why-catholic.jpgHow deep is your faith?
That's the question parishioners at St. Joseph the Worker in Chatham will begin answering this fall during the parish's implementation of the Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism program.
Presented by RENEW International, Why Catholic? brings small groups together for an adult faith formation experience based on Scripture and Catechism of the Catholic Church. The approach of Why Catholic? is to help adults deepen their Catholic faith and relate its teachings to their everyday lives. Many parishes in the Springfield diocese are participating.
"The program will certainly enliven people in their faith," said Sister Judith Pfile, the pastoral minister at St. Joseph. "We hope to encourage adults to connect and live in their faith, and to be able to pass that on to their families."
Last weekend parish members Don Werner and Steve Lashbrook, with the assistance of St. Joseph's Why Catholic? coordinators, Tim and Lynn Connelly, hung an array of banners on the church's light poles to announce the upcoming program. Every household in the parish received a mailed brochure giving insight into the Why Catholic? approach to faith formation.
The "How Deep Is Your Faith?" catch-phrase, colorful brochures and attention-getting banners are the design of parishioner Steve Klemm, a young adult serving on St. Joseph's Why Catholic? planning team.
"We are hoping to reach young adults with this program," said Sister Judith. "We do not want them to feel forgotten."
Father John Nolan, pastor at St. Joseph, said he expects 15 small groups, with two leaders each, will begin the program this fall. The timeline includes sign-up for Why Catholic? after all Masses the weekend of Sept. 13-14, leadership training in September and small group meetings beginning in October. The planning team hopes to offer a variety of meeting times to accommodate the scheduling needs of parishioners.
"We believe the small groups will give people a chance to meet others in the parish," Father Nolan said. "Perhaps someone they've sat next to at Mass, or met at an event, but never had a chance to really talk to. We've had a really positive response so far."
Parish members are enthusiastic about the start of such a program. "I have been waiting for this small group experience to learn and explain our Catholic faith," Jodi Kos said.
Janice Anderson believes Why Catholic? will have an impact not just on her faith experiences, but her community bonds as well. "With the wonderful experiences I've had in the last several months, I'm excited to continue my spiritual growth in the Catholic faith and am looking forward to strengthening our community," Anderson said.