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Diocese of Allentown
Adult Formation Newsletter
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The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary on Saturday, October 7, 2017.
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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
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The Institute for Catechesis and Formation
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Learn Your Faith + Live Your Faith + Love Your Faith
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Join us to enrich your faith with ICF courses taking place in the Fall of 2017!
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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.
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ICF 105 - Christian Morality
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Theology of the Body Seminars
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Come join us for one or all of our seminars which will delve into Pope Saint John Paul II’s groundbreaking teaching known as the Theology of the Body!
These seminars are for anyone recognizing the need for a restored relationship with God, others, and the created world.
Each seminar will take place in the Religious Education building of St. Mary Parish in Kutztown from 9:30 to 11:30am on the dates listed below. The cost is $20 per seminar or save $10 by registering for all three at once at
www.allentowndiocese.org/icf!
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Saturday, October 21, 2017
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This seminar will discuss God’s original plan for us and the gifts he bestowed on us before the Fall of our first parents in Eden. Our bodies are more than just vehicles for our souls. They express something deep in our human experience that connects us to God, each other, and the world. The presenter will be William Hamant, Ph.D. of DeSales University.
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Saturday, November 11, 2017
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The Redemption of the Heart
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This seminar will discuss the Fall in Eden and how it affects our relationship with God, each other, and the world around us. It won’t be all bad news; we will also explore how Jesus redeems our broken hearts and offers us a path to renewed relationship! The presenter will be Andrew Whitmore, a Ph.D. candidate studying at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
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Saturday, December 2, 2017
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This seminar will discuss the different vocations of love that we are all called to and will show how each points to our ultimate end in God’s loving embrace.
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Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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Faith and Spirits
was created to provide a forum for all adult Catholics to learn more about their faith in a comfortable setting. It is offered at various locations throughout the Diocese with a variety of engaging speakers and intriguing topics. Come enjoy an evening out, a meal with friends, and an opportunity to deepen your faith!
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Divine Mercy and 100 Years of Fatima
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Join us as
Rev. Richard James
explores what the messages of Fatima and Divine Mercy have to do with us today. What are the messages of Divine Mercy and Our Lady of Fatima? What do the messages of Divine Mercy and Fatima have to do with each other? These questions and more will be discussed. There is no cost to attend and no registration is required. There will be menus available for ordering food and drink at your expense.
Monday, October 10, 2017
6:30 P.M.
Vito's Coal Fired Pizza and Restaurant
400 Terry Rich Blvd.
Saint Clair, PA 17970
Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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Spiritual Battle: Good vs. Evil
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Join us as
Rev. Stephen DeLacy
of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia explores how we are daily engaged in spiritual battle. Does Satan really exist? Can I lose Salvation? How does sin affect me? These questions and more will be discussed. There is no cost to attend and no registration is required. There will be menus available for ordering food and drink at your expense.
Monday, November 20, 2017
6:30 P.M.
Fegley's Allentown Brew Works
812 Hamilton St.
Allentown, PA 18101
Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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TRUTH
What the Catholic Church Really Teaches
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Formerly known as the Apologetics Forum, this free series will discuss topics within the Faith that many of our contemporaries disagree with or don't ascribe to. Many of us believe the Church's teachings but don't know how to speak about them with our neighbors, co-workers, and children. This series will change that.
TRUTH: What the Catholic Church Really Teaches
will prepare every day lay Catholics with the tools of how to discuss the challenging teachings of our great Faith.
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The Rosary: Power Beyond Description
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Have you ever been asked or wondered… Is praying the Rosary worshiping Mary? Why isn’t the Rosary mentioned in the Bible? Why is the Rosary so powerful? Join us as
Fr. Kevin Gualano
discusses how to answer these and other common questions about the Rosary!
Thursday, October 26, 2017
7:00 P.M.
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish Hall
300 W. Babbitt Ave.
Pen Argyl, PA 18072
Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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Marriage, Divorce & Annulments
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Have you ever been asked or wondered… Is an annulment just "Catholic divorce"? Can divorced people recieve the Eucharist? Join us as
Msgr. Victor Finelli
discusses how to answer these and other common questions about the Church's teaching on marriage!
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
7:00 P.M.
St. Joseph Parish Hall
(Annunciation BVM Hall)
9 S. Broad Mountain Ave.
Frackville, PA 17931
Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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Finding God's Will in the Mundane
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We all make hundreds of decisions every day, large and small; how do you know what God’s will is in those decisions? Join us on Thursday, October 19, 2017 from 7 to 9PM at the McGlinn Conference and Spirituality Center in Reading as
Rev. Frank Kaminski, S.J. helps us to uncover the mystery of finding God’s will in our everyday lives and decisions. This event is free of charge, but please register at
www.allentowndiocese.org/aff as seating is limited.
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Thursday, October 19, 2017
7:00 P.M.
McGlinn Conference & Spirituality Center
460 St. Bernardine St.
Reading, PA 19607
Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
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Diocese of Allentown to be dedicated to Mary
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100th Anniversary
of Our Lady of Fatima Apparitions
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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
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Come as a family and enjoy a few hours complete with faith-filled activities, a family holy hour, and a family meal (pasta, salad, rolls).
Cost: $10 per family includes dinner and activities for the entire family.
