Diocese of Allentown
Adult Formation Newsletter
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on Friday, September 14, 2018
September 2018
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
The Institute for Catechesis and Formation
Learn Your Faith + Live Your Faith + Love Your Faith
Join us to grow deeper in the understanding of your faith with ICF courses taking place in the Fall of 2018!
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 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.  
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.
TRUTH: What the Catholic Church Really Teaches
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.
Scripture Alone?
Have you ever been asked or wondered…If we have the Bible, do we really need Church teaching? Does the Bible talk about Tradition? Join us as Kelly Anderson discusses how to answer these and other common questions about the relationship between Scripture and Tradition!

Thursday, September 13, 2018
7:00 PM

St. Francis of Assisi Parish
(Heritage Room)
1046 W. Cedar St.
Allentown, PA 18102

Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
Marriage, Divorce, & Annulments
Have you ever been asked or wondered…If we have the Bible, do we really need Church teaching? Does the Bible talk about Tradition? Join us as Kelly Anderson discusses how to answer these and other common questions about the relationship between Scripture and Tradition!

Wednesday, October 24, 2018
7:00 PM

St. Ignatius Loyola Parish
(School Meeting Room)
2810 St. Albans Dr.
Sinking Spring, PA 19608

Questions: Please email
or call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2021
Come & See
For Women interested in starting or enhancing a faith sharing group
Kelly Wahlquist founder of W.I.N.E. Women in the New Evangelization and representatives from Women of Grace and Walking with Purpose will provide an overview of their programs and tools to help foster a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. A continental breakfast will be provided.

Information about Momnipotent will be available as well.

Saturday, September 15, 2018
St. Thomas More Family Center
1040 Flexer Ave.
Allentown, PA 18103

9 AM to Noon

*There is no cost to attend, but registration is required for planning purposes.*

For more information or to register visit www.allentowndiocese.org/comeandsee
Men's Morning of Reflection
PRIEST, PROPHET, KING:
The Archangels and the Masculine Spirit
The Diocesan Commission for Men is offering a men’s morning of reflection on Saturday, September 29, 2018, at Queenship of Mary in Northampton.

An optional Holy Mass will be offered at 8:00 AM followed by refreshments.

Presentations by Msgr. John Martin, Rev. Patrick Lamb, and Rev. Eugene Ritz will begin at 9:15 AM.

To register for this free offering visit www.allentowndiocese.org/cfm-spirituality
2018 Diocesan Family Festival
Saint Anthony of Padua Relics to Visit
St. Anthony of Padua will be visiting us in the form of two precious relics from his Basilica in Padua, Italy. The relics will be accompanied by Friar Mario Conte from the Messenger of St. Anthony in Padua.

Thursday, October 11, 2018
Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena, Allentown
Following the 8 AM Mass until 1 PM

St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Easton
5 to 9 PM

To learn more about St. Anthony of Padua, 
please visit:  www.saintanthonyofpadua.net
Cursillo
89th Men's Weekend and Women's Weekend
Sexual Revolution Movie
Hosted by the
Office of Marriage & Natural Family Planning
For questions please email mflf@allentowndiocese.org
or call (610) 289-8900, Ext. 2024
2018 Diocesan Men's Conference
Spiritual Combat: Armed with the Spirit
Registration is underway for the 2018 Diocesan Men's Conference. The Conference focuses on spiritual warfare. Presenters will explore how men can grow closer to God in the midst of daily struggle and temptation and the importance of spiritual surrender.  This seventh Men’s Conference includes keynote speakers and opportunities for Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the Sacrament of Reconciliation and a Saturday evening Vigil Mass celebrated by The Most Reverend Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown. A separate Spanish track will be offered.

See below for a special message from Patrick Coffin, one of the presenters.

For more information, or to register visit www.allentowndiocese.org/mens-conference
Dear brother in Christ:
 
I am honored and enthused to be coming to Allentown for the Spiritual Combat: Armed With the Spirit men’s conference. Join me, Doug Barry and Rev. Stephen DeLacy and other leaders for an exciting day of challenge and transformation. I'm going to be giving a talk called The Secret Key to Christian Manhood: How to Unleash the Warrior Within. Take your faith life to the next level along with hundreds of like-minded Catholic men. The conference begins at 9:00AM and concludes with holy Mass celebrated by His Excellency Alfred A. Schlert, Bishop of Allentown.

