Diocese of Allentown
Adult Formation Newsletter
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The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday, June 9, 2018
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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 Summer of 2018!
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An overview of fundamental Catholic teachings based on the founding Symbol of our Faith. This course provides catechists with a foundation in the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith, and is a good starting point leading to further study. The course is highly recommended for Catechists; but everyone is invited to learn more about what it means to say, I believe…
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CAT II - Classroom Applications
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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.
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If you have been thinking about taking an ICF course but not sure about making the investment, this is for you! We are offering a course for free this summer. The only risk is that you will leave wanting to take more classes!
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ICF 103 - The New Testament
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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.
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Instructor: Sr. Marie Clark, MSC
Location: St. Mary, Kutztown
Parish Religious Education Center
Dates: Tuesdays, June 19, 26, July 3 & 10, 2018
Time: 9:45 AM to 11:45 AM
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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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Steubenville Adult Conferences
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Power and Purpose Conference
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Do you want…
- to learn more about the Holy Spirit and what He can do in your life?
- to discover a purpose for your life?
- freedom and healing from past wounds?
June 8-10, 2018
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St. John Bosco Conference
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Do you want…
- renewal and revitalization in both your personal spiritual life and in your ministry?
- to be equipped to be a better minister?
- to experience community with other catechists and evangelizers?
June 16-19, 2018
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Applied Biblical Studies Conference
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Do you want…
- a greater devotion to and understanding of Sacred Scripture?
- to learn how to pray with Sacred Scripture?
- to be able to have better discussions with our Protestant brothers and sisters?
July 25-27, 2018
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Defending the Faith Conference
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Do you want…
- a deeper understanding of Catholic Church teaching and knowledge of how to convey it to friends and family?
- a greater sense of confidence in your faith?
- to learn how to live your faith in your everyday life?
July 27-29, 2018
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**Deacon Bruce Swist will be running a bus to the Defending the Faith Conference departing from Holy Guardian Angels in Reading on Friday, July 27 and returning on Sunday, July 29, 2018.
Contact Deacon Bruce Swist for details.
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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
ChristLife.
ChristLife equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization so others might personally encounter Jesus Christ and be transformed into His missionary disciples.
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For more information about
ChristLife visit
For more resources in our Diocesan library visit
or Call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2027.
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Why is faith a personal act, and at the same time ecclesial?
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Faith is a personal act insofar as it is the free response of the human person to God who reveals himself. But at the same time it is an ecclesial act which expresses itself in the proclamation, “We believe”. It is in fact the Church that believes: and thus by the grace of the Holy Spirit precedes, engenders and nourishes the faith of each Christian. For this reason the Church is Mother and Teacher.
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The Catholic Mirror:
Reflections on Our Life in Christ
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On Sunday, June 3, 2018, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi. It is on this day that we celebrate with particular focus and devotion the self-gift of Christ in the Eucharist.
For the readings on this day the Church gives us three selections focusing on the establishment of covenants. The first reading is from Exodus 24 where Moses comes down from the mountain and communicates to the people the laws, or terms of the Covenant, which God gave to him on Mount Sinai in the preceding four chapters. The people formally assent to these terms and consummate the Covenant with the ritual sacrifice of animals and sprinkling of blood.
The second reading is from Hebrews 9 and observes that if the sprinkling of animal blood served to sanctify the people at Sinai, how much more would the Most Holy Blood of Christ sanctify those who partake of it?
Finally, the Gospel is from Mark 14; the scene of the Last Supper. Here Jesus institutes the Eucharist, specifically mentioning that His Blood, present in the wine, is covenantal.
The language of covenant present in these readings tells us something important about the Eucharist that we partake in every week (or more often). To enter into a covenant is to enter into familial relationship with someone. When we consume the Eucharist we are consummating our familial relationship with God in a way more intimate than the sacrifice of animals could ever attain. It is worth taking the time to meditate on what our actions truly mean when we consume the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist.
Let us Praise the Lord.
-And give him thanks.
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Thank you for reading. We pray that you 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
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The Solemnity of the
Sacred Heart of Jesus
on Friday, June 8, 2018
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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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