Diocese of Lansing | News & Information

Continuing Adult Faith Formation Opportunities

During the VOICES process, many of you asked about the opportunity to continue your faith formation. Goal 3 of our diocesan pastoral plan commits to "creating comprehensive continuing adult education and formation opportunities utilizing a wide range of adult learning styles". In response to this goal, we are compiling adult faith formation opportunities within the Diocese of Lansing and in our neighboring dioceses.

You will notice a 'new look' to this website. We have attempted to categorize the offerings in order to provide a faster search. The Ministry Formation offerings will be moving into the Department of Formation.

The contact for the updating of this website is: Peter Ries, Director of Adult Faith Formation, can be reached at pries@dioceseoflansing.org or by calling 517-342-2486.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

The Holy Spirit: Towards a Mystical Cosmology will be offered at Weber Center, Adrian, September 26 - 28, 2008. Presentors will be Sr. Linda Gibler, OP and Fr. Don Goergen, OP. Both the Earth and all its creatures require a more integrated vision of science and religion, cosmology and spirituality. In this workshop, we will explore a cosmology grounded in a theology of the Holy Spirit, a spirituality that takes the world and needs of the Earth as integral to itself, a mysticism that is deeply cosmic and contemplative. Cost (including meals) is $250 single occupancy, $150 double occupancy per person, $125 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

Second Saturday Catechesis is offered at St. Thomas the Apostle, Ann Arbor, the second Saturday of each month through May, 10:00am - 12:00pm in room 252 of the parish offices. The topics will be "Jesus Christ" (April 12) and "Mary and the Saints: Role Models in Attaining Eternal Life" (May 10). Call: 734-761-8606 for further details.

Come view and discuss Fr. John Corapi's videos on The Catechism of the Catholic Church at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing, on Sunday afternoons, 5:00 - 6:15pm, in the 1st floor Church conference room. To register or for further information, contact: Joe Jong at 517-332-7858 or thinbuda@gmail.com.

Sunday Morning CAFÉ is weekly at St. Joseph Shrine, Brooklyn, 9:30 - 10:45am. This year the group will be covering topics from The Catechism of the Catholic Church. For complete information, call: 517-467-2106.

Faith Journey: Study of the New United States Catholic Catechism for Adults meets the first and third Mondays of the month at St. Mary, Adrian. Call: 517-263-4681 for complete information.

The Great Catholic Book Study Group meets at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing in the home of Dave & Rory Hoipkemier the 2nd and 4th Friday evenings of each month. The group is currently discussing Fr. Benedict Groeschel's book, Spiritual Passages. Contact: 517-333-6704 or dhoipkemier@juno.com for registration and for further information.

Theology on Tap, for young adults 18-39, Ann Arbor site meets the second Tuesday of each Month (September-November, January-May) at Arbor Brewing Company, 114 East Washington, Ann Arbor, 7:00 - 9:00pm. For monthly topics contact: Jen Delvaux at 734-821-2126 or jen@stfrancisa2.org.

BLACK CATHOLIC MINISTRY

Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Mutli-Cultural Church
Resources for Catechesis in the Black Perspective
Topics for Adult Faith Formation Workshop
(For more information, call: Ron Landfair at 517-342-2496)

LITURGY AND WORSHIP

Celebrate Prayer through Movement -- Dance Your Praise and Petitions will be held at the Weber Retreat & Conference Center, Adrian, Saturday, May 17, 10:00am - 4:00pm (includes lunch). Sr. Kathleen Matz will be the director. Liturgical dance will be explored as personal prayer, a teaching ministry and a liturgical work offered by practiced dancers. No previous dance experience is necessary and participants are asked to dress comfortably. Registration fee is $45. Call: 517-266-4000 to pre-register.

PRAYING WITH THE MYSTICS

Learning to Pray in a Meditative Way
2nd Saturday of each month, 7:00pm
St. Theresa of Lisieux B Simple Surrender
Thomas A Kempis B Serenity
John of the Cross B Dark Night of the Soul
St. Francis of Assisi B Peace of Heart
Catherine of Siena B Love and Trust
Theresa of Avila B Let Nothing Disturb You
Meister Eckhart B God Awaits You
Julian of Norwich B All Will Be Well
Francis DeSales B Set Your Heart Free
Hildegardy Bingen B Let There Be Light
(For more information, call: Jean Hausmann at 517-592-8602)

RETREATS

Mother Daughter Retreat -- Special Memories will be offered at St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, Friday - Saturday, May 9 - 10, 2008. Fr. Larry Delaney, Mary Beth Hicks and friends will be the presentors. This retreat is an invitation for the women of your family to pray, share, listen, rest and be together. Registration fee is $75 per person. Call: 866-669-8321 to pre-register.

