Parish Life Ministry-Adult Faith Formation

PARISH LIFE FALL CALENDAR

The Parish Life Ministry is pleased to announce that we have planned another exciting year of presentations. This is the Jubilee Year of St. Paul which extends from June 28, 2008 through June 29, 2009 to mark the 2,000th anniversary of the saint's death. To commemorate this celebration we will have special speakers, bible studies, and evenings of prayer.

The men's bible study will resume Sept. 4 in Heritage House at 7:30am and continue each Thur. morning. All men of the parish are invited to come and experience a prayerful  start of their day. Morning bible study begins an 8 week study on September 18th in Heritage House following the 9 am mass. Both of these bible study sessions will study St. Paul.

Gathering Sundays have become a favorite Sunday for many of our parishioners. For the past three years we have held these Sundays on the third Sunday of each month to welcome new parishioners, visit with friends and to join together for the many celebrations that we have in our parish. The first Gathering Sunday will be Sept. 21 following the 10:30am mass.

Forming consciences for Faithful Citizenship: The U.S. Bishops' reflection on Catholic teaching and political life will be a presentation which will educate our hearts and minds and prepare us to know and practice the whole faith. Our presenters will be Rev. Ronald Cioffi, Director of the Office of Social Concerns and Mary Ellen Blackwell, Director of Parish Social Ministry Catholic Charities. Please join us for this important and current topic on October 9th at 7 pm in the crypt chapel.

On October 22 at 7:30pm in the crypt chapel we will have our first presenter on St. Paul. This evening will be led by Dr. Jim Bridges. In June Dr. Bridges presented an excellent study week on St. Paul at LaSalle University. His biblical scholarship is well known and he is in much demand as a speaker.

Keeping current with our topics Sr. Sonia Avi, IHM, Assistant Director of the Office of Hispanic Ministry, Camden diocese will discuss Immigration from a Christian viewpoint. Sister will be in the crypt chapel November 12 starting at 7pm.

Sunday evening Nov. 30th 7-8 pm, Deacon Jim Grogan will led us in Praying With St. Paul.

On December 10th we will have a presentation by Professor Richard Lohkamp at 7pm in Heritage House. Dick's topic will be Paul's Image of Jesus. By background, Paul was a well-educated first century Jew and a Pharisee. We don't begin to understand Paul's image of Jesus unless we appreciate this background. Jesus and the apostles shared much of the same background.

Our parish bulletin will have reminders of these dates. For more information on Parish Life activities please contact Jane 235-2374 or e-mail mccorkellj@olgcnj.org.

The Parish Life Ministry also continues to offer these following services.

BIBLE STUDIES

Men’s bible study continues each Thursday morning starting at 7:30am in Heritage House.

Please join us for bible studies in Heritage House following the 9am Mass starting September 27th and running for the following eight Thursdays, A new series will start in the winter. Topic to be determined.

BOOK CLUB

Do you enjoy reading and sharing your thoughts with a great group of people? If so please join us . The group has selected five books for the year and you are welcome to come to any or all of our sessions. We will meet in the school library at 7pm.

September 29, Faith, Reason and the War Against Jihadism: A Call to Action by George Weigel Doubleday 2007 (available through Amazon.com or your local book store)

October 27, Civilization of Love by Carl Anderson, Tower Books (released May 1, 2008)

January 26, 2009: John Paul the Great: Remembering a Spiritual Father, by Peggy Noonan, Penguin Books.

February 23: Jesus of Nazareth by Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, Doubleday, 2007

March 30: Paul: Least of the Apostles by Alain Decaux-Pauline Press

GATHERING SUNDAY

This is our third year of Gathering Sunday where we come together over coffee & donuts in the school cafeteria to welcome newcomers and to visit with friends. This gathering follows the 10:30 am mass on the third Sunday of each month. The cafeteria is wheelchair accessible from the front of the school building.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

Shawls continue to arrive at the parish from our busy knitters and are delivered to those who are ill, lonely or who need comfort and extra prayers. Shawls have also been given in times of celebration. Our parish ladies have been very generous and shawls have gone out to other parishes, organizations and hospitals. 

Please look for updates on these programs in the church bulletin and online at our parish website.  If you are interested in helping with any of these programs you are most welcomed. Contact person is Jane McCorkell, Director of Parish Life Ministry and may be contacted at 235-2374 or email mccorkellj@ olgcnj.org.

Please also check out our calendar for our senior ministry