CHURCH
OF ST. LEO THE GREAT
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR CHRISTIAN ENRICHMENT
The
information in this brochure will help you identify opportunities
the parish has developed to enrich your faith both spiritually
and mentally. After you have reviewed the information please use
the registration sheet to sign up for one or more sessions. The
registration sheet contains information regarding the dates and
times of the sessions. For more information, contact parish staff
or members of the parish council for further information.
GETTING
STARTED IN OUR FAITH (Baptism,
Confirmation, Eucharist)
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, RCIA
Rite
of Christian Initiation of Children, RCIC
Infant
Baptism
Teen
Confirmation
Adult
Confirmation
First
Eucharist
GROWING
IN FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING
Family Faith Formation
Adult
Offerings
Sunday
Morning Scripture Discussion
Scripture
Study
Catholic
Basics
Returning
Catholics
Theology
on Tap
Divine
Mercy Prayer Group
Legion
of Mary
Christian
Meditation
Social
Justice Committee
Youth
and Children Offerings
On-Going
Formation
Teens
(grades 9 – 12)
Young
Teens (grades 6 – 8)
Intermediate
(grades 3 – 5)
SACRAMENTS
FOR OUR FAITH JOURNEY
Reconciliation
First
Reconciliation Preparation
Anointing
of the Sick
Holy
Matrimony
Holy
Orders
WORSHIP
AND PRAYER
Eucharistic
Liturgies
Eucharistic
Adoration
Marian
Devotions
The
Rosary
Stations
of the Cross
Christian
Meditation
Divine
Mercy Prayer Group
GETTING
STARTED IN OUR FAITH
(Baptism,
Confirmation, Eucharist)
RITE
OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA)
The
RCIA is a four-stage process designed to welcome, instruct and
support adults preparing to embrace or confirm Catholic Christianity.
Adults baptized in other Christian faith traditions are also engaged
in this process. The RCIA process has two distinct components.
One component provides information about Catholic teachings and
doctrine – the elements of the Faith which are uniquely Catholic;
the other component is worship, prayer, community, and reflection
– the nurturing of one’s universal (catholic) faith life. The
RCIA may take as long as three years depending on the participant.
RITE
OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF CHILDREN (RCIC)
The
purpose of RCIC is identical to RCIA, to welcome, instruct and
support. RCIC welcomes children age six through seventeen who
are non-baptized or baptized with no additional sacraments. RCIC
places family in the center of the process because the participant’s
most important community is the family. This is a one to two year
process depending on the child.
INFANT
BAPTISM
Baptism
is the first sacrament of the church and provides an opportunity
for parents to introduce and immerse their child (up to age five)
into the faith life of the believing community, seals the child
with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and sets the child on the path
to salvation. Parents, the primary evangelizers of their child,
attend baptism formation sessions to prepare for the sacrament
of baptism.
TEEN
CONFIRMATION
High
school age teens are invited to accept responsibility for their
faith journey, their walk with God. Confirmation formation invites
teens to develop a richer prayer life, explore moral issues, learn
about Church teachings and take an active role in the faith community.
Confirmation formation is a two-year process.
ADULT
CONFIRMATION
See
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA)
FIRST
EUCHARIST
See
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) or Children (RCIC)
depending on age.
GROWING
IN FAITH AND UNDERSTANDING
FAMILY
FAITH FORMATION
This
program offers families an opportunity to grow in faith together.
For adults, it is often a religious education refresher course
with some new information thrown in for good measure. Children
often get to experience some Catholic traditions with their parents
for the first time. All participants experience the faith through
different eyes.
ADULT
OFFERINGS (Sessions geared toward
supporting the spirituality and consciousness of Catholic adults)
Scripture Study Group
We
offer two types of Scripture study formats. Both provide an informal
atmosphere to read, explore and deepen your understanding of the
Word of God. One format, Sunday Morning Scripture Discussion,
is lectionary-based (based on the designated readings for each
Sunday). The other, Scripture Study, chiefly explores one book
of the Bible at a time.
Catholic Basics
This
course is designed to nurture new and not-so-new Catholics with
a simple look at the doctrine, tradition, and lifestyle of Catholics.
