Faith&Fellowship
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Reading Catholic Small Groups: Faith & Fellowship
FAQs about Small Groups
Sign up for a Small GroupThe Faith & Fellowship committee is looking for people to help with organizing groups and celebrations, as well as choosing materials.
If you have questions or would like to volunteer, contact Diane Finigan:
dianefinigan@gmail.com
Faith and Fellowship is the parish small group ministry that is made up of 170 parishioners. Small Groups meet for 90 minutes every other week for prayer, scripture reading, reflection and sharing, as well as social time. The goal of the ministry is to deepen faith lives through prayer, shared experiences, reflection, scripture and laughter. If you are not currently participating, please consider joining! You can sign up here or with the forms at the back of church. If you have any questions, please reach out to Steve Goldner (sgoldner74@hotmail.com).
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All are invited to an evening of song, prayer and inspiration with Christopher Ruff, author and publisher of 6 books in the Discipleship Series of dynamic resources for small groups: "for people with busy lives but open hearts." Come, see and hear how small groups can help you to draw closer to Jesus in prayer, share the treasurers of our faith, grow in friendship and serve Christ.
Christopher Ruff? Christopher Ruff is passionately committed to writing engaging, inspiring small-group resources carefully crafted to fit people’s busy calendars. He calls the small-group experience “a powerful engine for faith formation, personal renewal and community-building, and an amazing platform for joyful outreach.” He notes that in 25 years of working for the Church – first for a large Minneapolis parish, then for the Diocese of La Crosse – he has seen nothing that rivals the fruitfulness of small groups.
Christopher studied theology in Rome where he received his S.T.L. from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family. He also has an M.A. in counseling psychology from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. In Rome, he met Saint John Paul II and Saint Mother Teresa multiple times and translated dozens of the Pope’s addresses into English for L’Osservatore Romano (the Vatican newspaper). He has been the Director of the Office for Ministries and Social Concerns for the Diocese of La Crosse since 2001.
Christopher is the author of The Discipleship Series of books, including, “Who is my Neighbor”, “As I have Loved You”, Blessed Are You: Living the Beatitudes” and “The Greatest of These is Love”, all books Faith & Fellowship groups have enjoyed reading over the past 5 years.
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"For Where two or three are gathered there am I
in the midst of them."
Matthew 18:20In response to Jesus’ call to spread the Gospel, the Church continues to renew itself. As our Parish Mission Statement recognizes, we have been blessed with a vibrant Catholic community welcoming all - a beacon of faith, alive in Spirit and active in spreading the word of Christ. We are called to share Christ’s light.
If we do not share what we have been given, then the gift was never truly received.“
Every gift given is meant to be passed along.”
Carrie Gress Nudging ConversationsOne way we have done this is through the small group program Faith and Fellowship.These small groups are a place to grow spiritually, find support and encouragement, face challenges together, have fun, share a meal, and reach out through service projects.
Faith is a free and unconditional gift from God. However, it requires our response. Participation in a small group provides an opportunity to respond to God’s gift by exploring and sharing our faith with others in a way not possible in a larger setting such as at Mass. It is our hope that a small group will serve as a gateway to deeper faith and will provide a vibrant means for sharing the Gospel of Christ.
“Everything depends on how we love each other.”
Mother Teresa, Thirsting for God
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