Evangelization and Formation

Dear families, 

We look forward to accompanying you and your children on their spiritual journey towards formation in the Catholic faith. Currently we are undergoing some changes in our religious education program, which you can read about below. 

This spring semester, 2021, we will complete the programs for sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation which began in the Fall here at St. Paul Catholic Center. A group of volunteers will lead our first communicants and their families for the rest of the year. Bridget McIntyre will lead our Confirmation program. For our other religious education classes, we will collaborate with the religious education program at St. Charles for the remainder of the school year. St. Charles currently offers both online and hybrid faith formation classes to accommodate the different needs of families at this time. Fr. Tom Kovatch and Rose Johnson, the Coordinator of Religious Education at St. Charles, are eager to collaborate with us in this ministry. 

Contact Rose Johnson at rjohnson@stcharlesbloomington.org

St. Paul offers fellowship and volunteer experiences for the family that will provide a comprehensive spiritual formation.  Please contact me if you desire more or different experiences for your family. For your reference, here is a copy of our 2020-2021 Religious Education Program Guide.
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To register for Sacraments:
Baptism: Please call the Parish Office ​at 812-339-5561 to schedule a Baptism.
Register for First Communion and First Reconciliation
Register for Confirmation
RCIA Inquiry Form
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Contact our office for more information.
 

How to Begin Your Journey

Whether you are interested simply in learning more about the Catholic Faith or becoming a fully confirmed member of the Catholic Church, the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) program is for you.  This class is also for you whether you have no religious background, are a baptized non-Catholic, or a Catholic seeking baptism and/or confirmation.

RCIA is a discernment process to help people experience the fullness of the Faith.  Our desire is for people to confidently enter full communion of Faith and to feel the warm embrace of the Church family. 

This does not mean attendants must be committed to entering the Church when they join.  In fact, they are welcome to be a part of RCIA for the whole year without the intention of joining the Church.  But if you are looking to be a full member of the Church with the Sacraments, this needs to be communicated and discerned with the instructor by the start of the spring semester; of course, the sooner the better. 

​If you are baptized and intend to join the Church, please send us a copy of your Baptismal Certificate, or call your church of baptism to send us one.  This is one of those cases in which it is perfectly acceptable for an adult to ask mom for help.

Additional information about RCIA is available from the U.S Conference of Catholic Bishops (click  here).

Already Baptized and Practicing the Faith?

Though RCIA is a great way to join the Church, some are baptized as Christians and have a significant level religious instruction, spiritual formation, and involvement in the Church.  Respectful of individual needs, please email our team (click  here) to discuss other options for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Meeting Times and Structure
Classes
RCIA meetings this year (2020-2021) will be held via Zoom.  The first meeting will be Tuesday, September 15. You can find the class schedule here. If interested, please contact Deacon Ron.

Because many of our RCIA students attend Indiana University or work there, we simply follow IU’s schedule.  When they begin, we begin.  When they are on break, so are we.

Service Work

Jesus by his life, work and teachings (e.g., Mathew 25:31-46) emphasizes the importance of service to those in need.  This is an integral part of our faith.  To be a Catholic is to serve. 

​We ask those seeking full membership to the Catholic Church to perform at least 10 hours of service work with an approved organization, preferably, but not necessarily, a Catholic program.

Sponsors

Becoming Catholic is not simply a mental consent to believe in the things the Church teaches or that it is the Church that Jesus Christ founded (Matthew 16:18).  The Church not only has an institutional element by which She formally welcomes new members into the Body of Christ, there is also the mystical, a heart-to-heart element.  Church members personally welcome men and women into the Faith and guide them through the traditions and cultures which have helped millions of people fall deeply in love with the God Who loved them first.

​A Sponsor is a part of the mystical body of the Church, a Catholic in good standing with the Institutional Church, who personally welcomes a new member.  This may be a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a parishioner selected by St. Paul’s staff or volunteers to meet the needs of the new member.  The Sponsor agrees to attend some of the ceremonies of initiation, especially the Easter Vigil.  In some special occasions, a proxy can represent the sponsor if the sponsor is unable to attend an event.

Topics Studied in RCIA

God Seeking Man
Who is God?
Revelation: The Church
Revelation: Scripture
Who is Jesus?
The Holy Spirit
Prayer
The Blessed Virgin Mary
The Saints
The Four Last Things
The Story of Salvation: the Fall, Sin and Redemption
The Sacraments
The Eucharist
The Mass
Penance
Anointing of the Sick
Moral Theology
The Theology of the Body
Catholic Social Teaching
 

Helping Others Grow in Faith

Faith formation is at the heart of St. Paul, and we rely on volunteers to help teach our children, counsel couples considering marriage, and mentor adults who wish to join the Church.  We also sponsor weekly Bible studies for men and women. Our goal: to create a meaningful learning experience that will encourage growth toward God. 

RCIA Faith Formation Sponsors

Contact:  Fr. Patrick Hyde
E-mail:frpatrick@hoosiercatholic.org  
Phone:  812-339-5561, Ext. 212
 Sponsors mentor individuals participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program.  Volunteers must be confirmed, practicing Catholics over the age of 18 who are willing to attend the RCIA sessions and be a friend to those they sponsor.

Marriage Preparation Sponsor Couples

Coordinators:    Leonie Stewart and Cara McGowan
E-mail: leonie.stewart@yahoo.com
Volunteer couples sponsor engaged couples who are working through FOCCUS inventory, a pre-marriage tool that facilitates open communication.  Several categories in the inventory are targeted to stimulate discussion on subjects such as families of origin, religion, careers, and finances, among others.  The program reflects the mission of St. Paul Catholic Center to enrich the sacrament of marriage and to foster loving relationships. Training is provided.

Women’s Bible Study

Women’s Bible Study continues to meet every Thursday morning from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Zoom. We are studying the books of Tobit, Judith and Esther using the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible series which we purchased on Amazon. If you are interested in joining us and/or have questions, contact anitawesterhaus@gmail.com