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Faith Alive! Weekly Adult Education Series


 

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Faith Alive!
A Weekly Adult Education Series


 

   Faith Alive! is a weekly adult education series published by Catholic News Service and distributed by Catholic newspapers throughout the United States.  In the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Faith Alive! is printed each week in The Witness, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese.

   Faith Alive! examines a variety of current issues from the perspective of Catholic faith.  It provides a variety of viewpoints on these issues each week and offers Catholic readers an excellent resource for personal reflection or small group discussion.  Faith Alive! is a convenient and accessible source of continuing adult faith formation on a regular basis.

   We post here an introduction to this week's Faith Alive! topic and the schedule of Faith Alive! topics for the coming months as well as comments from readers.  You can read this week's articles in the current issue of The Witness or online from Catholic News Service.

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This Week's Faith Alive! Summary
Nov. 2, 2008

Religion in America

The role religion plays in the lives of Americans. American Catholicism is facing a crisis, a mass exodus of its members, according to an extensive survey released in February 2008 by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey details the religious affiliation of the American public and explores the shifts taking place in the U.S. religious landscape. This edition will summarize the landmark study's findings and significance, especially as those findings pertain to Catholics.

Read this week's articles in The Witness Nov. 9 or
Read this week's articles online.

                                                 For discussion:
The Pew survey says more than one in six American adults are not currently affiliated with any religious group. How can Catholics reach out to them?

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Share Your Thoughts Here
The Faith Alive! Forum

Do you have a reaction, insight, impression or experience related to this week's discussion? Share them with other readers on the Faith Alive! Forum.

Email your thoughts or comments to: <DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us>
Enter "Faith Alive" in the Subject box.
Include your first name and city.

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September 7 / Christian Hope

I can't remember when my son became ill whether I was a hopeful person or not. After 4 years of visiting different doctors, hospitals  and many different medications there was no concrete diagnosis of what was wrong.  It was during those days of indecision that I HOPED that one day we would have an answer.  Each day, each test, each visit to another doctor I always hoped that there would be an answer and then John would began to recover.  My faith and hope supported me through those days, months and years.  But 5 months before he died he entered the ICU.  He was never to leave the hospital.  My faith remained but hope for his recovery began to wain.  He lost his sight, remained on and off a respirator and communication ended with him.  When he died all hope of his recovery  died with him. I know today with out hope those 4 years would have been very painful.  My grieving began when he was ill, which made his death easier to accept.  Of course, my hope then and now is that John is enjoying eternal life with his loving father. --Betty Allen

October 5 / Reforming Health Care

Enjoyed the topic very much this week. It reminded me of a former football coach I worked with in Oklahoma many, many years ago. When athletes would complain about something not being "fair", he would respond with, "Son, fair is where you ride rides and eat cotton candy, other than that, nothing is ever fair." I always enjoyed that one. -- Jeff Henderson.

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Faith Alive! Schedule
Fall, 2008

Pope Benedict's Encyclical on Hope, Spe Salvi
1. Christian hope
    Published: Sept. 7.  Posted online: August 30-Sept. 6.
2. The "crisis of Christian hope"
    Published: Sept. 14.  Posted online: Sept. 7-Sept. 13
3. Salvation: personal and communal
    Published: Sept. 21.  Posted online: Sept. 14-20

Catholic Health Care
1. Catholic hospital, secular hospital: What's the difference?
    Published: Sept. 28. Posted online: Sept. 21-27
2. Reforming health care in the U.S.
    Published: Oct. 05. Posted online: Sept. 28-Oct.4
3. A health care reform dialogue
    Published: Oct. 12. Posted online: Oct. 5-11

2008 World Synod of Bishops
1. 2008 World Synod of Bishops: a "pastoral discernment"
    Published: Oct. 19. Posted online: Oct. 12-18
2. Roles of the Bible
    Published: Oct. 26. Posted online: Oct. 19-25
3. Lessons from the Jews about the Bible
    Published: Nov. 11. Posted online: Oct. 26-Nov. 1

Religion in America
1. The Pew survey: the role religion plays in the lives of Americans
    Published: Nov. 09. Posted online: Nov. 2-8.
2. Is immigration keeping the U.S. Catholic Church afloat?
    Published: Nov. 16. Posted online: Nov. 9-15
3. Reflections on the Pew survey: the CARA response
    Published: Nov. 23. Posted online: Nov. 16-22

Countdown to Christmas
1. Advent: a time of light
    Published: Nov. 30. Posted online: Nov. 23-29.
2. The miracles of Jesus
    Published: Dec. 7. Posted online: Nov. 30-Dec. 6
3. Miracles in the lives of the saints
    Published: Dec. 14. Posted online: Dec. 7-13
4. Christmas: making time for others
    Published: Dec. 21. Posted online: Dec. 14-20
5. The Holy Family
    Published: Dec.28. Posted online: Dec. 21-27
 

Posted 08.08.08    Last Update 08.25.08

ADULT FORMATION PRINCIPLES
The Catholic parishes in Waterloo are committed to providing life-long faith formation and spiritual growth for adults of all ages. We value individual life experience, respect the diversity of personal convictions, and welcome the wisdom of every participant. We encourage conversation and dialogue. We will never intentionally embarrass or offend participants.

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