Small Groups
Small group Bible studies are a key way to grow deeper in your friendship with Christ. Reflecting on scripture together with friends helps us gain support and others' experience of God, come out of ourselves to share what God has done in our own lives, and helps us be accountable to faith filled friends we know and trust. Using the "Encounter with Christ" format helps us delve into the words and example of Jesus in the Gospels, and also address important cultural issues in our society.
Retreats
Our Lord often called his disciples away to a quiet place to pray and spend time with Him. Christians are called to be in the world but not of it. In order to do this we need to retreat from the world amidst our busy and noisy lives to rest our souls in the solace that on Christ can give. It could be a half-day, or a full weekend retreat. This time spent in prayer and recollection will help know God's will better and empower you to follow it with faith, hope and love.
Missions
The life of a Christian is both contemplative and conquering. Once we've received God's grace through prayer and the sacraments, once we've gone deep in getting to know Christ through scripture in small groups, then we must "go out to all the world and tell the Good News". We can be missionaries to people in distant countries or to those in need in our own cities. How will you respond to Christ's call to be his missionary?
Spiritual Direction
Seek the advice of a good spiritual director. In our Christian vocation we need a spiritual coach of sorts that will guide and affirm us in our good endeavors, or call us out when we begin to stray. We are usually not the best judge of our own case, so the objective perspective a spiritual director can help us stay the course of growing in holiness by knowing, loving and doing God's will.
SMALL GROUP Meet-Ups
Encounter with christ Groups
Gather together, unite as friends in Christ and run towards heaven because we cannot do it alone.
WEST CHESTER, PA: Thursdays 6:30 PM
Text Kathryn Hallinan (610-908-7163) for her address
CENTER CITY PHILLY: Thursdays 7:30 PM
Contact Ale Rojas for the location at Alerojasmusic@gmail.com
ST JOSEPH'S UNIVERSITY AREA: Tuesdays 7:30 PM
Reach out to Emily (610-241-4961) for more details
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Encounter With Christ
How to Lead an "Encounter with Christ" small group
THE ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST
OPENING PRAYER
Opening Prayer: The team leader starts the opening prayer
V/ Come Holy Spirit
R/ Fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.
V/ Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created.
R/ And you renew the face of the earth.
V/ Let us pray, Lord you have taught the hearts of your faithful by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. Grant us in that same Spirit to know what is truly right and to rejoice always in his consolation. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R/ Amen.
V/ Hail Mary…
V/ “Christ our King!”
R/ “Thy Kingdom Come!”
V/ “Queen of Apostles”
R/ “Pray for us” In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
GOSPEL REFLECTION
One of the participants reads the Gospel passage from the next coming Sunday’s liturgy. Since it is the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will speak to each person's heart during the reading.
After an appropriate period of reflection, members are invited to share their own lights from the Holy Spirit in relation to this Gospel passage.
Reflections.
CASE STUDY (current event or examples of virtue to follow/vices to avoid…)
- Choice of case :
Participants present cases they would like to share, pointing out the virtue present in the case. After cases are presented, the team votes on which case to study based on its relevance to the needs of the team, and current societal issues.
Case proposal 1: (The case proposal is like a comercial preview of the case)
Case proposal 2:
Case proposal 3:
Etc...
“There are three stages which should normally be followed in discussing social principles and putting them into practice. First, one reviews the concrete situation; secondly, one forms a judgment on it in the light of these same principles; thirdly, one decides what action can and should be done to implement these principles. These are the three stages that are usually expressed in the three terms: look, judge, act. It is important for our young people to grasp this method and to practice it. Knowledge acquired in this way does not remain merely abstract, but is seen as something that must be translated into action.”
From Mater et Magestra, Pope John XXIII, 1961
- Look
The member whose case was chosen expands on it, so that all the facts are presented highlighting causes, consequences, the dilemma or problem, and the elements pointing out the key virtues. Then, other members may offer similar or parallel cases, especially those with comparable displays of virtue, and not limited to cases with similar circumstances. We look at why things happen as they did. What are the causes of these actions? What positive or negative consequences do these actions provoke?
- Judge
We analyze the case through the eyes of our culture, and then, through the eyes of Christ. Use texts, the words of Christ, or parallel situations in the New Testament. Note human or Christian virtues important to the case or aspects of Movement spirituality( for example: the core convictions, practical principles, etc…) that shed light on the situation.
- Act
Having looked at the case with Christ, we then adopt Christ’s attitude and actions as our own. This leads to the next part of the Encounter with Christ...
RESOLUTIONS
Based on this case (or on the gospel passage) how are we are going to act differently both personally and as a group?
1. Personal resolutions
2. Group resolution
Members propose resolutions, based on the case and parallel cases. These are normally voted on to determine one team apostolic resolution for the week ahead. Apostolic resolutions should be both contemplative and conquering, and have the goal of impacting the world around us through the virtue involved. They should be concrete, so that one can objectively measure their fulfillment.
CONCLUSION:
The participants join the team leader in the closing prayer.
V/ “We give you thanks for all your gifts Almighty God, you who live and reign forever and ever”
“Christ our King!”
R/ “Thy Kingdom Come!”
V/ “Queen of Apostles”
R/ “Pray for us” In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
