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

Chapter 1

The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life

1. This chapter describes the liturgical year as a spiraling adventure. How does this

resonate with your spiritual life?

2. How does cyclical time used here to describe the liturgical year, differ from linear

time and how does this understanding affect your spiritual growth?

Chapter 2

A Living Model, A Real Life

1. Reflect on the connection between contemplation and action. How does a

contemplative approach to the liturgical year inspire you to live out your faith more

fully in the world?

2. How might the liturgical year deepen your capacity for wonder?

Chapter 3

The Year that Gives Meaning to Every Other Year

1. What is the challenge in understanding that authentic engagement in the liturgy

calls us to live a spiritual life that matters? What does it mean to live a spiritual life

that matters?

Chapter 4

The Components of the Liturgical Year

1. How does the liturgical year shape me into becoming who I say I am: A disciple of

Jesus Christ?

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).