IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITY, LENT 2023
Number of places available: 16 (15/2/2023)
Invitation
Do you have an enquiring mind? Do you enjoy interacting with other adults? Have you an interest or curiosity regarding St. Paul and his letters? If you do, and are open to your furthering your interest through a Lenten spiritual renewal and growth opportunity, we warmly encourage your participation in this initaitive.
Initiative Objectives
- To support participants engage with Lent as a time of spiritual renewal and growth
- To foster among participants a more wholesome understanding of St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians
- To help participants be attentive to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit
- To stimulate learning and faith-enquiry in a gentle, light-hearted and non-threatening way
- To explore the relevance and value of St. Paul’s letters to our lives today
- To support short periods of scripture based prayer (led and directed by facilitators)
- To foster the bonds of friendship between Catholics and other people of goodwill who participate.
Session Themes
Each of the initiative’s five sessions will have a particular theme / focus:
- Lent as a time of spiritual renewal and growth and a brief introduction to the Corinthian letters
- Exploring First Corinthians with an eye to our identity as members of modern-day Christian communities
- Exploring Second Corinthians and our unity with Christ
- Paul’s understanding of Church and of ourselves as ‘a new creation’
- Some reflections on Christ’s death and resurrection, as a means of spiritually entering Holy Week.
Elements
This initiative comprises 5 sessions, each one-and-a-quarter to one-and-a-half hours in length.
Session 1 – Introduction (getting started)
- Facilitators welcome participants and offer brief introduction
- Facilitators support group come to know one another and work through a handout pertaining to Lent as a time of spiritual renewal and growth and offering some pointers regarding St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians.
- Closing prayer
Session 2 – 5 inclusive
- Word of welcome and opening prayer
- Everyone given an opportunity to share from their experience of engaging with St. Paul / their reading during the week
- Group work through handout together. This will involve reading, reflection and discussion related to themes listed earlier.
- Group take time to prayerfully explore and engage with a passage or two from First or Second Corinthians (supported by facilitators)
- Closing prayer.
Group Size
A maximum of sixteeen participants can be accommodated. This is to facilitate enquiry, sharing and getting to know one another.
Cost
A donation of €20 would be appreciated from those who can afford to contribute. This will assist with related costs.
Facilitators very kindly give their time free-of-charge.
Commitment (participants)
In addition to attending sessions participants will be encouraged to give time (one to two hours each week) to bible reading and related reflection. This will greatly enrich discussion during sessions.
Booking of Places
To be assured of a place please contact Justin on 087 6171526. There are sixteen places available.
Venue, Time and Date
CLONFERT FAMILY CENTRE
Brackernagh,
Ballinasloe.
H53 NX59
8 – 9.30 pm
Sundays Feb. 26th, March 5th, 12th, 19th & 26th.
Facilitators
John Weldon and Justin Harkin
Our THANKS TO THE ELPHIN DIOCESE FOR SHARING THIS LENTEN RESOURCE WITH US.
Updated: 15th February 2023.