SUNDAY MORNING SERIES
St. Albert Hall - Room #305
9:45-10:45 a.m.
All are welcome!

ADULT FORMATION SERIES

WHY DO WE OFFER ONGOING ADULT FORMATION & EDUCATION?

The basic challenge we face as Christian adults is growing into our Baptism through an ongoing integration of what we learn and experience throughout life into our spiritual lives. The problem most of us face is that we do not possess a "theological vocabulary" as few in a parish have ever formally studied theology. Ongoing formation acknowledges that we are never fully formed in the image and likeness of God although the heart of every person desires this—whether this desire is acknowledged or not. St. Augustine, speaking of his own conversion, said, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee, O Lord." Ongoing formation helps give us the words to express our inner desire for God and meaning.

Ongoing education acknowledges that no one of us knows everything. Why did Father Ed return to school for more education? Because, despite the fact he likes people to think he knows everything, he realizes he does not. Why does Father Bruce write books? Is it because he has to in order to keep his professorship? No. He writes because he wants to learn.

Another reason to keep learning is spoken to by Nicholas Lash in an article saying we want to grow in knowledge and wisdom because "It is terribly easy to talk nonsense."

Catholicism is more than a religion of the heart. It is a religion that engages the intellect. Unfortunately, when attacked, the Church is attacked on the grounds of what people think they know about Church teaching. Even as Catholics ourselves we regularly reveal we neither know nor fully understand what our Church teaches.

What is one of the top reasons intellectuals convert to Catholicism? They read what the Church really teaches and find truth. Come to class!

CATHEDRAL ONGOING ADULT FORMATION & EDUCATION

The Cathedral's ongoing Adult Formation & Education Program meets between the Sunday morning Masses on the third floor of Saint Albert Hall in Room #305 (9:45-10:00). It is not necessary to have attended any past presentations to enjoy any future program. All are welcome. This is an especially good program to invite your non-Catholic friends who might like to learn something more about the Catholic Church. The necessary coffee and optional donuts are served! Child Care is provided.

• Our Sunday Morning Adult Formation & Education Program resumes Sunday, January 27, with Father Ed presenting the Gospel of Luke. For the most part, we will be listening to Luke's gospel throughout the year. Father Ed will be giving an overview of the gospel showing its story-arc throughout the Liturgical Year and giving a background of its history, composition, and purpose with the community of Saint Luke. The program promises to give insights you may never have had into this particular gospel.

We have put together future topics of interest and quality speakers for our Spring Semester:

• As we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council, we will have a series on the Constitutions of the Council beginning next week with a presentation on The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church by Father Bruce Morrill. To follow in March will be presentations on The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation and The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. These presentations will help us all to realize the relevance of the Second Vatican Council in the life of the church still today some 50 years later.
• Another of the interests expressed by those regularly attending Adult Education is presentations on some of the Church Fathers and Saints, men and women who affect the life of the church even today.
• Also, because of requests by many, many parishioners, we invited Joan Watson, Coordinator of Catechetics at Aquinas College, to return to lead a six week Scripture Study on Tuesday nights April 2 through May 7. Opening the Scriptures and allowing God into our lives through the Word will be both spiritually and mentally and fulfilling for all of us.

The coming schedule:

• Sunday, February 3: Father Bruce Morrill, S.J., will give the first presentation on the Dogmatic Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council: The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
• Sunday, February 10: We will begin our series on saints whose lives affect the life of the church even today. The first presentation will be on Saint Catherine Drexel, who spent some of her life helping those most in need in Nashville.
• Sunday, February 17: Joan Watson of Aquinas College will present St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the top three most important theologians in all of Church history

We will put the schedule of adult education in the bulletin each week.

Deacon Jim McKenzie
Director of Pastoral Ministries
Cathedral of the Incarnation