John Russo, Director
713-663-3525
jrusso@svdp-edu.org
ADULT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
The Adult Christian Community is for adults in their 20’s and older who meet once a week on Tuesdays with Mass at 7:00 p.m. followed by a planned activity for spiritual growth, education, or social fellowship. They do service projects that have included making contributions to the Houston Food Bank and doing minor projects for senior adults. They also prepare and deliver Thanksgiving dinner for the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament each year. Social activities include formal and informal get-togethers depending on the various interest groups.
ADULT CONFIRMATION
Adult Confirmation classes are taught for adults who have been baptized and have made First Holy Communion but who have not been confirmed. To prepare for their Confirmation, they meet for six sessions before the Feast of Pentecost when they are confirmed. Using as resources, Journey of Faith and the Handbook for Today’s Catholic, they study "The Catholic Creed," "Jesus and Prayer," "Church," "Sacraments of Initiation," and "Moral Teachings of the Church." Dates and times are noted in the parish bulletin.
BIBLE STUDY
Bible Study involves small groups who meet once a week to “break open” the Word in the next Sunday’s readings for Mass. The resource used is Patricia Sanchez’s book, The Word We Celebrate. Given to each for additional personal reflection is "The Word Among Us," a monthly booklet that includes meditations on each day’s readings used at Mass.
PATHMAKERS
Pathmakers is a support group for the separated, widowed, and divorced. They meet weekly on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
RCIA
RCIA, Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is for those interested in joining the Catholic Church, Inquiry classes are held on Wednesday evenings. Those who wish to pursue the possibility of joining the Catholic church are assigned a sponsor who is willing to journey with the inquirer. As they enter this second phase, the people who have never been baptized in any church are considered "catechumens. Those who have been baptized are called "candidates." They meet together on Sunday mornings to learn the fundamentals of living as a Catholic christian.
Although the candidates may be fully initiated into the Catholic Church at any time and they are considered ready by RCIA staff, they usually are fully initiated during the Easter Vigil Service along with those who also are baptized at that time.
See this article at American Catholic for more information and an extensive explanation of the various rites included in the RCIA process.
RE-MEMBERING CHURCH
Re-Membering Church is a program for those who have been away from the Catholic church and wish to return. The weekly sessions provide an update on changes in the Catholic Church and a refresher on what it means to be a Catholic christian. Both staff and volunteers use various resources to provide a stimulating and rewarding experience.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Special Programs are planned and organized to provide educational opportunities for spiritual growth and development. Both internal and external speakers are invited to talk and present challenging topics that stretch people for achieving new heights in their relationship with God and others. Programs may include topics related to social justice, moral theology, sacramental theology, and scripture. Information about current special programs are published in the parish bulletin.