To learn more and to register go to: http://www.allentowndiocese.org/mens-conference

I also can’t wait to tell you about my weekly show, The Patrick Coffin Show, heard in over 100 countries, and my new premium content website, called Coffin Nation, a community extension of the podcast. I invite you to learn more about my new program HERE

I look forward to meeting you at the conference, Saturday, November 3 at DeSales University.
 
Patrick Coffin
 
Be a saint; what else is there?
Stewardship: A Mission of Faith
Fall Conference
This conference is for adults and will focus on a variety of topics including evangelization, spiritual growth, parenting, morality, stewardship and more. All are welcome!

In addition to the presence of several national speakers, Bishop Schlert will be celebrating Mass at the Conference on Wednesday, September 19, 2018.

Wednesday & Thursday September 19th & 20th, 2018

The Star Barn Village at Stone Gables Estate
1 Hollinger Lane / Star Barn Way
Elizabethtown, PA 1702

For more information or to register visit: stewardshipmission.org
Resource Highlight
Oremus
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 Oremus.

The Oremus study program teaches you the essentials of an effective and fruitful prayer life. Over the course of eight weeks you will discover how God speaks to you, even in the smallest encounters. Following the Tradition of the Catholic Church and the wisdom of the saints, you will learn how to express yourself to God in prayer, and how to hear his voice.
For more information about Oremus visit

For other resources in our Diocesan library visit
or Call 610-289-8900, Ext. 2027.
Catholic Basics
What are the symbols of faith?
The symbols of faith are composite formulas, also called “professions of faith” or “Creeds”, with which the Church from her very beginning has set forth synthetically and handed on her own faith in a language that is normative and common to all the faithful.
The Catholic Mirror:
Reflections on Our Life in Christ
Planning for Holiness
Presumably, we all desire holiness. The holier one is, the closer one is to Heaven, which is our hopeful destination. Hopefully, we don't just want holiness for ourselves, but for others too. Taking a surveying look at the world today, we can all see problems that would cease if those involved were in a true pursuit of holiness. How does one attain holiness? Isn't that something that is simply for people in stained-glass windows?
 
Holiness isn't something that simply happens to someone one day, it usually takes years of work and persistence. The Saints we see in stained-glass windows were not always holy, but at some point, they worked to continue their journey, with the grace given by God, towards holiness. The exception to the rule would be the Blessed Mother who was born without sin but had to choose to remain so. A great example of this growth is Saint Augustine. If you think that you are impossibly far from holiness, I would encourage you to read his Confessions . On his path towards holiness, Augustine prayed, "Give me chastity and continence, but not yet." He eventually had to move past what was holding him back from holiness, and press forward into a deeper relationship with God, into holiness. This sinner eventually became not only a bishop, but a Saint and Doctor of the Church.
 
We can't simply wake up one day and magically be holy, but we need to make that decision to take real steps towards holiness. We have all been given graces to help us on our way, so know that the journey does not rely solely on yourself. Don't put off this decision for another day because tomorrow may always stay tomorrow. Take a look at yourself and consider what you can practically do to move towards holiness. Holiness is a grace from God, but we have to accept those graces and put them into practice. It may, and will likely involve, fortifying your prayer life. Holiness isn't simply spending hours each day in a chapel. It involves living out what God is calling you to in your own station in life. St. Francis de Sales stated, "Be who you are and be that well." Be the best father or mother you can. Be the best businessperson you can. Practice virtue. These are also practical steps towards holiness. "With God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). The world can use more holiness (not to be confused with false piety); be the change you want to see.


Let us Praise the Lord.
-And give him thanks.
Thank you for reading. We pray that you have a delightful beginning of fall and enjoy some cooler weather. 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
The Feast of Saint Matthew
on Friday, September 21, 2018
Rick Dooley, Assistant Director
Office of Adult Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2027
Mary Fran Hartigan, Director
Faith Formation
610-289-8900, Ext. 2026
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