2011 ANNUAL REPORT - Saint Patrick - Saint Anthony Church
2011 ANNUAL REPORT - Saint Patrick - Saint Anthony Church
2011 ANNUAL REPORT - Saint Patrick - Saint Anthony Church
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FAITH FORMATION<br />
Adult Faith Formation<br />
The Adult Faith Formation Ministry sponsored 180 programs and prayer offerings<br />
during <strong>2011</strong> to nourish participants’ spiritual growth. These offerings included<br />
programs in faith sharing, Scripture study, and explorations into spirituality and<br />
prayer that encouraged adults to deepen their faith and heighten their awareness of<br />
God in their daily living. In <strong>2011</strong>, we continued our ongoing series How The World<br />
People gathered to hear Ken<br />
Himes, ofm in October <strong>2011</strong>.<br />
Worships by viewing a multiple-part<br />
series on Jerusalem, and by hosting a<br />
two-part series on the Eastern Rite<br />
<strong>Church</strong>es. Commitment to<br />
contemplative prayer remained<br />
strong, and parishioners participated regularly in weekly prayer sessions of lectio divina and centering prayer. The<br />
Franciscan Reading Groups have expanded our ongoing Franciscan spirituality program. Our commitment to exploring<br />
Scripture included an eight-part series on Jesus in the Gospels. The number of participants in our daytime programs<br />
increased as more people found ways to share significant experiences with others. Films were used to explore spirituality<br />
and social justice topics. Five Twilight Retreats and three weekend retreats for men and women of the parish and their<br />
friends offered time for extended quiet and reflection. This rich variety of program offerings—daytime and evening,<br />
weeknight and weekend—provided something for everyone! The Adult Faith Formation Ministry serves as a regional<br />
resource for people from all over the greater Hartford area.<br />
Religious Education<br />
Religious Education continued to grow and flourish at St. <strong>Patrick</strong>-St. <strong>Anthony</strong> during <strong>2011</strong>. Sixty children made their<br />
First Communion in spring <strong>2011</strong>. In addition to<br />
sacramental preparation, a variety of programs<br />
were offered throughout the school year to meet<br />
the individual catechetical needs of our 500<br />
children. For younger children (through sixth<br />
grade) three programs continued to be offered.<br />
The first is a traditional-style program in which<br />
students attend Sunday morning classes. The<br />
second is a Family Program in which students and<br />
their parents meet monthly with other families to<br />
discuss sacraments, the liturgical seasons, and<br />
Christian family life. The third is the Catechesis of<br />
the Good Shepherd, a hands-on learning program<br />
based on the Montessori method, in which<br />
participants meet in small-group sessions (Sunday<br />
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