to share the Gospel. We, as Catholics, look for ways to share our faith in every circle of our lives: in our homes, in every church gathering, in our neighborhoods, in every place of work and in every public forum. Holy Family offers special opportunities for spiritual and personal growth as well as faith formation.
Some people think that Religious Education ends at Confirmation, but Faith Formation never ends. During this unusual time, maybe you have a little more time for spiritual reflection and formation. Maybe you would like to look deeper into your faith. Maybe you have a friend or companion who would like to go deeper. Perhaps you have a different story. Holy Family’s Formation team is prepared to be your companion on any number of spiritual journeys.
Bible Hangout: We’re excited to share that during the summer we are offering the “Gospel Hangout” process created by Bishop David O’Connell and staff of the San Gabriel Pastoral Region. All adults young and old are invited to join us on Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. for friendly fellowship which leads into prayer, reflection, and sharing on the upcoming Sunday Gospel. We will be reading in small groups. This weekly opportunity is a wonderful way to connect and grow with others in our community in these unprecedented times.
Bible Study: Beginning in September, we will resume our Bible Studies on Wednesday nights 7:00 p.m. We will begin our study with the prophet, Micah.
Just Faith: “Faith & Racial Equity: Exploring Power & Privilege” was created by JustFaith Ministries. This is an eight session program that awakens groups to the economic systems, public policies, cultural norms, and hidden biases that empower some and oppress others. Participants will explore how their faith should inform their response to their learning, as well as discern action steps for working toward racial equity in their own communities. All sessions include prayer and reflection, reading and discussion, dialogue and active listening, and videos. There is also a retreat to begin the series and an immersion experience (all done virtually). Start date will depend on participant interest and schedules. (Participants are responsible for the cost of the two to three books needed.)
ReImagining Faith: God is working in the world and through the church to reconcile all things to Him and to make all things new. Would you like to refresh your faith or like to consider coming back to the Catholic Faith? ReImagining Faith is a place where Catholic adults can consider the church with new eyes. Join us on Tuesday evenings.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults: Maybe you are or you know someone who is not a Catholic and would like to join the church. Maybe you would like to companion someone who is searching to become a Catholic. You could be a sponsor. RCIA is the process that forms a community of inquirers and sponsors. This formation process is the entrance into the Catholic community, whereby those interested in learning about the Catholic faith come together to learn about the scriptures and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, and at the same time, discover where God is present in their lives. RCIA meets on Monday nights at 7:00pm.
During this pandemic we are using Zoom for all our Adult Formation gatherings. Please call me at 626-403-6128 or send me an email to dponnet@holyfamily.org if you have any questions about the above programs.
Come pray with us, come learn with us, become the best disciple of Jesus that you can be.
Dawn Ponnet
Director of Faith Formation