Faith-Sharing Books: Content and Structure
The content of the books
The themes that are developed in each session are based on the structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. For each of the four pillars of the Catechism, the Why Catholic? process offers a 12 session faith-sharing book:
CHRISTIAN PRAYER: Deepening My Experience of God
Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God explores the concept of prayer and includes various styles of prayer for participants' use. The first three sessions focus on prayer and how God communicates with us. The next six sessions look at different forms of prayer and difficulties we may experience in prayer. The last three sessions offer a deeper look at the Lord's Prayer. [read more]
THE PROFESSION OF FAITH: What We Believe
The Profession of Faith: What We Believe looks at the truths that we, as Catholics, believe. It offers insights on what it means to be a Catholic following what the Catechism describes as "the oldest Roman catechism, the Apostles' Creed." [read more]
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY: The Sacraments
The Celebration of the Christian Mystery: The Sacraments explores the importance of the Mass and Christ's presence in the Eucharist. The first four sessions focus on the liturgy and an understanding of the sacraments. The next two sessions examine Baptism, one on the sacrament itself and another on the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. The last six sessions look at the remaining six sacraments. [read more]
LIFE IN CHRIST: Walking With God
Life in Christ: Walking with God looks at biblical justice and presents the principals of Catholic social teaching. The first six sessions center on the Beatitudes, on our freedom and responsibility, conscience, virtues, moral law, sin, mercy, grace, and the Church. The second six sessions focus on the implications of the Ten Commandments. [read more]
The structure of the books
Each book offers twelve sessions, and small communities usually meet six sessions per season. Each 90 minute session has been designed to lead the participants in faith sharing around a quotation from Scripture and an appropriate section from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Lifting Our Hearts
(a moment of opening prayer) | 10 minutes |
Sharing the Good News
(How did we manage to live out our action commitment
from the previous session?) | 5 minutes |
Exploring the Catechism
(a first moment of reflection) | 10 minutes |
Scripture: Pondering the Word
and Sharing Question | 15 minutes |
Exploring the Catechism [continued]
(a second moment of reflection) | 10 minutes |
| Sharing Our Faith | 25 minutes |
Living the Good News
(Commitment to an action that flows from the sharing) | 5 minutes |
Lifting Our Hearts
(a moment of closing prayer) | 10 minutes |
Read more about...
 Overview
 How It Works
 Current Dioceses
 What Church Leaders are Saying
 What People are Saying
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