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“Do people today find it
difficult to encounter God in our churches?
Has our preaching lost its salt? Might it be that people
have forgotten,
or never really learned, how to pray in and with the Church?...
What is
needed, above all, at this time in the history of the Church in
America
is a renewal of that apostolic zeal which inspires her shepherds
actively
to seek out the lost, to bind up those who have been wounded,
and to
bring strength to those who are languishing. And
this...calls for new
ways of thinking....”
--Pope Benedict XVI, in a
question and answer session with U.S. bishops, April 16, 2008.
The
Catholic Parishes in Waterloo
announce the formation of
A
Faith-Sharing Group
for Inactive Catholics
and Catholic Seekers
This
faith-sharing group is designed for individuals who
are troubled in some way by their past or present relationship
to the Catholic Church.
We welcome inactive, alienated, former,
and "recovering" Catholics ... discouraged or disappointed current members
... and Catholic Seekers who may or may not be attending other
churches or participating in other faith traditions.
Our purpose is to provide support, encouragement and
understanding for active, inactive and former Catholics or
Catholic Seekers who want to discuss their feelings, concerns,
or issues in a safe, non-threatening and non-judgmental
atmosphere. Our goal is to help Catholic Seekers continue growing in their
relationship to Jesus Christ. There will be no pressure to
resume active participation in the Catholic Church.
The group will meet once a month to provide
prayerful support and personal encouragement to individuals,
wherever they are in their spiritual journey.
For more information contact a member of the parish staff or:
Dave Cushing, Director of Adult Faith Formation
Phone:
319-234-9912
Email:
DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
_________________________________________________________________
Why a Faith-Sharing Group
for
Catholic Seekers?
In many ways our relationships to a
religious
organization or faith community are like other personal
relationships.
A healthy relationship grows and changes over time, as the
individuals involved grow and change. In this case, the
individuals continue to value and care for each other inspite
of, or sometimes because of, those changes.
However, from time to time some relationships stop
growing and changing.
•
In some cases, one or both individuals may
stop caring about each other and stop
investing in the relationship; the
relationship declines and eventually ends.
•
In some cases, a relationship ends suddenly as the result of
some action on the part of one or both individuals.
• In
other cases, a relationship declines and may eventually end
because one partner or the other is unable
or unwilling to grow and change themselves, or adapt to growth
and change in their partner.
In every case, the end of a deeply meaningful relationship is
painful.
So is continuing in a dysfunctional relationship when a partner
is unable or unwilling to continue investing in the
relationship.
Many inactive, alienated, discouraged, recovering and
former Catholics feel like they are partners in an important
relationship which has broken down.
•
In some cases, the relationship between an individual and the
Catholic community is strained or broken because the individual
failed to continue investing in the relationship and the
relationship gradually died.
•
In many other cases, however, the relationship is strained or
broken because an individual feels that the Church has abandoned,
rejected or ignored them.
Many
of these inactive, alienated, discouraged, recovering and former
Catholics are deeply hurt. Many are disillusioned and
angry. Many feel betrayed because they feel the Church or
someone representing the Church has
lied to them, taken advantage of them, ignored them or devalued them.
Some are deeply wounded and shamed. Many assume that it must be their fault, which adds to their
feelings of shame and guilt.
In any case, most inactive, alienated,
discouraged, recovering and former Catholics want to live happy,
healthy spiritual lives. In some cases, this may mean
reconciling with the Catholic faith community; in others, it may
mean learning to
develop a healthy spiritual
relationship outside the Catholic Church.
As in any relationship, learning to live in a healthy, positive
spiritual relationship to a faith community does not come
easily after a serious breakdown..
Healing a broken spiritual relationship takes
time. We must slowly re-learn how to trust ourselves
and others -- and in many cases, learning to trust God. It
means recovering the ability to take risks without being reckless, ... to hope
without being foolish, ... to be honest without living in denial,
... to
be careful without being paranoid, ... to be responsible without
being compulsive, ... to recognize our interdependence without becoming
dependent, ,,, to be free without being isolated, ... to forgive
without condoning what has happened.
Our faith-sharing group for inactive, alienated,
discouraged, recovering and former Catholics is designed to
provide a safe, affirming and encouraging environment in which
individuals can work on healing their relationship to the
Catholic faith community.
If you or someone you know is
interested in discussing their relationship to the Catholic
Church in a private, confidential meeting,
please contact a pastor, a staff member or:
Director of Adult Faith Formation
320 Mulberry Street, Waterloo IA 50703
Phone: 319-234-9912
Email: DBQ208s3@arch.pvt.k12.ia.us
Posted 04.10.08 • Last Update 05.05.08
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