|
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Updated: 4/15/2013
Welcome!
Thanks for visiting. I’d like to invite you to dive into the many good things available through our parish – things to help you grow in your Catholic faith, aim your heart firmly towards Heaven, and deepen daily in the call to love without measure. We’re here to help and to serve you; it’s our joy and privilege to do so. Check out the offerings below, and feel free to contact my office anytime: 301-292-0527 ext. 104 or e-mail me at keimig@stmaryspiscataway.org.
What’s going on now at St. Mary’s?
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: Great Ways to Grow in Your Faith, Hope and Love
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: Bible Study: Hebrews
Click on this LINK for our syllabus.
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: Acts of the Apostles
NEW! (2012-2013) Here’s a link to our current calendar of events for teenagers and their families: Youth Calendar of Events 2012-2013
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Below is a link to our current calendar for our Sunday School (K-12) program, as well as for our First Communion and Confirmation programs: (PSR has ended but will resume in September. Please print off a registration form on our "home page".
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: PSR (Parish School of Religion)/Registration Form
NEW! (2012-2013) Click on this link: PSR Program Calendar
Click HERE to read Joe Keimig's Lecture on "Who is God to You Now?"
For immensely helpful downloadable handouts on all areas of our Catholic faith, check out this link:
Wonderful, free and engaging explanations of our faith that you can read and share
Here are a few more!
What’s your need?
Maybe your need is…to grow in your ability to discern God’s will…to learn to defend your faith…to find a place to worship on vacation…to help a loved one who opposes the faith…to handle depression…to deal with stress…to find a place for good Catholic family resources…to form and engage children at home…to find good Catholic music for teenagers…to find out about vocations. Here’s a link to a resource page for all these and many, many more issues:
Whatever Your Need Is – Here Are Some Great Resources
Having some struggles?
We all need help sometimes. How about some solid help that doesn’t forget that you have a soul, and doesn’t forget that God matters. Here’s a link to a list of faithful, affordable, and accessible Catholic counselors in our area (for individuals, married couples, and families), as well as some of the best resources available on a whole range of common life challenges:
Real Help for Life’s Challenges
Faith formation that comes to you!
Here’s a list of CDs of dynamic and helpful teachings to build your faith, ground your hope, and strengthen your ability to love God and others:
§ Who is God – The Blessed Trinity
§ Who Am I?– Made in God's Image
§ How Does God Speak to Us? – Revelation § Who is Our Savior? – The Person of Jesus
§ Broken Relationship: Evil and Original Sin
§ Restored Relationship: The Covenants of God
§ Salvation, Justification, and the Paschal Mystery
§ The Holy Spirit and the Birth of the Church
§ The Four Marks of the True Church
§ Our Charter of Freedom: The Ten Commandments
§ The Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven, Hell
§ God the Father and Creator
§ The Family of the Church: The Communion of Saints
§ The Mother of Us All: The Blessed Virgin Mary
§ Redemptive Suffering: The Power of Pain
§ The Sacrament of Mercy: Reconciliation
§ Receiving the Bread of Life: A Lover’s Gift
§ The Eucharist for Sacrifice
§ The Eucharist for the Poor
§ The Eucharist for Authority
§ The Eucharist for Love of Scripture
§ The Eucharist for Conversion
§ The Eucharist for the Saints
§ The Eucharist for Beauty
§ The Eucharist for Science
§ The Fight of Your Life: Spiritual Combat
§ Love and Contraception
§ The Gospel Call to Purity
§ The Mercy of God and New Life in Christ
§ Evangelization: The Call to Share Your Hope
§ Evangelization and Divisions in the Body of Christ
§ How to Become a Saint
§ Ten Secrets to Authentic Joy
§ The Best Resources Out There: Plugging into Holy Mother Church
§ All About Annulments: Real Answers, Real Help
§ Take Back Your Kids: Keeping Them Catholic
The titles above are mostly single CDs; a few are two CDs. When you email to request a title, please give us your mailing address. The CDs are free, but a $3.00 donation for each title would be appreciated to cover the material and mailing costs. Send requests to: parish@stmaryspiscataway.org
There are also some outstanding and affordable online collections of CD talks by excellent Catholic speakers. These are well-worth your time to explore. Here’s the links:
http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.com
http://www.catholicity.com
http://www.saintjoe.com
http://www.thereasonforourhope.org
What’s the bottom line goal of faith formation?
It’s the joy of being perfected in love – sainthood – of becoming what we’re made to be!
So, are we really called to be saints?
Yes! If Jesus said it, it must be possible!
