St. John the Evangelist Parish

Adult faith formation is built on the premise that we all have a need for greater appreciation of both the basics of our faith as Christians and the particulars of our rich Catholic traditions. We have been blessed in the 21 st century with resources unimaginable even fifty years ago to help in our search for understanding and wisdom, for a greater “comfort level” with the complexities of scripture and theology and for improving our ability to explain our faith to ourselves, our children and those with doubts. Guided by the Holy Spirit, our ultimate teacher and intellectual guide, we need to stretch our minds as we grow, learn more and more, and thus move closer and closer to God.

Faith Formation Calendar

September 20, 5:00pm: “Women in Interreligious Dialogue”
Rosemary Radford Ruether, Carpenter Emerita Professor of Feminist Theology, Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union, Co-sponsored by the Boston College Department of Theology, the School of Theology and Ministry, and The Church in the 21st Century Center

October 2, 6:30pm: Program for Women
Nourishing faith’s journey through an evening of reflection and sharing and a wonderful potluck in the Church Social Hall, 6:30 p.m. start – all welcome. Moderator: Sr. Evelyn Ronan, SND

October 6, 7:30 to 9:00am: Men’s Group
Moderator Deacon Tom Smith; St. John’s Social Hall  (Group meets the first Saturday of each month.)

October 11: Book Discussion Group
Voting and Holiness: Catholic Perspectives on Political Participation, edited by Nicholas Cafardi; St. John’s Parish Center.

St. John’s Adult Faith Formation Commission (Email: AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org)

(1) The first four books on the schedule of the Book Discussion Group are:  September 13: Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor
October 11: Voting and Holiness: Catholic Perspectives on Political Participation, edited by Nicholas Cafardi
November 15: Faith: What It Is and What It Isn’t by Terrance Tilley
December 6: Making the Eucharist Matter by Frank Anderson
All meetings are from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m.  Although the books selected for each month are mostly under 200 pages and can generally be purchased for less than $20 (or borrowed from the library), we recognize how difficult it is for some to read each one. Thus, people often come to these gatherings with a broad understanding of the topic, author or focus of the book, rather than a grasp of the specific details. This is fine. For more information about the Book Discussion Group please contact the Adult Faith Formation Commission or call one of the leaders of the group – Peter Mongeau, Anita Martin , Julie and Frank McConville or John Stewart.

2) The St. John’s Adult Faith Formation Commission will hold the first of its 2012/2013 monthly meetings on September 19. If you have any ideas, suggestions or proposals please send them along and they will be considered quickly.

3) Some Boston College programs of interest:

“Women in Interreligious Dialogue”
Thursday, September 20, 5:00 p.m.
Rosemary Radford Ruether, Carpenter Emerita Professor of Feminist Theology,Pacific School of Religion and the Graduate Theological Union, Cosponsored by the Boston College Department of Theology, the School of Theology and Ministry, and The Church in the 21st Century Center.

“Introducing the Bible Today: Challenges and Opportunities”
Tuesday, September 25, 5:30 p.m.
Richard J. Clifford, S.J., STM professor of Old Testament, Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., STM professor of New Testament, and Pheme Perkins, professor, Boston College Theology Department, Cosponsored by Paulist Press, the School of Theology and Ministry, and the Boston College Department of Theology.

“An Archbishop’s Perspective on Handing on the Faith” 
Monday, October 1, 4:30 p.m.
Most Rev. Harry J. Flynn, Archbishop Emeritus, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Cosponsored by The Church in the 21st Century Center and STM.

St. John’s Adult Faith Formation Commission
(Email: AFFC@stjohnwellesley.org)