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Sunday, October 22, 2017
4:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Lehigh / Northampton Deaneries
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Parish
618 Fullerton Ave, Whitehall
Schuylkill / Carbon Deaneries
St. Patrick Parish
319 Mahantongo St, Pottsville
Berks Deanery
Holy Guardian Angels Parish
3121 Kutztown Rd, Reading
Hosted by the Office for Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry
Questions, call (610) 289-8900, ext. 2021
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2017 Diocesan Men's Conference
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Lord, To Whom Shall We Go?
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A once in a lifetime opportunity for Catholics
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Cursillo (pronounced cur see o) is a worldwide lay movement within the Catholic Church dedicated to the renewal of the faith and Christian service to our communities. Cursillo has been active in the Allentown Diocese since 1970 and is open to all adult Catholics in good standing .
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88th Men's Weekend
Thursday, October 12, 2017
to
Sunday, October 15, 2017
St Francis Center for Renewal
Monocacy Manor
395 Bridle Path Road
Bethlehem, PA 18017
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88th Women's Weekend
Thursday, October 19, 2017
to
Sunday, October 22, 2017
St Francis Center for Renewal
Monocacy Manor
395 Bridle Path Road
Bethlehem, PA 18017
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For more information contact:
Or talk with your pastor or local priest
Click on the image for a copy of the flyer.
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The Diocese of Harrisburg
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Click on the image of the flyer below for registration and more information.
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Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology
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Saturday, October 21, 2017
8:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.
St. Mary's Catholic Church
201 Garnier St
Pittsburgh, PA 15215
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You are invited to join Dr. Scott Hahn and the St. Paul Center for a special filming event in Pittsburgh, PA. This event will feature three of Dr. Hahn's best known talks:
The Lambs Supper, Consuming the Word, and the Fourth Cup. The event is free and includes lunch. Limited seats available so
register today.
This is a filming event, when you register for this event you will be part of a filmed audience and need to commit to staying for the entire event. Proper attire is requested, Business Casual is recommended. If you have any questions contact Jonathan McGovern at the St. Paul Center at 740-264-9535 ext. 20 or
jonathanmcgovern@stpaulcenter.com.
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The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation
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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
The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation.
The Bible Timeline is a fascinating study that takes participants on a journey through the entire Bible. They will go deep into each period of Salvation History and discover the amazing story woven throughout all of Scripture. Using a unique color-coded system, they will learn the major people, places, and events of the Bible and see how they all come together to reveal the remarkable story of our faith. The Bible Timeline has been granted the Imprimatur.
Your Group Will:
- Read 14 narrative books of the Bible and discover the amazing story woven throughout Scripture
- Learn how the key people, places, and events in the Bible fit together to reveal God's plan for humanity
- Study the Bible from a Catholic perspective and see how our faith is rooted in Sacred Scripture
- See how the events in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament by Christ and the Church
- Gain a greater appreciation for the Scripture readings you hear during Mass
- See how God reveals himself to us through Scripture and learn how God's Word applies to your life today
- Develop a life-long hunger for knowing God in his word and lay a strong foundation for further Bible reading and study
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For resources in our library visit
or Call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2027.
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What importance does the New Testament have for Christians?
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The New Testament
, whose central object is Jesus Christ, conveys to us the ultimate truth of Divine Revelation. Within the New Testament the four Gospels of Mathew, Mark, Luke and John are the heart of all the Scriptures because they are the principle witness to the life and teaching of Jesus. As such, they hold a unique place in the Church.
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The Catholic Mirror:
Reflections on Our Life in Christ
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Do you believe in miracles? The glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines a miracle as "A sign or wonder, such as a healing or the control of nature, which can only be attributed to divine power. The miracles of Jesus were messianic signs of the presence of God's kingdom." Many Catholics have spent most of this year celebrating a series of miracles known as the Apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima.
One hundred years ago, the Blessed Mother appeared six times to three children in a rural town in Portugal. By the sixth apparition, on October 13, 1917, over 70,000 people, believers and skeptics, gathered to witness what would be known as the
Miracle of the Sun. The sun inexplicably "danced" in the sky before the crowd.
Most of us are not likely experience such a visually stimulating miracle in our lifetimes. Perhaps you hear stories like the one above, or read the account of Moses parting the Red Sea in Exodus, or Jesus' calming of the storm in the Gospels and think that they must be coincidences or can't possibly be true. While it is rare to experience miracles that are as seemingly fantastic as the ones in Scripture or throughout Catholic history, it is likely that all of us have experienced some sort of miracle in our lives, however subtle and unnoticed.
Perhaps you have looked back on a time in your life and think, "I have no idea how I made it through that." Maybe you have witnessed a healing, physical or spiritual. If you have attended Mass or recieved a Sacrament, you have experienced a miracle; the dispensing of grace is only able to be attributed to divine power. The question is, are you open to seeing those miracles in your life? Are you open to God's will so that he can share his miraculous gifts with you?
Let us Praise the Lord.
-And give him thanks.
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Thank you for reading. We pray that you have a fruitful Autumn. 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
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The Feast of
Saints Simon and Jude
on Saturday,
October 28, 2017.
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Rick Dooley, Assistant Director
Office of Adult Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2027
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Mary Fran Hartigan, Director
Faith Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2026
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