The task of Adult Faith Formation is to promote formation and development...that encourages adults to assume responsibility for the Church's Mission and be able to give Christian witness in society. (GCD 175)

Infant Baptism
Baptism is the sacrament of welcome into the community of Jesus Christ. Arrangements for baptisms are to be made through a personal interview prior to the baptismal catechesis for the reception of the Sacrament. Our parish offers monthly classes for parents and godparents. Baptisms are held on the first and third Sundays of each month. Infant Baptism is celebrated with children under age seven. (For older children, families are invited to begin the RCIA process, adapted for families.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
In 1988, the Catholic bishops of the United States directed that adults becoming Catholic do so with the process set forth in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The RCIA stresses the connection between the three sacraments of Christian Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. During the Easter vigil, the elect are welcomed into the Church and receive these sacraments.

In Baptism, a person becomes a Christian and receives grace and life from the Holy Spirit. Through the water of baptism, candidates share in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In the Sacrament of Confirmation, the newly baptized (or neophytes) are anointed by the celebrant with chrism (holy oil). Confirmation celebrates God's special gifts and strengthens those who have been baptized. The fullness of the Holy Spirit is received.

During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Neophytes receive the Body and Blood of Christ. They share the gift of the Bread of life and the Cup of Salvation, which deepens their initiation throughout their lives.

The RCIA process includes various periods marked by liturgical rites. The process welcomes, forms and instructs those who are interested in the Catholic faith. Families with children and teens are encouraged to participate in a process that is adapted for unbaptized teens and children over the age of seven.

The Church encourages anyone who is interested in knowing about the faith of the Catholic Church, its traditions and doctrines, to begin by attending the Inquiry Period of the RCIA. The process begins with the INQUIRY PERIOD which offers the opportunity to journey with others by asking questions; reflecting on Scripture and the teachings of the Catholic Church and sharing personal experiences. Candidates or Inquirers may be: UNBAPTIZD who wish to explore the teachings of the Catholic faith with the possibility of joining; or BAPTIZED CHRISTIANS who want to learn about the Catholic faith and wish to become Catholic; or BAPTIZED CATHOLICS who now want to complete their sacramental initiation by receiving the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Small Christian Communities
OUR VISION - Small Christian Communities (SCC) are a way of being church - a communal experience that brings the Gospel to everyday life. As a leaven of the broader church, SCCs provide unique opportunities for acceptance, challenge and support. The shared experience of prayer, scripture, and study nurtures the community of faith. Through the movement of the Spirit, a commitment to outreach, and to the needs of the poor deepens as the community grows. Because of the vitality they generate, Small Christian Communities are integral to the life of the Church

The Experience of Small Christian Communities includes
PRAYER - As a community develops, people are challenged to grow in their individual prayer lives and in communal prayer. Prayer is essential to building community.

SHARING - In an atmosphere of trust, members share the meaning of faith and relate the scriptures to their life experience.

LEARNING - Includes religious instruction; communication and leadership skills; learning about the faith; gifts and needs of other; learning about parish, local, national and international situations.

SUPPORT - People who share community know they can count on one another in joyful and difficult times.

OUTREACH - Small Christian Communities differ from social, discussion or study groups. Members strive to reflect Gospel values in every aspect of their lives through direct service, advocacy, and commitment to systemic change. They begin to see in their daily lives the implications of the mission of Jesus.

YOU ARE INVITED
Our parish invites you prayerfully to consider learning more about becoming a part of a Small Christian Community. You may wish to join a group or form a new group. All you need to do is contact the Parish Office.

USEFUL LINKS
Small Christian Community Session for Peace On the Anniversary of September 11th, adopted from a prayer service designed by Pax Christi USA. www.saintbernadette.com
Emmaus Journey - Lectionary Based Small-Group Discussion Material is available as a free download in Word or PDF format. www.emmausjourney.org
Cyber Faith - provides an interactive liturgical calendar to access small-group discussion material. www.cyberfaith.com
Official Documents of the Church: links to Church documents www.shc.edu/theolibrary/docs.htm

"So that parishes may be truly communities of Christians, local ecclesial authorities ought to foster the following: small, basic, or so called "living" communities, where the faithful can communicate the Word of God and express it in service and love to one another…." Pope John Paul II, Christi delis Laic

"Small Christian Communities are prophetic challenge for the renewal of our Church and humanization of our society."
NCCB "The Parish, A People, A Mission, A Structure"

Adult Confirmation
The process for those seeking Adult Confirmation is modeled after the RCIA process. It is assumed that those seeking Adult Confirmation are actively participating in the life of the Church - regular mass attendance and reception of Sacraments. Preparation will begin in February, with the reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation in May.

Faith Formation Board
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It is the purpose of the Faith Formation Board to be advisory to the Pastors and Coordinators of Religious Education and to assist in promoting the religious education of all members of St. Helen's Parish according to Diocesan Policy, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the American Catholic Directory. Members meet monthly to offer direction and support to the work of catechesis. New members are appointed by consensus of the Board and serve a term of three years

Parish Mission
Missions are opportunities to grow in our faith through a variety of presenters. Missions are generally introduced at the Sunday Mass followed by three daily sessions that are offered both in the morning and evening. Childcare for preschool aged children and activities for elementary aged children are available.

For more information, please contact the Adult Formation Office.
Christine Sieracki, Coordinator
623-979-4202, ext 224 or csieracki@sthelenglendale.org