On Sunday, Sept. 12, the soon-to-be-united parishes of Church of the Nativity, Franklinville, and St. Catherine of Siena, Clayton, held the first of six “Faith Festivals,” cross-generational events to be held this year and next to build and celebrate the community of believers.
Themed “Our Creed,” the workshop introduced the first-year theme and the tenets of the Catholic faith, as expressed in the Apostles’ Creed. The 80 participants took part in whole group prayer, a meal and instruction, and shared their own personal expressions of the Creed.
Father Jaromir Michalak, pastor/convener of the parishes, gave the final blessing.
Sister Kathleen Burton, SSJ, director of Faith and Family Life Formation for the Diocese of Camden; and Mary Lou Hughes, associate director of Faith Formation, were two of the facilitators for the day.
Saying that “faith formation isn’t just for children anymore,” Hughes talked about the “hands-on involvement” of the program, where people explore “all we have in common as Catholic Christians.”
The schedule for the remaining sessions:
“The Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints,” All Souls Thursday, Nov. 3, 6:30-10 p.m., dinner and program
“Incarnation of Jesus Christ, True God and True Man,” Thursday, Dec. 9, 6:30-10 p.m., dinner and program
“God the Father, the Old Covenant,” “God the Father, Creator of Heaven and Earth,” Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011, 6:30-10 p.m., dinner and program
“Jesus, the Messiah,” “The Paschal Mystery,” Sunday, Apr. 10, 2011, 11 a.m.- 2:30 p.m., luncheon and program
“God, the Holy Spirit,” Sunday, June 5, 2011, 12 noon-2:30 p.m., luncheon and program,
Tickets for the programs are $6.50 per person. Each event concludes with the distribution of a family kit related to the theme of the Creed discussed at that session.
For more information, contact Meryl Cerana, CRE, at Mecerana@verizon.net, or at 856-881-9155.