Sign-up will begin soon in parishes for the second half of year one of Why Catholic? Journey Through the Catechism, an adult faith formation program launched last fall in the diocese. Participants will meet in small groups once each week for six weeks during Lent, as did groups in the first six-week session in the fall.

New participants are welcome and encouraged to sign up for Why Catholic? along with returning participants in the on-going formation, said Chris Malmevik, Why Catholic? coordinator and associate director of catechesis in the diocesan Office for Catechesis.

"During the fall Why Catholic? sessions, 8,046 parishioners participated in 878 groups, with 1,175 group leaders," Malmevik said.

A series of listening sessions were held throughout the diocese in 2006 to determine the greatest challenges to parishes. The results indicated a need for an adult catechesis program in the diocese. Bishop George J. Lucas chose Why Catholic?, by RENEW International, as the program to guide people in their faith formation, and named Malmevik the diocesan Why Catholic? coordinator.

Why Catholic? is based on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and designed as a four-year program, with each year having its own book, which focuses on one of those pillars - Profession of Faith, Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ and Christian Prayer, said Malmevik. Each book is divided into 12 sessions.