We will use the United States Catholic Catechism as our foundation
for discussion. We will discuss topics such as prayer, the Bible,
Church teachings and lifestyle.
Returning
Catholics Series
This
is a ten-week series, starting before Lent each year, designed
for those who are considering a return to active participation
in the Catholic faith. Each week different areas are presented
for discussion, such as: why people stop practicing their faith,
changes in the Church, active participation and reconciliation.
The series closes with the Lenten communal celebration of the
Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Theology
on Tap (TOT)
The
idea behind Theology on Tap is “take it to the people”. People,
especially young adults, go to bars and pubs to socialize and
the Kerry House Pub on Piedmont Avenue is no different. Consequently,
St Leo the Great sponsors two “six-packs” (six sessions) of Theology
on Tap per year, once in the spring and once in the fall. Who
says religion and alcohol don’t mix?
Divine
Mercy Prayer and Formation
St
Faustina Kowalska, a polish nun, wrote a diary of about 600 pages
in which she recorded revelations she received about God’s mercy.
This prayer group seeks to learn more about the mercy of God and
spread the message of God’s Divine Mercy for the world.
Legion
of Mary
In
1921, Frank Duff, led by a sincere devotion to Mary, gathered
a group of devotees to pray, to nurture their faith and to answer
their baptismal call to “spread the word”. This small group was
the beginning of the worldwide apostolate of the Legion of Mary.
The Legion of Mary uses the Roman Legion as a model for order
and discipline and to remind the members, legionaries, that they
are a part of a vast army/legion.
Christian
Meditation
The
modern world believes that meditation is a concept of the Eastern
religions, but meditation has been a part of the Church for centuries.
Christian Meditation seeks to quiet our lives and enable us to
find Jesus at our center.
Social
Justice Committee
The
Church has served the needs of the poor and underprivileged for
all time. The bishops constantly call us to action on the part
of those in need. The Social Justice committee works, in the parish
community, to keep us mindful and involved in this work of God.
YOUTH
AND CHILDREN OFFEREINGS
On-Going Formation (Post Eucharist Catechesis)
•
Teens (Grades
9 – 12)
As
in life, with age comes more responsibility. Teens are invited
to develop a more adult faith and to move forward in their understanding
and relationship with the Trinity. We will explore the Catholic
faith by exploring the teachings of the Church, life experiences,
moral theology and other significant ideas and beliefs based on
the age and needs of the participants.
•
Young Teens
(Grades 6 – 8)
Young
teens will be encouraged to study the rituals of the Church, such
as the Mass and the Sacraments. Then, after studying these visible
signs of God at work, they will be asked to put that knowledge
into action by applying it in everyday life. Young teens will
design prayer services and study the saints.
•
Children
(Grades 3 – 5)
A
Christian is a disciple of Christ and to be a disciple of Christ
we first need to know what Christ did, what he said, and why.
Children will use the weekly Sunday Scriptures to come to know
Jesus better, then begin to develop the skills necessary to make
Jesus’ actions their actions.
First
Reconciliation Preparation (See
Sacraments for Our Faith Journey)
Teen
Confirmation (See Getting Started
in Our Faith)
SACRAMENTS
FOR OUR FAITH JOURNEY
RECONCILIATION
(Confession, Penance)
This
is a sacrament of healing – healing a broken relationship with
God. The action of asking for forgiveness, confessing our sins,
receiving absolution and doing penance enable us to continue our
journey toward God. Priests are available on Saturdays from 3:30PM
to 4:30PM in the Reconciliation Chapel (located off the vestibule
of the Church). You may schedule an appointment with a priest
for individual confession and counsel. We also celebrate Communal
Reconciliation Services during the Advent and Lenten seasons.
•
First Reconciliation Preparation
Children,
ages ten and older, are encouraged to prepare for the sacrament
of Reconciliation, also known as Confession of sinfulness or Penance.
They will prepare by completing a preparation booklet with the
help of family, attending five preparation sessions to further
explore the nature of sin and the mercy of God, and by participating
in a readiness interview. The First Reconciliation will take place
at the Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service.
ANOINTING
OF THE SICK
This
sacrament of healing is another sign of God’s love for us. We
remember that Jesus “went about doing good and healing”. One of
the most important parts of our human bodies to heal is our spirit.
