Some Approaches and Programs...

[Janet Schaeffler]

This Forum was begun because you asked for it ... you wanted a place
to "talk to one another" ... without always driving to a meeting ... a
place to share ideas, ask questions, hear about new possibilities,
etc. Anyone can start a new discussion, so don't hesitate!

Take a moment right now ... and add to this discussion. Tell us about
one thing you are doing now -- fall 2009 -- for adults in your parish
-- those you gather, the ungathered. Tell us about a program. Tell
us how you're infusing formation into existing structures in the
parish, into people's lives at home.

How are you using your website, your Sunday bulletin, emails?

Take 2 minutes. Share one idea!

[Susan Finley]

I am using Tom Zanzig's Strategies for Adult Formation binder
purchased thru RCL-Benziger to set up monthy evening events .
Coordinating with the pastor, (Taking the topics he has been preaching
and will be planning to preach about) will serve as the theme of the
evening. This resource is a wonderful tool. Handouts, facilitator
outlines, discussion questions are all included. Also I am
expanding ( in baby steps) the parent and sponsor involvement in
sacrament prep using some of these same strategies.

Susan Finley
Holy Family Parish

[Cheryl]

Thanks, Sr. Janet, for your continued inspiration! You're right....we
can all benefit from a group like this, and taking the time to read/
post only helps us!

One area I'm focusing on with my team this fall is Marriage
Enrichment. We were successful a couple of years ago with the series
by Deacon Ovies "Couple Prayer", but other than a Marriage night on
World Marriage Day weekend, we haven't had much else going on. In
October this year, we are hosting a Saturday evening dinner and movie
(we're going to watch "Fireproof") and have a discussion moderated by
our pastor. The topic will be "Questions Catholics have about
Marriage". We are promoting by personal invitation (mail) as well as
bulletin flyers and pulpit announcements and asking folks to submit
questions to a separate e-mail address before the event.

Going forward, we would like to keep the group going as a small faith
sharing community mixed with social. So, we might have a "learn to
dance" night one evening, and a more serious topic on another. We
feel like hospitality will be a major attractor, so we plan to keep
that festive! (Remember Rolheiser's idea of a "pub" in the social
hall:))

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[Elaine Young]

We just hosted a Marriage Encounter weekend here at St. Therese. Rather
than a weekend away, the couples came on Fri nite, went home and then came
back Sat morn for the whole day. We had 16 couple participate and it was
very successful. This concept was in an effort to address couples' busyness
as well as cut costs. St. Isidore's will now host one in the Spring. Might
be something to consider...

[Cheryl]

Elaine, What a great idea! The methodology behing Marriage Encounter
is so successful...my husband and I were involved about 12 years ago,
and we still consider a touchstone in our marriage. On a related
topic, Christ Renews His Parish is a similar experience -- though
gender-based. We are having amazing success with it at St. Dan's.
Our women's retreat filled to capacity 6 weeks before the weekend, and
we have a waiting list for April. The next men's weekend is in
February. We've already had two men's retreats, and both filled to
capacity. The most interesting thing is the unlikely assortment of
men that got involved and who are staying involved. I'm certain that
the similar methods used in Marriage Encounter and CRHP are what makes
these programs so successful. For those of you that have never heard
of CRHP, it can be difficult to find info on the web, but if you're
interested in hearing more about it, I'd be happy to fill you in.

On Sep 15, 12:35 pm, "Elaine Young" <elaine.yo...@stthereseparish.ws>
wrote:

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