Last week I was speaking with a young couple who said to me, “Father, how can we grow in our faith? We used to be stronger in our faith, but lately it feels like it’s slipping away. Can you help us?” Yes, we can help! This is one of the main goals of the Church: to help people grow in their Catholic faith. Our parish is focusing on this as our second Anchor: to offer people a path of discipleship. What is a disciple? A faith-filled follower of Jesus. Faith is a gift from God. But God invites us to do something to cultivate that gift. There are many ways in which we can grow in our faith. So, this weekend our parish is focusing on Stewardship of Faith and inviting everyone to do something to cultivate their faith.
There are three ways in which we can cultivate our faith: by knowing it, living it, and sharing it. The Stewardship Card in the pew lists some opportunities in each of these areas. I would like to highlight a few of them and add a few others which are not mentioned on the card because they are new.
Know Your Faith
Numerous Bible Studies are offered at IHM by staff members, volunteers, and by the Archdiocese of Denver. Faith Formation classes are offered for people of all ages from preschool through adults. Our sacramental preparation programs are also great ways to grow in your faith. This year we are offering some new opportunities to grow your faith. Some groups will focus on basic Christianity through programs like The Search, The Rescue Project, Alpha, The Chosen, and a study on What We Believe. Others will focus on the Bible through The Bible Timeline and The Catholic Biblical School. We are also offering a new women’s group, She Shall Be Called Woman, and Prayer Groups for Advent and Lent.
Live Your Faith We can also cultivate our faith by living it, and by getting to know others who are living it. We can do so by participating in the Mass and other sacraments, by joining one of our music groups, or serving in another liturgical ministry. We can learn from others who are living their faith by reading Catholic literature, and by watching or listening to Catholic programs. There is a plethora of material available on websites like Word on Fire, Formed.org, and Real Life Catholic, along with apps like Hallow and Amen. The Stewardship Card also mentions participating in Parish Ministries. Our parish offers many ministries to help you grow in faith by coming together in fellowship with a common focus. Many of these ministries are represented in our Ministry Fair which is taking place this weekend in our Parish Hall. I encourage everyone to visit the hall after Mass for food, drink and fellowship and to peruse our many offerings to help you cultivate your faith.
Share Your Faith
We tend to think that we don’t know enough about our faith to share it with others. Actually, when we share our faith with others it tends to grow. You can do so in simple ways like serving at a funeral luncheon, participating in the Widows Group, or in our new Fatima Prayer Group. You could share your faith in the Eucharist by bringing Holy Communion to the homebound. You could accompany a young couple as they prepare for Marriage or for the Baptism of their child. The Stewardship Card mentions being a sponsor for a child, teenager or adult who is preparing for a sacrament. You could join the Families of Nazareth group which is overseen by Fr. Tadeusz. (He is the National Director for this movement.) You could even be a catechist, or lead a small faith study group (Catholic Christian Outreach). All of these programs can help you become more confident in sharing your faith spontaneously with your friends or even family members!
So, yes, we can help you grow in your faith. Don’t let the secular forces of erosion cause it to slip away. This weekend make a commitment to Stewardship of Faith, and let the Lord take you—and us—to new heights!