Samuel Group is a discernment group for young adults, ages 18-39, who meet together once a month from September through March in order to study, pray, and discover their individual vocations or lifetime call from God. The purpose of the program is to equip young adults with the tools they need to approach vocational discernment with peace, joy and confidence.
The program has a three-fold goal for each candidate:
— to know oneself
— to know Jesus
— to know one’s role in the church and in the world
The means by which to reach this goal are: prayer, spiritual direction, and interior discernment.
They involve three main aspects:
— Meditation involves daily reflection on the Word of God and spiritual writings.
— Purification is the process of detachment from sin, wrongful inclinations, selfish affections, and illusions.
— Scrutiny involves spiritual direction and self-reflection on the interior movements of the soul, where Jesus speaks to us.
Samuel Group is open to all young adults ages 18-39 who have at least a minimal prayer life, wish to seriously discern the will of God in their life, and have a spiritual director (or find one to begin the program).
Structure of the Program:
One monthly meeting 1-5 p.m. (Sept. 17, Oct. 8, Nov. 12, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, March 11, 2018. All meetings will be held at Saint Thomas More Church, 1439 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill
Each meeting involves a brief social period, time for guided reflection, an hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, including the possibility for confession, a purification talk, small group sharing and “spiritual assignments” for the month.
Throughout the month students must meet at least once with their personal spiritual director, develop a regular schedule of prayer, and abide by the rules of the Samuel Group.
At the end of the year candidates must submit a letter to the Bishop expressing plans for the future. If they are still uncertain about their vocation they are able to choose among many opportunities to serve in the local church and continue to discern.
Just as Saint John Paul II encouraged young people to devote one day each month to prayer and reflection, so too the Sisters Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Infant Jesus, The Sisters of Saint Joseph and the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministries invite you to set aside a few hours on a Sunday afternoon to learn more about God and yourself and investigate your vocation.
For more information, go to http://www.camdendiocese.org/samuelgroup/
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