Physical healing can happen only after we are at peace with our
loving God. If you are in need of this life-changing sacrament,
please phone the parish office (654-6177) to make arrangements.
In addition, we offer Communal Anointing of the Sick services
throughout the year.
HOLY
MATRIMONY
Holy
Matrimony, marriage, is a covenant relationship. “The marriage
covenant refers to the relationship between the husband and wife,
a permanent union of persons capable of knowing and loving each
other and God.” (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults)
It is also a Sacrament of Service, which means it is a sacrament
directed at the salvation of others. Engaged couples, seeking
the Sacrament of Marriage, should begin the process at least six
months prior to the anticipated wedding date. Couples must complete
a marriage preparation course and other Church requirements.
HOLY
ORDERS
This
Sacrament of Service actively involves men in the salvation work
of God. There are three degrees or “orders” in the Sacrament of
Holy Orders; they are bishop, priest, and deacon. Men who discern
a call to a life of service are invited to speak to the Pastor
or contact the diocesan vocation office.
•
Sisters (Nuns)
Women
have actively been in involved in the salvation work of the Church
since its inception. Women who discern a call to service are also
invited to speak the Pastor or contact the diocesan vocation office.
WORSHIP
AND PRAYER
EUCHARISTIC
LITURGY
The
Mass is our most valuable and sacred source of Christian enrichment.
It is here that we, a community of believers, are regularly nourished
with the Word of God and the Bread of Life. We are reminded, at
the Mass, that Christianity does not stop at the doors of the
church; it is carried within us to our homes and outside communities.
Mass times are Monday through Friday at 12:10PM, Saturday at 8:00AM.
The Saturday Vigil Mass is at 5:00PM, and Masses on Sunday are
at 8:30AM and 11:00AM.
EUCHARISTIC
ADORATION
Prayer
before the Blessed Sacrament is an immensely important form of
devotion to our Lord and recognition of our unique relationship
with God, our Father. When we set aside time for Eucharistic Adoration
we acknowledge Christ’s Real Presence in the Eucharist, in ourselves
and in each other. We have set aside time on the first Saturday
of each month at 3:30PM for Eucharistic Adoration.
MARIAN
DEVOTIONS
Mary,
the Virgin Mother of God, was the first disciple of Christ, she
continues to be a model of discipleship. Parishioners are invited
to form societies, small groups dedicated to Mary. Currently,
there are two groups formed to honor the Blessed Mother.
•
The devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help meets
at 4:00PM in the church on the first Saturday of each month.
•
The Legion of Mary (see Growing in Faith and Understanding)
meets at 7:00PM each Thursday in the Old Prayer Room.
THE
ROSARY
The
Rosary is a traditional prayer of the Church that encourages participants
to meditate on significant events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.
We pray the Rosary as a community each Saturday morning following
the 8:00AM Mass.
STATIONS
OF THE CROSS
The
Stations of the Cross (also known as the Way of the Cross) is
another of the traditional devotions of the Church. Devotees use
scenes from the Passion and Crucifixion of the Lord to remember
the price Christ paid for the salvation of the world and to examine
their own consciences. On Fridays during Lent, we gather to pray
the Stations of the Cross after the 12:10 Mass. On Good Friday
we pray the Stations at 7:30PM.
CHRISTIAN
MEDITATION
Christian
Meditation (see Growing in Faith and Understanding) meets on Saturday
mornings at 10:00AM in the Rectory. All are encouraged to learn
this form of prayer.
DIVINE
MERCY PRAYER GROUP
This
prayer and formation group (see Growing in Faith and Understanding)
gathers in the Rectory on Monday evenings at 7:30PM. All are invited.
This
brochure provides only a brief description of the services, programs,
and processes which are presently included in our parish’s Christian
Enrichment Program. If you have an idea for some type of Christian
Enrichment different from those listed in this brochure, please
feel encouraged to talk to a parish staff or parish council member
about your idea. We are most happy to promote and encourage a
wide variety of Christian Enrichment Opportunities. Please contact
parish staff or parish council members if you need further information
about any of the items listed in this brochure.
