Why is a Faith Sharing Groups
Jesus gathered a few friends and formed a community. Filled with the Spirit at Pentecost, they became unstoppable. And when we are unstoppable for Jesus, we discover true joy and lasting peace!
The Faith Sharing Ministry invites people of all ages—families, singles, young adults, and anyone seeking deeper connection—to slow down, connect, and grow in faith together in the midst of busy lives. Through small, welcoming groups, we create space to explore how God is present in everyday moments—at work, at home, in relationships, and in the questions we carry. These gatherings energize our parish community by helping faith feel real, supportive, and lived, not just learned.
Groups of 8–12 people meet weekly (some monthly) for prayer, reflection on the Sunday Gospel or a short spiritual reading, and honest conversation. Whether you are balancing family life, navigating young adulthood, or returning to faith with fresh questions, these groups offer a safe and supportive environment to listen, share, and grow. No preparation or “expert” knowledge is needed—just a willingness to show up and be open.
This season, our faith-sharing groups are reflecting on the book Seeing with the Heart: A Guide to Navigating Life’s Adventures by Kevin O’Brien, SJ. During our Lenten retreat, parishioners were invited to consider joining a faith-sharing group as part of their Lenten experience. Inspired by the earliest Christian communities, where believers gathered in homes to encourage one another and strengthen their faith, we carry that same spirit forward today. Join us and discover how faith truly comes alive when we grow together.
Are you in?
Click here to sign up for a faith sharing groupMission Statement
Our Catholic Faith Sharing Group seeks to create a welcoming, prayerful space where disciples of Jesus gather to grow in faith, hope, and love. Rooted in Scripture, guided by the teachings of the Church, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we come together to listen, reflect, and share the ways God is at work in our daily lives. We support and encourage one another on the journey of discipleship, deepen our relationship with Christ, and seek to become instruments of God’s peace and compassion in our families, parish, and community.
Some may feel called not only to join a group but to facilitate one. If that’s you, know that you don’t have to do it alone—there are many resources available to guide you and make the experience meaningful.
New groups start throughout the year—contact Dawn to find out which ones are currently meeting
Resources for Faith Sharing
Through Seeing with the Heart, Fr. Kevin O’Brien invites us to move beyond simply looking at the world and instead truly seeing it as God sees it: with compassion, attentiveness, and love. His reflections help us recognize God’s presence in prayer, relationships, suffering, and joy, and guide us in responding more faithfully to the challenges of everyday life.
Seeing with the Heart is a rich collection of spiritual reflections that encourages deeper awareness, honest self-examination, and a more intimate relationship with God. In a world marked by distraction and division, this book offers a gentle yet profound path toward clarity, hope, and renewed faith. God is constantly inviting us to see more deeply—and to live more fully—from the heart.
Consider Seeing with the Heart an invitation: an invitation to open your inner vision, encounter God more personally, and allow that encounter to transform how you live, love, and serve in the world.
Nothing quite compares to the profound impact of a personal encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist. In that sacred moment, Jesus touches us in ways we cannot anticipate, bringing healing, peace, and clarity to our lives. Through his example, we learn how to relate to others and gain insight into navigating life’s challenges.
In the Eucharist, we commune with the same Jesus who performed miracles, forgave sins, and triumphed over death. Are you prepared to witness how he can revolutionize your life as well?
Beautiful Eucharist is a captivating compilation of reflections that delve into the profound reality of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist and his active involvement in our lives. In a world yearning for healing and hope, Jesus offers solace and renewal. He eagerly awaits in the Eucharist to transform families, churches, communities, and society at large. And it all commences with your own life-altering encounter with him today.
Consider Beautiful Eucharist an invitation—an invitation to encounter the life-giving presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, empowering you to radiate that life-giving presence in the world.
Cherished Belonging is a reflective book that explores themes of identity, faith, and community through personal storytelling and spiritual insight. It delves into the deep human longing for belonging—both with others and with God—offering a heartfelt journey of discovery, healing, and connection.
We believe this is an excellent choice for a faith-sharing group because it encourages meaningful discussion about personal faith journeys, the importance of community, and the ways God invites us into deeper relationships. Its reflective nature allows one to share their own experiences of belonging, making it a powerful tool for fostering connection and spiritual growth
The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom, by Henri Nouwen is a deeply personal journal chronicling the author’s spiritual and emotional struggles during a period of profound inner crisis. Written in short, reflective entries, it captures his dialogue with God as he seeks healing, clarity, and hope. The book offers intimate insights into the pain of abandonment, self-doubt, and the longing for love, while gently guiding readers toward trust in God’s presence. Ultimately, it is a quiet, powerful testament to the resilience of the soul and the grace found in surrender.
Rediscovering Jesus by Matthew Kelly is a spiritual exploration designed to deepen readers’ relationship with Jesus by presenting Him in fresh, personal, and accessible ways. The book is structured around 40 short chapters, each inviting reflection on a different aspect of Jesus—His identity, teachings, and what it means to follow Him today. Kelly’s approachable writing style combines Scripture, personal anecdotes, and questions for self-examination, encouraging readers to move beyond routine faith and encounter Jesus as a real, transformative presence in their daily lives.