Consider attending the next Koinonia Retreat to be held Friday - Sunday, June 6 - 8, 2008 at Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lansing. The theme of this retreat is the Paschal Mystery -- the death and resurrection of Jesus. It takes this central teaching of our faith and shows how this applies to our daily lives. During the Koinonia, the church year is compressed into the three days. The cost of the week is $50 per person. This weekend is for both men and women. You must be 20 years of age or older to attend. Please bring a bible. For more information and a registration form, call: Becky McCarthy at 517-668-0315. Make check payable to: Immaculate Heart of Mary/Koinonia.

Experience the Divine: Lessons from the Mystics will be offered at Weber Center, Adrian, July 11 - 13, 2008. The director will be Michael Demkovich, OP. Cost (including meals) is $250 single occupancy, $150 double occupancy per person, $125 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

There Are Larger Places will be offered at Weber Center, Adrian, July 18 - 20, 2008. The director will be Paula D’Arcy. Cost (including meals) is $250 single occupancy, $150 double occupancy per person, $125 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

Come and Paint will be offered at Weber Center, Adrian, September 19 - 21, 2008. This weekend retreat is designed to awaken your creative energies through painting – a way of prayer, a form of spiritual expression. The director will be Sr. Mary Southard, CSJ. Cost (including meals) is $250 single occupancy, $150 double occupancy per person, $125 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

Piece Work–Soul Work will be offered at Weber Center, Adrian, September 19 - 21, 2008. This weekend continues the journey of prayer through conversation, reflection, sharing and journaling in a caring and safe environment. Group discussion and journaling will focus on the "intersections" in our lives – the paths we chose to travel and those we did not and what those decisions have meant in our lives. This quilting retreat will combine various techniques including, English paper piecing, applique and machine sewing. The directors will be Ann Hughes and Barbara Harvey. Cost (including meals) is $250 single occupancy, $150 double occupancy per person, $125 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

Refresh Retreat, a weekend for those 21 - 35 will be held November 7 - 9, 2008. For complete information, contact: Nick Danne at 734-752-5480 or dann0027@umn.edu.

SCRIPTURE STUDY

History of Prophecy in Israel will be presented by Fr. David Howell at St. Mary Magdalen, Brighton, on Mondays, 7:00 - 9:00pm, April 7 through May 12. Please call: 810-229-8624 to register.

Sunday By Sunday, a program that explores the Sunday gospels, will be led by Fr. John Flynn at St. Matthew, Flint on Tuesdays, 10:00 - 11:30am. For more information, call: 810-232-0880.

The Book of Proverbs will be the spring scripture study at St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach on Thursday mornings, 9:30 - 11:00am, April 10 - May 15. Call: 517-547-7496 for complete details.

The Parables of Jesus: An Experience of the Reign of God will be a scripture study week presented at Weber Center, Adrian, July 21 - 25. The presentor will be Sr. Sarah Ann Sharkey, OP. Cost (including meals) is $450 single occupancy, $325 double occupancy per person, $225 commuter. To register and for further information, call: 517-266-4000.

The Gospel of John and the Johannine Letters is the material for the ongoing Wednesday morning bible study at St. Thomas Aquinas, East Lansing. The group meets at 10:00am in the lower level of St. Thomas Aquinas Church. For further information, call: Carol Ann Wilkinson at 517-351-6841.

Women’s Scripture Study will be at St. Mary, Adrian on Mondays at 10:00am in the Activities Center Lounge. Call: 517-263-4681 for further information.

RETREAT CENTERS

WEBER CENTER (Adrian)
For a listing of workshops, seminars, retreats, check out www.adriandominicans.org/weber

SAINT FRANCIS RETREAT CENTER (DeWitt)
For a listing of workshops, seminars,retreats, check out www.stfrancis.ws

DOMINICAN CENTER AT MARYWOOD (Grand Rapids)
For a listing of courses, workshops, seminars and retreats, check out www.dominicancenter.com/programs