You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. ~ Matthew 5:48
Is that realistic?
Yes! God loves you as you are, but won’t leave you as you are – He’s got a great plan for your joy.
For with God nothing will be impossible. ~ Luke 1:37
Is that hard?
Yes! It’s hard to be a saint, but it’s harder not to be, because that means we are living against what we are made to be.
God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way out, that you may be able to endure it. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:13
Is it worth it?
Yes! The call to holiness is always a call to joy, and to see a vision of life that is God’s own – filled with deep purpose, real hope, and a love that never ends.
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. ~ John 15:11
To make it personal, it may help to see the amazing things God has done in others’ lives. Just click on any one of them to listen:
Brenda Randall’s Conversion Testimony – Randall 1/5, Randall 2/5,
Randall 3/5, Randall 4/5, Randall 5/5
Pat Keimig’s Conversion Testimony – Keimig 1/4, Keimig 2/4, Keimig 3/4, Keimig 4/4
Steve Westmoreland’s Conversion Testimony –Westmoreland 1/2, Westmoreland 2/2
Heather Keimig’s Conversion Testimony – H 1/9, H 2/9, H 3/9, H 4/9, H 5/9, H 6/9
H 7/9, H 8/9, H 9/9
Michelle Maresch’s Conversion Testimony – Maresch 1/2, Maresch 2/2
Or you can click on these inspiring written testimonies as well:
A Future and a Hope, by Joe Allison
Going Through the Door, by Anonymous
Not Obligated, but Freely Choosing, by Anonymous
From Bible Anarchy to the Joy of Apostolic Authority, by Doug Beasley
Waiting for the Invitation, by Paul Bennett
In Mary’s Womb, by Andrea Bolster
Come Home, for to This You Were Born, by Dana Brault
God Will Reveal His Plan to Us, by Anne Brauner
Little Mary and My Trinity of Friends, by Shari Deeb
God Cares Specifically About Me, by Julie Eddy
Many Apostles Bring Me to the Church, by Jim Ensley
Finding the Desire of My Heart, by Fr. Ed Fride
Seeing the Love of God, by Anne Foy
Mary By My Side, by James M. Herbert
Happily Ever After, by Heather Keimig
Finding the Truth, Finding My God, by Eric Pavlat
A Gentle, Guiding Hand, by Brenda Randall
Joy, Freedom, and Ecstasy, by Steve Ray
Accepting Jesus as God and Lord, by Jim Stafford
Ready to Accept Christ into My Life, by Randy Shaw
Starving for the Eucharist, by Martha Tonn
My Friend is Jesus, by Steve Westmoreland
Have Mercy on Me, Lord, by Belinda Wickham
This website will take you to an amazing array of terrific Catholic companies. These companies may help you to consider giving gifts to relatives and friends that would do a great job at building love and devotion to Jesus. Christmas is about God coming to people who needed Him. Maybe gifts that recall that event should be an extension of it -- gifts that bring God nearer to those who need Him -- which is every person on your list. Click this link for some suggestions:
www.catholicity.com/links/154/
OTHER WEBSITES:
www.mycatholicfaithdelivered.com
WHAT'S IT ABOUT: This beautifully-conceived website provides in-depth learning programs and video tutorials on the web for all levels of knowledge of the Catholic faith. This is accomplished by combining Catholic content with innovative technology. It is the ideal program for a busy Catholic who simply wants a better understanding of the faith. These fantastic courses are available on the Internet anytime, anywhere -- making learning convenient and fun. Our dynamic courses feature engaging lessons, interactive activities, and immediate assessments that give real-time feedback on your progress. See how the Church's wonderful teachings and help can come right to you!
www.dads.org
WHAT’S IT ABOUT: Faithful men are needed in our society today. As
Pope John Paul II said, "The future of the world and of the Church passes through the family." The family is vastly superior to any organization in its ability to renew both Church and society. This website is an incredible resource with lots of practical resources for men who want to be more dedicated to their wives, their, children, and their God. The primary thrust of this website is to men who are fathers of children still living at home. However, men of all ages, callings, and states in life will benefit greatly, especially grandfathers wanting to strengthen their children and grandchildren, and single men preparing for the vocation of marriage. Take a look, or encourage someone you love to explore this site!
I’m always happy to have your suggestions. Please feel free to email or call me anytime.
Thanks for visiting!
~ Bill Keimig, Director of Religious Education
keimig@stmaryspiscataway.org or 301-292-0527 ext. 104
Click for
Bio for Mr. Bill Keimig, D.R.E.
|
