ADULT FAITH FORMATION

A spiraling adventure of the Spiritual Life

Author: Joan Chitister

The Liturgical Year: The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life

Joan Chittister

The following questions encompass the remaining chapters of the book:

· The purpose of Sunday is to immerse us in to reflecting on God’s place in our lives and our place in the life of the world. How is this true for you?

· The liturgical year is about putting down our worship of self and growing more into the One (God) who calls us…” p.40 How is this true for you?

· How do you currently cultivate a sense of wonder and awe in your spiritual

practice? In what ways might the liturgical year deepen your capacity for wonder?

· How does the practice of attentiveness, as described in this chapter, differ from

simply being busy or distracted? How might you cultivate a greater sense of

attentiveness in your own life?

· How do I participate in the liturgical year? Do I integrate the celebrations of the Church year into my life? How?

· Reflect on the idea of gift-giving in the context of Christmas. How might you

approach gift-giving in a way that reflects the true spirit of the season?

· How does the story of the magi in the Gospel narratives inspire you to seek and

follow the guiding light in your own life? What might that guiding light represent

for you?

· Consider the idea of inclusion and hospitality in the season of Epiphany. How

might you embrace these values and extend them to others in your daily life?

· Reflect on the concept of fasting and self-denial in Lent. How might these

practices help you to cultivate a deeper awareness of your own desires and

attachments

· Lent calls us to be new, the leave the “old self” behind. What must I leave

behind? What newness am I invited to cultivate?

· Lent helps us understand that suffering is a stepping stone to maturity. For what

am I willing to suffer?

· The Triduum calls us to decision making. Will I really follow Jesus or simply go

on watching from afar?

· Good Friday: Am I willing to go to the cross with Jesus, taking up my own cross

In a culture that rewards acceptance of the status quo? 

· How do I live out the Easter message that says “ Go and tell the others?”

Questions have been taken from the discussion guide for this book prepared by the author: Dr. Timothy O’Malley

We are so glad that you are here! Whether you’re reading Becoming Eucharistic People: The Hope and Promise of Parish Life with a group from your parish, in your regular small group or book club, or on your own, this guide is designed to help you get the most out of your reading. The questions in this guide are taken from the book . The questions are designed to be read and reflected on during or after reading each chapter. Members of the group should do this and take notes prior to coming together. If you’re reading this on your own, take time after each chapter to pray and reflectively consider these questions.

WEEK 5 CHAPTER 5 5/1-5/8

         A CULTURE OF EUCHARISTIC SOLIDARITY APRIL 30- MAY 6

1. Look over the resources online dedicated to the works of mercy. What makes

each work of mercy Eucharistic?

2. What could your parish do to better cultivate these Eucharistic works of mercy

as acts of solidarity?

3. Be honest. Is your parish polarized over politics? How?

4. How might the Eucharist allow you to move forward if you are polarized? How

might the Eucharist help you to uphold the dignity of each and every human life?

5. Gather a group of parishioners to take our course on Catholic Social Teaching

and the Eucharist. Who would you invite?

This is the final chapter for BECOMING A EUCHARISTIC PEOPLE

WEEK 4      CHAPTER 4   

        A EUCHARISTIC POPULAR CATHOLICISM       APRIL 23-29

1. Is popular Catholicism, as defined by Goizueta, integral to the identity of your parish. If so, how do you know? If not, why?

2. How might popular Catholicism, as laid out in this chapter, serve as a salve against a private Catholicism focused only on the individual?

 3. Think about devotions that you learned as a child or adult. How are they Eucharistic in the way defined by this book?

 4. Family and work are both defined by the Eucharist. How?

5. Does your parish treat families and workers as Eucharistic? If you don’t (or you could do better), what ideas did this chapter generate for you? Are there ways that you could use the resources available online for cultivating a Eucharistic popular Catholicism in your parish setting? 

WEEK 3

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR CHAPTER 3.           APRIL 16-22

1. Before continuing, think about adult catechesis at your parish. What kind of formation takes place? 

Would you describe this formation as integral? Why or why not?

2. What do you wish you better understood about the Eucharist or the celebration of Mass?

3. How might an integral Eucharistic formation benefit your parish in becoming Eucharistic people?

WEEK 2   CHAPTER 2

A CULTURE OF EUCHARISTIC REVERENCE                  APRIL  9-15

1. What are your first reactions to these five dimensions of an enculturated reverence at Mass?

 2. Would you say, upon first reaction, that your parish celebrates the liturgy in an enculturated reverent manner?

WEEK 1  CHAPTER 1  

WHAT IS EUCHARISTIC CULTURE?                                     APRIL 2-8

1. Having read through this section on culture, list five to ten features of the culture of your parish. 

2. Imagine that someone outside your parish community showed up to Mass. How do you think that person would describe the culture of your parish? Would that description be different than the features you listed above? 

3. Do you see the four aspects of a Eucharistic culture in your parish? Are there areas where your parish requires a conversion to foster a new culture? 

Read

Biography (Pages 93-97)

Reflect

Commissioned by Christ (Mt 28:16-20)

 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain

to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw

him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus

approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been

given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching

them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you

always, until the end of the age.”

Read

Bowman: A School of Evangelization and Discipleship by Peter Jesserer

Smith (Pages 99-104

Respond

How can Sister Thea Bowman teach us to be more attentive to the cultures

that form and shape the members of our society?

What are some ways Bowman teaches us to be more joyful in our

proclamation of the Gospel?

How can Bowman’s life instruct us to be “fully functioning” disciples?

Offer the prayer for Bowman’s beatification (Pages 97-98).