By Ana Rodriguez Soto - Florida Catholic newspaper
Teresa Lefevre of St. Martha Parish takes part in the Spanish-language training for Why Catholic small group leaders.
The Catechism and the Bible are integral parts of the Why Catholic/ Por Que Ser Catolico small group study sessions, although the program itself is not so much academic as experiential, especially in the current cycle on Christian prayer.
Parish name cards await the small group leaders attending Why Catholic training in preparation for the second part of the first year's cycle, which delves into Christian prayer.
Sister Marie Cooper of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, Renew International director for Why Catholic, leads participants through a prayer exercise in preparation for the second cycle of small group study sessions. The sessions will begin in Lent and continue the first-year focus on Christian prayer.
Claudia Charles, left, and Sister Kristi Bergman of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts, both representing St. Mary Cathedral parish, take part in a prayer meditation during the training session for Why Catholic's second six-week cycle.
A small group leader from St. Joseph Parish takes part in a prayer meditation during the training session for Why Catholic's second six-week cycle.
The first 12 sessions of Why Catholic -- six in Advent, six in Lent - focus on Christian prayer.
Sonia Hanopol of St. Martha Parish proclaims the Gospel during a prayer meditation that was part of the training session for Why Catholic's second six-week cycle.
Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
MIAMI | Learn by doing: At least when it comes to prayer, that’s how the second set of Why Catholic? sessions are playing out in the parishes this Lent.
“It’s all about exploring our rich Catholic heritage of prayer and spirituality,” said Sister Marie Cooper of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny, who spent Jan. 5-11 in South Florida conducting training sessions for English-speaking Why Catholic? leaders.
Her counterpart from Renew International, Father Alejandro Lopez-Cardinale, did the same for leaders of Spanish-speaking ¿Por Qué Ser Católico? groups.
Photographer: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
A small group leader from St. Joseph Parish takes part in a prayer meditation during the training session for Why Catholic's second six-week cycle.
The four-year program — 12 sessions a year, six in the fall, six during Lent — kicked off in the fall of 2014 in the vast majority of South Florida parishes. It is a direct response to the synod goal of increasing knowledge of the faith among archdiocesan Catholics.
Developed by Renew International, Why Catholic? /¿Por Qué Ser Católico? fosters faith formation by developing small communities that meet weekly for prayer and learning. The communities typically exist within parishes but the program also can be used in schools and by members of different spiritual movements or ministries.
Each yearly cycle delves into a different aspect of the faith. Prayer is the first one because “that’s the foundation for the communities,” Sister Cooper explained. “Communal prayer is what’s going to put this on solid footing for the next three years.”
Sister Cooper teaches by doing. She began the January training by leading a prayer session for the parish leaders, in a sense modeling what they will be doing in their groups.
She used the technique of selecting a Gospel passage, then asking participants to meditate on it by mentally diving into the scene: Imagining the sounds, the smells, the emotions, the reactions of those gathered around Jesus. Asking themselves: Who do I identify with in that scene? What is Jesus saying to me?
“People feel that it’s very helpful because they’re getting answers to their difficulties in prayer,” Sister Cooper said. “They’re praying more. They’re reading the Bible more. They feel that they’re getting closer to God through prayer.”
And that’s exactly the point of Why Catholic / ¿Por Qué Ser Católico? Although it is faith formation, it is not strictly classes and textbooks. It is prayer. It is community. It is small groups that will form the basis for a more united, well-formed parish. Or school. Or ministry/movement.
And small groups that will continue to add new members and multiply, bringing in those Catholics “on the peripheries,” to use Pope Francis’ phrase, of church life. Those who only attend Sunday Mass — or Christmas and Easter Mass.
“It should grow,” Sister Cooper said.
“Don’t let the (small) community die,” stressed Father Lopez-Cardinale. “Keep meeting between breaks.”
Sister Cooper also stressed that the training sessions for leaders that precede every season and cycle of Why Catholic / ¿Por Qué Ser Católico? are not optional. Neither are they the same each time.
“Every workshop is brand new and different,” she said. “Formation is available before every season.”
Sister Cooper and Father Lopez-Cardinale will be back Oct. 2-9 to lead the training sessions for the second cycle of the program, on Catholic beliefs (the Creed).
In the meantime, the second half of the sessions on prayer should have begun in the parishes the week of Feb. 15. But there is always time for new people to join the small groups. Contact your parish for information, or reach out to the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Parish Life to see if Why Catholic? is going on at a parish near you. The number is 305-762-1127.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Sister Marie Copper compiled some of the comments made by Why Catholic? parish leaders after the January training sessions. Here are some excerpts:
• “A very rewarding, encouraging session that shows me it is doable. I was able to comprehend some of my own uncertainties about prayer, faith and relationship with God. The training is very real, easy to understand. The workshop helped to ease some anxiousness of being the small community leader. It gave a few real techniques to use with our community.” —from St. Louis Parish, Pinecrest
• “I really appreciate the practical examples . . . they helped me be more comfortable/confident to use them in my group and with my confirmation class.” — from Mother of Christ Parish, Miami
• “I could feel the Spirit come to me in this meeting telling me that I could do this for God even though I’ve never done anything like this before.” — from Our Lady Queen of Heaven, North Lauderdale
• “I really enjoyed the explanation and digging deeper into the reading. I find the Bible hard to understand at times and Sister Marie brought the understanding to my level.” — from St. David, Davie
Photographer: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
Claudia Charles, left, and Sister Kristi Bergman of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts, both representing St. Mary Cathedral parish, take part in a prayer meditation during the training session for Why Catholic's second six-week cycle.
