What is WHY CATHOLIC?

Why Catholic? is a unique adult faith formation process developed by Renew International. It is centered around the evangelizing mission of Jesus.  It is solidly based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is supported by leader formation, retreats, faith enrichment sessions, rich resources, and ongoing pastoral support.

Why Catholic? encourages and enables parishioners to become evangelizing Catholics by offering a concrete approach to help adults form their Catholic faith and connect its teachings to their everyday lives. With its thorough exploration of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this process encourages learning in a prayerful small-group setting. 

The faith-sharing materials offer 48 sessions on Catholic beliefs, sacraments, morality, and prayer with direct Catechism quotes, scriptural references, and reflection questions. The four faith-sharing books are based on the four major themes of the Catechism. The books were reviewed by the U.S. Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism, have an Imprimatur, and were tested in small groups.

The Why Catholic? process is comprehensive, containing a full range of elements in both English and Spanish. It includes orientation, small community leader formation, faith formation and enrichment sessions for all participants, retreat experiences, an invitation video, and family-oriented bulletin inserts. 

SMALL COMMUNITY LEADER ORIENTATION SCHEDULE
- CELEBRATING THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY - 2010-2011

Regional Small Community Leader Formation Workshops will address the themes in the Celebration of the Christian Mystery book.

Book 2 – The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: Sacraments (12 Faith Sharing Sessions, Six in the Fall and Six during Lent, for Small Groups in Parishes) – The first four sessions of The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: Sacraments focus on the liturgy and an understanding of the sacraments.  Then follow two sessions on Baptism, one on the sacrament itself and another on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.  The latter offers reflections on the Rite and on its meaning for us and our parishes.  The last six sessions focus on the other six sacraments.

Regional Faith Formation and Enrichment Sessions in January will develop the theme The Body of Christ: Christ’s Presence in the Liturgy

Regional Retreat Experience in April will develop the theme Bread for the Journey.

Regional Small Community Leader Formation Workshops will address the themes in the Life in Christ: Walking with God book.

Book 3: Life in Christ: Walking with God (12 Faith Sharing Sessions, Six in the Fall and Six during Lent, for Small Groups in Parishes) – The first six sessions of Life in Christ: Walking with God center on the Beatitudes, on our freedom and responsibility, conscience, virtues, sin, mercy, moral solidarity, moral law, grace, and the Church.  The second six sessions focus on the implications of the Ten Commandments.

Regional Faith Formation and Enrichment Sessions will develop the theme Living Gospel Values in the 21st Century.

Regional Retreat Experience will develop the theme Walking with Christ: Living the Beatitudes.

Regional Small Community Leader Formation Workshops will address the themes in the Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God book.

Book 4 – Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God (12 Faith Sharing Sessions, Six in the Fall and Six during Lent, for Small Groups in Parishes) The first three sessions of Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God focus on prayer and how God communicates with us.  The next six sessions look at different forms of prayer and some difficulties we experience in prayer.  The last three sessions offer a deeper look at the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Lord’s Prayer.  All cover what the Catechism says about the concept of prayer, and include various styles of prayer for participants’ use.

Regional Faith Formation and Enrichment Sessions will develop the theme Prayer: Many Methods, One Purpose.

Regional Retreat Experience will develop the theme Sitting by the Well: Meeting Jesus in Prayer.

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