LifelongFaith Associates

A Yearlong Journey into Catholicism
a 10-session video-based monthly program at church

In Catholicism: Journey to the Heart of the Faith, Father Barron seeks to capture the body, heart and mind of the Catholic faith. Starting from the essential foundation of Jesus Christ’s incarnation, life, and teaching, Father Barron moves through the defining elements of Catholicism – from sacraments, worship, and prayer, to Mary, the Apostles, and Saints, to grace, salvation, heaven, and hell – using his distinct and dynamic grasp of art, literature, architecture, personal stories, Scripture, theology, philosophy, and history to present the Church to the world. 

Join Us Monthly in 2016 for Each Session
  1. January: “AMAZED AND AFRAID: THE REVELATION OF GOD BECOME MAN”
  2. February: "HAPPY ARE WE: THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS"
  3. March: "THAT THAN WHICH NOTHING GREATER CAN BE THOUGHT - THE INEFFABLE MYSTERY OF GOD”
  4. April: “OUR TAINTED NATURE’S SOLITARY BOAST: MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD”
  5. May: “THE INDISPENSABLE MEN: PETER, PAUL AND THE MISSIONARY ADVENTURE”
  6. June: “A BODY BOTH SUFFERING AND GLORIOUS: THE MYSTICAL UNION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH”
  7. August: "WORD MADE FLESH, TRUE BREAD OF HEAVEN: THE MYSTERY OF THE LITURGY AND THE EUCHARIST”
  8. September: "A VAST COMPANY OF WITNESSES: THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
  9. October: “THE FIRE OF HIS LOVE: PRAYER AND THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT”
  10. November: “WORLD WITHOUT END: THE LAST THINGS”

Living a Spirit Filled Life
a course with Fr. Albert Cutie from ChurchNext

Practice Makes Catholic
A five-session study group

In Practice Makes Catholic, Paprocki addresses the all-important “why” of many Catholic practices by articulating five key characteristics that form our Catholic identity: a sense of sacramentality, a commitment to community, a respect for the dignity of human life and commitment to justice, a reverence for Tradition, and a disposition to faith and hope rather than despair. He explores and explains each Catholic practice, and how following each one can make a profound difference in our faith and in our lives.

Study Group Session 1. A Sense of Sacramentality
Study Group Session 2. A Commitment to Community
Study Group Session 3. A Respect for the Dignity of Human Life
Study Group Session 4. A Reverence for Scripture & Tradition
Study Group Session 5. An Attitude Faith and Hope
Mondays @ 10 am
Tuesdays @ 7:30 pm
Thursdays @ 1 pm
Fridays @ 7 pm
Gather a group and meet at time and location best for group members. We will provide the materials.
Too hard to gather? We can work with you to organize an online study group in a Google+ Hangout.

Practicing Our Faith
a self-study or group-study for growing in the practice of the Christian faith

Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life includes twelve essential practices for a Christian way of life: Caring for the Body, Celebrating Life, Discernment, Dying Well, Eating Well, Forgiving, Keeping Sabbath, Managing Household Life, Participating in Community, Praying, Reading the Bible, and Transforming the World. Written for adults, parents, and families to use in learning about and living Christian practices, each chapter presents the Biblical foundation of the Christian practice and a variety of practical suggestions for living the practice and how to make it an integral part of everyday life. (Click on the title to access the chapter.)
  1. Caring for the Body
  2. Celebrating Life
  3. Discernment
  4. Dying Well
  5. Eating Well
  6. Forgiving
  7. Keeping Sabbath
  8. Managing Household Life
  9. Participating in Community
  10. Praying
  11. Reading the Bible
  12. Transforming the World

Sacraments 101
an introduction or refresher on the Catholic sacraments from Busted Halo

Baptism (why we baptize)
Why, exactly, do Catholics have the practice of baptizing infants? What is the purpose of baptism and who can celebrate the sacrament of Baptism? Do the godparents of our child need to be married to each other? Baptism is the beginning of the sacramental life of the Church.

Eucharist (how we receive)
Should Catholics receive communion on the hand or on the tongue? And how exactly are we supposed to do that reverently? Is there any other acceptable response besides “Amen?”  …and what does “amen” mean anyway? The Church calls the Eucharist the “summit and source of our faith,” so it would seem pretty important to understand the basics about receiving this sacrament when we go to Mass.

Confirmation (why we’re confirmed)
Why do I have to get confirmed if I’m already baptized? How do I choose a sponsor as I prepare for confirmation? Why do I have the option to choose a new name? Confirmation is one of the three sacraments of initiation in the Catholic Church, with baptism and Eucharist. Think of it as a personal Pentecost, when we receive the tools we need for our spiritual journey — the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Penance (why we confess)
Why do we have to confess our sins to a priest? Can’t we just pray to God for forgiveness? If I sin but no one is affected then can I say, “no harm, no foul?” The Sacrament of Penance (aka Reconciliation) is one of the healing sacraments, and celebrates the loving embrace of God when we turn toward him and away from our sins.

Matrimony (why make it Catholic)
Why do we have to have a Catholic wedding? Why does it take so long to get married in the Church? Why does the Church insist we have children?

Holy Orders (what ordination means)
Join Fr. Dave Dwyer, CSP, as he explains what Holy Orders are, what happens at an Ordination, and what it means to say yes… to God.

Anointing of the Sick (who it’s for)
Who can receive the Anointing of the Sick? How often? Where is it done?