Summer Small Group Ideas!

Hello Sisters!  It's Kim here; Peoria DCCW President and Evangelization Chairperson.  This post is a copy of my "Called to Witness" column which will be published in The Catholic Post later this month.  

Summer is a fun and interesting time of the year.  Many of us are balancing road trips and ball games with a look ahead to planning fall and the back-to school season.  As one who strives to grow spiritually, I want to tell you about some resources for your parish women’s organization, small group, or even just for you as an individual.  Joyful Catholics never take a summer vacation from our prayer life and faith formation!

Over 60 women attended our Leadership Training Development program on June 23^rd and became excited about what the National Council of Catholic Women offers. Here are a couple of options that would be wonderful to use in small groups.

1.       A study resource on Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel,) the first Apostolic Exhortation from Pope Francis is now available at nccw.org  Please don’t let the idea of a papal document scare you away.  In it, you will find a beautiful message, and this downloadable tool can help you and your friends explore it in a very approachable way.  Go to nccw.org and find Faith Formation under the Get Involved tab.

2.       A resource available to individuals and parishes with paid NCCW membership is the “Rosary Meditations on the Dignity of Women.”  Filled with passages from Scripture and Vatican documents, this resource can enhance your private and group prayer time.  Contact us at peoriadccw@gmail.com to learn how you can become a member.

Many people love summer book clubs, and now several are offered with online interactive materials.   W.I.N.E. (Women in the New Evangelization) is featuring The Friendship Project:  The Catholic Woman’s Guide to Making and Keeping Fabulous, Faith Filled Friends” by Michele Faehnle and Emily Jaminet.  The book and its companion journal explore the theological and cardinal virtues along with great women Saints all in light of building meaningful friendships.  While the online discussions are starting in early July, you can participate any time that works for your small group.  Go to catholicvineyard.org to learn more.  I enjoy participating in WINE book clubs via their Facebook live discussions.  In other words, you can access it in so many ways!

Maybe you’re not a big reader, but you prefer audio and visual learning.  Here is a resource from Blessed is She that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home, or while looking at your smart phone at the park.  The “Summer Gathering” webcasts are free and viewable live, as well as uploaded to their website for later viewing.  The first one was June 19; the other webcasts will be July 24 and August 21.  Additional web-based workshops are available throughout the year for a nominal cost.  Go to blessedisshe.net to learn more.

I realize that I usually write about how we can share our faith with others, but we cannot share what we do not have.  Let’s all take advantage of the wisdom of the Church and the testimony of our brothers and sisters in faith to grow in our love of the Lord!