Alex’s Story
I always described myself as a spiritual person.
From a young age, my religious identity was well established.
I was baptized, attended church every Sunday, and I was no stranger to the Bible or God. My high school years ended many of these habits. My parents divorced, and we no longer attended the same church. This break with tradition began a process of questioning. I had no regular Church home base, and I began to question if I really needed a Church for spiritual growth or faith formation.
In college, I got out of the habit of attending church. I was not having a crisis of faith; I knew God was there. I just didn’t understand the value of attending church.
I had a relationship with God, and that was enough. I didn’t see any value in joining an organization that would just get in the way.
Because of a relationship with a Catholic friend, I started attending a Catholic Mass. The formal liturgy was similar to the Church services of my childhood, and I appreciated the depth of what was happening during the celebration. For a while, I attended Mass without being a full member of the Church. For the first time in years, I experienced spiritual growth within a Church community and grew beyond the self-centered spiritual box I had put myself in.
One day, a priest did what others had not done:
He invited me to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process and be fully accepted as a member of the Church. I quickly became deeply immersed in the RCIA and experienced a level of formation and meaning in my life that I didn’t know was possible.
When I was confirmed and accepted as a full member of the Catholic Church, I became part of something so much more. I didn’t come to the Catholic Church for faith or a belief in God; I had faith. I came because the Church led me to a level of spiritual growth and meaning that I never could have imagined. I finally understood that it is not about just God and me; it’s about us as the Church.
Ignatian Spirituality: The Spiritual Exercises
Ignatian spirituality is a spirituality for everyday life. It begins by believing that God is present in our world and active in our lives.
Monastic Spirituality: Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is a Latin term which means “divine reading.” It provides a process for us to reflect on Scripture so to be open to what God might have to say to us.
Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the real presence of Jesus Christ. Eucharistic Adoration is the worship, praise, and adoration of Jesus Christ present in the Holy Eucharist. The
Eucharist is displayed in a special holder called a monstrance, and people are invited to come and pray.
“In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, ‘but as what it really is, the word of God.’ ‘In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.” Catechism of the Catholic Church, 104
Pray as you go is a daily prayer session, designed for use on portable MP3 players, to help you pray whenever you find time, but particularly while travelling to and from work, study, etc.
A checklist of reasons for why you might consider either returning to the Church or participating for the first time.
How can I learn more about what Catholic’s believe?
A variety of short video clips sponsored by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on various topics pertaining to what Catholics believe.
Click here to order resources or contact one of our parishes to find out about local offerings. The Record, our archdiocesan newspaper, also lists education/formation opportunities each week in its “Bulletin Board.”
For additional information please contact Mr. Art Turner
(502) 636-0296
