Category Archives: Adult Faith Formation

My Faith Map by Frank McConville
Miraculously, I was born a “cradle Catholic”, educated by Charity nuns and Jesuits. My faith (beliefs requiring action) has matured over 75 years. My belief in the Nature and Will of God is secure. My actions to follow the Will of God are more difficult. For me, God has revealed God’s plan and Will through creation, the prophets, scripture and ultimately becoming Incarnate in the person of Jesus Christ; demonstrating in Word and Deed, how I should live my life. A challenge I share with St. Paul, IS, given my human nature and my free will…, how do I transform and convert from my will to God’s Will in my daily life? What has helped me on my journey? My family and friends. Marrying the right person. As a young couple, joining with other couples in the Christian Family Movement and Marriage Encounter, to form a strong family commitment. Coming to know Jesus through a Cursillo. Active in the Voice of the Faithful. Teaching Religious Education. Being active in parish life. And celebrating Eucharist with the St. John’s Community for 40 years.

Sunday, May 19 7:30 pm: 38th Social Justice Forum at Sacred Heart Understanding Islam and the Role of Women with Zilka Spahic Siljak. Professor Siljak is currently a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School, where she teaches a course entitled “Women, Spirituality and Peace”.  Free admission, open to the public.  Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Parish Justice and Peace Committee – click for more information. Sacred Heart Parish (Lower Church) 1321 Centre St., Newton Centre

Faith Maps: As we know, during this Year of Faith, there is a great emphasis on evangelization, the act of spreading the Good News, sharing the message and life of Jesus Christ.  At a recent meeting of our Parish Adult Faith Formation Commission, the group explored the idea of inviting parishioners to witness and share their experience and journey in faith. These stories, personal and different, identified or anonymous, will appear in the Sunday Bulletin, with the heading,  My Faith Map. Please send your Faith Map story to Frank McConville by e-mail or snail mail: 59 Thackeray Road, Wellesley, 02481.

My Faith Map by Anne Wachtmeister
I suppose my Faith Map began with questions at my Baptism and continued throughout my religious education with more questions – some of which had answers and some I was left to ponder. Now as an adult member of the faith community, the questions come in the form of invitations to participate more fully. With every affirmative response to these opportunities my faith has grown and deepened. Amazingly, this has led to more questions, and so the journey continues.

Sunday, May 19 7:30 pm: 38th Social Justice Forum at Sacred Heart Understanding Islam and the Role of Women with Zilka Spahic Siljak. Professor Siljak is currently a visiting lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School, where she teaches a course entitled “Women, Spirituality and Peace”.  Free admission, open to the public.  Sponsored by the Sacred Heart Parish Justice and Peace Committee – click for more information. Sacred Heart Parish (Lower Church) 1321 Centre St., Newton Centre

Faith Maps: As we know, during this Year of Faith, there is a great emphasis on evangelization, the act of spreading the Good News, sharing the message and life of Jesus Christ.  At a recent meeting of our Parish Adult Faith Formation Commission, the group explored the idea of inviting parishioners to witness and share their experience and journey in faith. These stories, personal and different, identified or anonymous, will appear in the Sunday Bulletin, with the heading,  My Faith Map. Please send your Faith Map story to Frank McConville by e-mail or snail mail: 59 Thackeray Road, Wellesley, 02481.

My Faith Map by Linda Colozzi
Like Bartimaeus, the blind man that Jesus healed, I was blind to the light of faith and called out to God for help. I cried out, “Who are you, God? Where are you? I want the truth!” God answered me with a sense of peace that day and called me into prayer the next day….and the next. I first prayed to the “One”, then it was the “Holy One”, then I came to know the “Holy Spirit” who revealed Jesus as God to me. That began a 40-year practice of daily prayer that led me from Judaism into the Catholic Church through the RCIA program in 1991. Continuing to say, “Yes” to wherever God leads me has brought me more happiness than I ever knew possible, though not without struggle and pain. Today, I serve as Chaplain and Director of Spiritual Care at Elizabeth Seton Residence where I have been for over 12 years. In addition, I began to journey with the Sisters of Charity – Halifax as an Associate over 10 years ago. Bringing “joyful witness to God’s love” through conscious and intentional community building is the call I hear today.
All is gift. All is God. All is grace.

Wednesday May 1 – Faith Maps Series 
7:00 in the St. John Social Hall
The Faith Maps series in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II continues with James Keenan, S.J., Founders Professor in Theology at Boston College, who will speak on Vatican II and Moral Theology.  This year we have been celebrating Vatican II. What has happened in Moral Theology these 50 years? Well, there was Humanae Vitae (the birth control encyclical). But what else? Come join us Wednesday, May 1 for this special presentation and discussion with Fr. James Keenan, S.J.

Thursday, May 2 – Henri Nouwen: His Life and Legacy
An evening with Nouwen’s official biographer Michael W. Higgins, co-author of “Genius Born of Anguish: The Life and Legacy of Henri Nouwen”
The Paulist Center, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 25 – God and the Imagination: Praying through Poetry
Seminar, Presenter: Paul Mariani, Professor BC, Corcoran Commons, Heights Room, 4:00-6:00pm
Wednesday May 1 – Faith Maps Series at St. John
7:00 in the Social Hall
The Faith Maps series in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II continues with James Keenan, S.J., Founders Professor in Theology at Boston College, who will speak on Vatican II and Moral Theology.  This year we have been celebrating Vatican II. What has happened in Moral Theology these 50 years? Well, there was Humanae Vitae (the birth control encyclical). But what else? Come join us Wednesday, May 1 for this special presentation and discussion with Fr. James Keenan, S.J.