All that we provide in the formation of our adult faith community can fall under the subtitles of evangelization and catechesis. We turned to the church's documents to define what we mean by each of these terms.

First Evangelization:

The Church "exists in order to evangelize" (100) that is "the carrying forth of the Good News to every sector of the human race so that by its strength it may enter into the hearts of men and renew the human race". (101)
The missionary mandate of Jesus to evangelize has various aspects, all of which, however, are closely connected with each other: "proclaim", (Mk 16,15) "make disciples and teach", (102) "be my witnesses", (103) "baptize", (104) "do this in memory of me", (Lk 22,19) "love one another" (Jn 15,12) Proclamation, witness, teaching, sacraments, love of neighbour: all of these aspects are the means by which the one Gospel is transmitted and they constitute the essential elements of evangelization itself. General Directory for Catechesis Paragraph 46

Second Catechesis:

"The definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ". (236) All evangelizing activity is understood as promoting communion with Jesus Christ. Starting with the "initial" (237) conversion of a person to the Lord, moved by the Holy Spirit through the primary proclamation of the Gospel, catechesis seeks to solidify and mature this first adherence. It proposes to help those who have just converted "to know better this Jesus to whom he has entrusted himself: to know his 'mystery', the kingdom of God proclaimed by him, the requirements and comments contained in his Gospel message, and the paths that he has laid down for anyone who wishes to follow him".
General Directory for Catechesis Paragraph 80

To help you grow in your faith, we are offering

two wonderful opportunities for you that reflect

Evangelization & Catechesis

ALPHA

and

BETA

At St. Gerard our Adult Faith Formation mostly falls into 2 categories: ALPHA and BETA. Alpha is a program that involves a meal, presentation and discussion to help you explore the Christian faith in a relaxed and fun setting.  There is no cost, no commitment and no strings attached! Beta is a not a single set  of programs. Beta is a community of small groups focused on being disciples of Jesus. Each semester there will be different opportunities for small groups to participate in the deepening and strengthening of this call to discipleship. 

The design of our Adult Faith Formation program is that it invites adults to attend Alpha prior to Beta, especially if they have not been part of a small group faith sharing group. Alpha provides a foundation for all adult faith sharing programs. BETA is an opportunity for ALPHA small groups to continue on the path started in ALPHA. BETA also seeks to foster, support, and resource other group ministries in our parish. These include:

• Several Alpha groups that have continued to meet after their Alpha experience.
• Daytime and Evening Bible Studies
• Many woman's groups who gather for faith sharing and service
• mens group
• Cursillo group
• Prayer groups
• Service Groups

Please see our BETA page for Summer activities as well as Bible Study page and FORMED.
If you want to meet together to find out more please come to our Ice Cream Social on August 26, following the 6PM, Sunday Mass.

Click Here to Check out ALPHA

Click Here to Check Out BETA

We are all called to be disciples of Jesus Christ. Let Mary be our model of one who has given God her complete yes and faithfully pondered all things in her heart, as she continued to love and serve God and others.

Mary, the model disciple

From USCCB Document, Go and Make Disciples

71. "We see, in the midst of this small group, two people whose lives still guide us in the work of evangelization. We see a woman, Mary, now middle-aged, who, over thirty years before, was overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and became the mother of Jesus.46 God used the faith of this Jewish woman, her cooperation with God's way, to bring Jesus into the world. So Mary, long devoutly loved by Christians as the Mother of Jesus and Mother of God, also is a model of true discipleship and evangelization. With Mary's example and prayer, we grow as disciples, ever faithful to Jesus and ever wanting to reveal him."