Kelly emphasizes that many people know about Jesus but do not truly know Him. Through consistent themes of invitation and encounter, he challenges readers to reflect on their assumptions, renew their commitment, and let Jesus influence every aspect of their lives. The book ultimately serves as both a spiritual wake-up call and a practical guide, aiming to help individuals rediscover not just facts about Jesus, but a dynamic relationship with Him that leads to lasting joy and purpose.
He was a disrupter and a peacemaker, a rebel and a rabbi. His friends were the riffraff, and his enemies the religious elite. He was the wounded man who healed the sick, the homeless man who fed the hungry, the convicted criminal who released the captives, and the dead man who conquered the grave. The stories he told were scandalous, and the stories he lived changed the world. To reflect on the Jesus of the Gospels is to reflect on paradox, mystery, wonder, and messiness. It is to find God in the shadows, the tensions, and the ambiguities of life on earth as it is. These essays on the stories of Jesus are invitations to faith in all its complexity and untidiness. The Jesus who emerges here is not the sanitized Christ of piety and platitude, but the Christ of complicated joys and transcendent sorrows. The Christ who weeps, wonders, loses, learns, and seeks. These are the stories of the Incarnate God who finds and loves us in the messiness of our lives.
Many of us feel overwhelmed by daily life.
With the onset of social media, we not only worry about myriad tasks, but we feel bad if we don’t measure up to everyone else’s highlight reels. We lack Sabbath, and we push away rest—even though we desperately need it. And yet, the Bible is replete with women just like us—women who felt the weight of overwhelming schedules and circumstances. In their stories, you will not only learn more about the women of the Bible, but you’ll begin to unpack ways to find true rest and peace.
How about you? Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the tasks and circumstances of your life? Do you wake up every day feeling unmotivated or stressed out? You are not alone. Not only have others around you experienced the same things, but many women in the Bible have too.
Henri Nouwen’s Return of the Prodigal Son is a spiritual reflection inspired by Rembrandt’s painting of the biblical parable. Nouwen sees himself in each of the three main figures—the younger son, the elder son, and the compassionate father—revealing the complexity of the human journey. The book invites readers to move from resentment and brokenness toward forgiveness, healing, and unconditional love. At its heart, it is a call to claim our true identity as beloved children of God.
You possess untapped potential waiting to be unleashed. Deep down, you’ve sensed it stirring within you for some time now. This profound truth has quietly resonated within your soul, yet you’ve been uncertain about how to embrace it. But that is all about to change.
Certain ideas hold immense power; merely recognizing them can alter the course of our lives forever. Holy Moments is one such idea. It’s elegantly simple, remarkably practical, and once you grasp its essence, your life will unfold with clarity and purpose. The time has come to let Holy Moments reveal the boundless possibilities that await you. It’s time to embark on a journey into the depths of your soul and explore your fullest potential.
The Amen Effect by Rabbi Sharon Brous is an excellent choice for a faith-sharing group because it offers a powerful, compassionate vision of how spiritual communities can bring healing and connection in a divided and hurting world. Through personal stories and deep moral insight, Brous invites readers to “show up” for one another with empathy, courage, and presence—values that resonate deeply with Christian and interfaith traditions. Her reflections on grief, justice, and communal belonging encourage honest sharing and meaningful dialogue, making the book a rich resource for group discussion and spiritual growth.
The Grace of Beauty: Its Mystery, Power, and Delight in Daily Life by Melannie Svoboda invites readers to notice and savor the deep, soul-stirring beauty found in everyday life, beyond surface appearances. Rooted in Christian tradition and personal reflection, Sr. Melannie shows how beauty encountered in nature, art, relationships, prayer, and ordinary moments can heal, awaken gratitude, and draw us closer to God. Through brief meditations, she reveals how beauty slows us down, lifts the spirit, and nourishes our spiritual journey.
The Practice of the Presence of God is a spiritual classic that gathers the teachings of Brother Lawrence (born Nicolas Herman), a 17th-century Carmelite friar. Compiled by Father Joseph de Beaufort, the book includes Brother Lawrence’s letters and notes from conversations recorded by those who knew him. At its heart, the book explores the simple yet profound discipline of cultivating continual awareness of God’s presence in everyday life.
When the Rain Speaks by Melannie Svoboda is a collection of spiritual reflections drawn from the beauty of everyday life and nature. The book invites readers to listen deeply to ordinary experiences as moments where God’s presence can be discovered. With gentle imagery and thoughtful storytelling, Svoboda connects the natural world to themes of prayer, faith, and hope. It encourages readers to slow down, notice life’s small blessings, and find God speaking in unexpected places.
Opportunities
- Be a facilitator or host a faith-sharing group
Contact
Dawn Ponnet
Director of Adult Faith Formation
dponnet@holyfamily.org
626 403-6128