Diocese of Allentown
Adult Formation Newsletter
The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Tuesday, August 15, 2017.
August 2017
Greetings!

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and learn about all of the great offerings that we have planned for the coming months!

We hope that you are able to join us at some of the wonderful events and courses that we have available for you!

In Christ,

Office of Adult Formation
Diocese of Allentown
610-289-8900
Bishop-Elect Alfred A. Schlert
Ordination / Installation Information
In celebration of the Ordination and Installation of Bishop-elect Alfred Schlert as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown, the Diocese will be having two liturgical services:

1. Solemn Vespers at which the Bishop-elect will make a Profession of Faith and the Oath of Fidelity is scheduled for Wednesday, August 30 at 7:00 PM at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena in Allentown (1825 Turner Street, Allentown, PA. 18104). This event is open to the public.  As the Allentown Fair will be occurring, all parking will be at St. Thomas More Church (1040 Flexer Avenue, Allentown, PA. 18105).  Continuous shuttles will be running beginning at 5:00 PM.  Light refreshments in the Parish Activity Center will follow and everyone will have a chance to greet the Bishop-Elect.

2 The Mass of Ordination will be held at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena on Thursday, August 31 at 2:00 PM. Because of space limitations at the Cathedral, attendance at this event is by invitation only. The Ordination/Installation will be broadcast live on Service Electric and Blue Ridge Cable TV locally. Efforts are underway to have it broadcast nationally as well. It will also be livestreamed on the Diocesan Facebook page:
The Institute for Catechesis and Formation
Learn Your Faith + Live Your Faith + Love Your Faith
Join us to enrich your faith with ICF courses taking place in Summer and Fall of 2017!
CAT II - Classroom Applications
Practical  information for catechists on their role as formators in the Faith. The course includes  learning to create lesson plans, communication with parents and how to engage them in religious instruction, material delivery at age-appropriate levels, and more.

ICF 101 - Christian Anthropology
What does it mean to be human? This course will examine who God is as the One who seeks to share Himself with His creation. A brief survey of Salvation History will be traced to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer who saves humanity, and teaches us what it means to be a human person. 
ICF 102 - The Old Testament
The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself to His creation, and the story of His love for us. This course will provide a brief introduction to the origin of Sacred Scripture: its source, how the Canon was formed, and the senses in which we can interpret Scripture. The remainder of the course will focus on the Old Testament: the creation of the earth and God’s covenant of love with the human person, the fall into sin, and the revelation, over time, of God’s plan of salvation.
ICF 103 - The New Testament
This course picks up the story of God's plan of salvation with an introduction to the Gospels, Apostolic preaching and the origins of the Church, concluding with the conversion, preaching and travels of St. Paul.
ICF 104 - The Sacraments
The Sacraments are intimate, personal encounters between God and His people. This course will present an overview of these signs of God's love for us, by which He makes a personal connection with us and conveys grace - His very life within us.
ICF 105 - Christian Morality
Learn not just the  what, but the  why, of the Church’s moral teachings. Participants will examine virtue, conscience formation and make application to contemporary moral issues in the areas of health care, sexuality and social justice.
ICF 106 - The Church
The Church is the place of encounter between God and His people on earth. This course will provide a brief overview of the origins of the Church; Her identity as One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic; and what it means to be "the Body of Christ" on earth.
ICF 201 - Prayer & Spirituality
Deepen your relationship with Christ  by learning the fundamentals of a Catholic prayer life and spiritual dispositions.  Participants will examine what it means to pray, why we pray, and how to have a fruitful prayer life.  Practical exercises of traditional Catholic prayers and devotions will be covered so  you will learn how to express yourself to God and how to hear his voice in your everyday life .
The Institute for Catechesis and Formation is intended to provide an opportunity for all of the faithful to delve deeper in their understanding of God's saving plan for us all.
Desire
Fulfilling Our Deepest Longing
We all have a longing deep in our hearts that isn't satisfied by the things of this world.

Many people search for fulfillment in a variety of ways, but are left with a sense of emptiness.

National presenter Bill Donaghy will explore what and who we are made for so that we can finally attain our desire and fulfill our deepest longing. 
  Cost: $10 (includes wine and cheese)

Saturday, September 30, 2017
7:00 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
(Doors open at 6:30 P.M.)

St. Thomas More Family Center
1040 Flexer Ave.
Allentown, PA 18103

Questions: Please email
adultformation@allentowndiocese.org
or call 610-289-8900

Annual Diocesan Anniversary Mass
For Couples Celebrating 5, 25, 40, 50, 60 or More Years of Marriage
Sunday, September 17, 2017
3:00 P.M.

Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena
1875 W. Turner St.
Allentown, PA 18104

Questions: Please email
mflf@allentowndiocese.org
or call 610-289-8900 ext. 24

2017 Diocesan Family Festival
Save the Date!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
11:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.

Bethlehem Steel Stacks
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Questions: Please email
cle@allentowndiocese.org
or call 610-289-8900

Diocese of Allentown to be dedicated to Mary
100th Anniversary
of Our Lady of Fatima Apparitions
All of the dioceses in Pennsylvania are going to be dedicated to the Blessed Mother in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima. Join us as our diocese is dedicated!

Sunday, October 15, 2017
12:00 P.M. Mass

Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena
18th and Turner Streets
Allentown, PA 18104
Sistine Chapel Choir
United States Tour
This September the Sistine Chapel Choir, also known as the "Pope's Choir" will be giving concerts during a short tour in the US! It is the oldest choir in the world dating back to the seventh century.

The locations and dates are:

New York City
Saturday, September 16, 2017
St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, September 20, 2017
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception

Detroit
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Detroit Opera House

Tickets prices start at $50 per person .
For more information or to purchase tickets visit  http://sistinechapelustour.com/
True Reformers
July 31 is the feast of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and to celebrate the Augustine Institute is allowing free access to the episode about this Saint from their True Reformers series. The free access is available only until August 6, so take advantage of the opportunity and watch it today!
Presented by Dr. Christopher Blum, True Reformers is the first comprehensive study program to present a specifically Catholic worldview that addresses the Protestant Reformation, 500 years later.
Resource Highlight
FORMED.ORG
The Office of Adult Formation has a resource library that is available for
parishes, prayer groups, and individuals to review. This month we will highlight one of our resources called Beloved.
 
What if marriage is more than a simple contract between two people, based on romance, mutual fulfillment, and basic attraction? What if woven into the very design of your humanity is a purposeful desire for you to be united with your beloved, creating something new, mysterious, and holy? What if your marriage is designed to be a vital part of God's work in the world?

In 12 sessions, Beloved explores the essential realities of marriage, dealing with the deepest spiritual, emotional, and practical aspects of what the sacrament means for those preparing to get married as well as those who yearn for a richer married life. Through Scripture, Tradition, and Church teaching, God's plan for marriage will come alive.

You'll see firsthand how to experience the mystery, happiness, and joy of this sacrament-from that first "I do" through the rest of your lives. Informative and inspirational, Beloved will help you live out the Sacrament of Marriage more profoundly, so that your love story is drawn ever more into the greatest love story of all... God's own love for us.

For more information about Beloved visit  https://www.augustineinstitute.org/formed/beloved/
For resources in our library visit
http://www.allentowndiocese.org/aff/faith-formation-resources/
or Call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2027.
Catholic Basics
What is the Canon of Scripture?
The  Canon of Scripture is the complete list of the sacred writings which the Church has come to recognize through Apostolic Tradition. The  Canon consists of 46 books of the Old Testament and 27 of the New.
The Catholic Mirror:
Reflections on Our Life in Christ
The Intercession of Moses
Many of us are familiar with the story of Exodus, at least in part. We know a lot of the main plot points: Slavery, Moses, Burning Bush, 10 Plagues, Red Sea, 10 Commandments, Golden Calf, and 40 years in the desert. Have you ever taken the time to sit down and read it like you have never heard any of this before? Have you ever considered other details of this miraculous story?

Exodus 32 is a chapter which most people are familiar with, even if you don't know it by chapter, or even if you never have read it. Charlton Heston acted out this scene in the 1956 classic film,  The Ten Commandments. While Moses was up on Mount Sinai conversing with God and receiving the 10 Commandments, the people were at the base of the mountain worshiping a golden calf. Understandably, God and Moses aren't so happy about this.

The focus of our reflection actually takes place in the following chapter where God tells Moses that his presence will no longer travel with the people because of their sinfulness, otherwise they would be consumed, so an Angel would lead them in God's stead. Moses interceded with God for his people and begged that God's presence continue to go with them. He said, " Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from all other people that are upon the face of the earth?" (Exodus 33:16)

While there are multiple implications that could be drawn from this statement, we are going to focus on one: What makes the people distinct is not their lineage, but the fact that God goes with them. It isn't their lineage from Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob that matters, that makes them one people; it is their relationship with God that is their truly defining trait. It is as if Moses is saying to God, "If you aren't leading us yourself, then what are we? How are we any different from the Egyptians that we just left in ruins or the Canaanites whom we are about to drive out?" Moses recognizes that there is no point to the laws or their journey as a people without the presence of God. This is a key to understanding the rest of Israel's story, they time and again fall into idolatry and are bereft of God's presence and their later exile is an expression of their lack of divine presence. In fact, even after they return to the Promised Land and rebuild the Temple, God's presence does not reside in the Temple in the same way as in the days of Solomon. God's presence does not return to Israel in a unique and definitive way until the Advent of Christ.

As Catholics we have the beautiful Sacrament of the Eucharist, in which our God is fully present. When we consume the Sacrament, God joins himself, in a special way, closer to us than he was to Israel before the Golden Calf. We are not only God's people, but his very body with Christ as our head. Do we take his presence with us? Do we let ourselves be distinct from the rest of the world because we bear the presence of God within us? God's presence should saturate our very being and fill everything that we do as his presence is always with us. He created you with free will so you have to decide, he won't force himself upon you; will you bear his presence with you in all things, or is there a Golden Calf in your life that you are still holding onto?

Let us Praise the Lord.
-And give him thanks.

Thank you for reading. We pray that you continue to have a restful summer. Hopefully we will see you at some of our events!

Deo Omnis Gloria.

Diocese of Allentown
Office of Adult Formation
2121 Madison Ave
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18017
610-289-8900
http://www.allentowndiocese.org/aff

The Memorial of
Saint John Vianney
on Friday,
August 4, 2017.
Rick Dooley, Assistant Director
Office of Adult Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2027
Mary Fran Hartigan, Director
Faith Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2026