Merry Christmas!

In the season where darkness is made bright and a small child reminds us again that peace, joy, happiness and love are realities, may you and those you love be blessed abundantly.






Merry Christmas!

St. Joseph Education Center

The new course booklet for St. Joseph Education Center is available. You can find information concerning the courses offered on line at http://www.stjosepheducationalcenter.org/ Simply follow the link on the home page for the Spring Offerings.

On Line Options Exist!

Remember that the University of Dayton offers a fine array of on-line adult formation opportunities. You can access their website by following the link below. I think you would find the courses engaging, thought provoking and very beneficial. They really have an easy user interface and the facilitators are great at building community in cyberspace. We are still considering partnership with the University. Let me know if you are interested in participating in a course.

http://www.udayton.edu/~vlc

If you have questions, please feel free to email me!

O Antiphons ...anticipate and celebrate!

Just a simple and prayerful reminder that we begin the wonderful week of the O Antiphons beginning with December 17th....the link below will offer a brief prayer using the antiphon of the day while also offering a bit of catechesis around the antiphons as a whole...the O Antiphons use various titles for the coming Lord...and help us to focus and celebrate joyously the coming of God with us...Happy Advent!

http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/s-oantiphons.html

St. John's Bible

The documentary highlighting the St. John's Illuminated Bible will air on iptv on January 3 at 8:00 pm. I am sure those of you who were able to attend the workshop last Tuesday will not want to miss this and those of you who were not able to be there will want to take advantage of this opportunity.


"THE ILLUMINATED BIBLE" ON IPTV January 3
On Tuesday, January 3 (8:00 PM), IPTV will air a documentary on creation of the first handwritten Bible in 500 years. The Saint John's Bible (commissioned by Saint John's Abbey and University, Collegeville, MN) is the work of master calligrapher Donald Jackson, as the Bible comes to life through handwritten text and intricate artwork. This Bible will be featured in an exhibition at the Joslyn Museum, Omaha, in January-April 2006. For more information: www.saintjohnsbible.org

Marian Feasts

Remember in this season of Advent, we celebrate not one but two feasts of Mary...this past week we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of our country. On Monday we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe... Let us join together in prayer and ask the intercession of Mary under both titles, the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe for all people everywhere, that our hearts may be opened in this season of waiting and preparing.

Next Des Moines Area Gathering

Just a quick reminder that the next coordinators/directors gathering in the Des Moines area will be on Thursday, January 5, 2006 from 10-12:00 at Our Lady's Immaculate Heart in Ankeny. Amy Hoover will be our hostess and promises chili for lunch! An email reminder will be coming.

Also, Jeff Johnson from the Iowa State Alumni Association will be joining us that day. Jeff has been engaged in a visioning process at St. Joseph Education Center at Dowling Catholic High School throughout the fall and would very much like to meet with the Adult Faith Formation group.

I am looking forward to seeing those of you who are able to attend the St. John's Bible Workshop this next Tuesday in Stuart...stay warm and safe until then!

American Catholic Web Site (St. Anthony Messenger Press)

You might find this an interesting site as it leads you to a page - a- day for the season as well as additional resources for the season that are appealing to parents, children, and adults of all ages!
ENJOY!
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Christmas/default.asp

Advent web sites to share

Steve Dressel in Waukee asked that this list be shared. He recently sent this out to members of his faith community in email form...thanks for the list, Steve!


Advent is here, and here are some great websites to explore (or to visit
briefly) about this season of preparation. You should be able just to click
on them below, but if that doesn't work, copy & paste them (or type them)
into your address line on your browser.

http://www.cptryon.org/prayer/adx/index.html
Prayers and customs of Advent and Christmas by a Precious Blood priest.

http://www.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Advent
Daily reflections, prayers, and explanations of dates and occasions during
Advent and Christmas

http://www.smile-a-day.com/advent-calendar.shtml
Follow a star for a new song/picture each day on the Advent Calendar.

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/advent/
Daily reflection, activity and peacemaking idea and other great links from
the Franciscans.

http://www.catholic.org/clife/advent/
Explores meanings of texts and traditions of Advent.

http://www.usccb.org/cchd/adventcalendar/
Advent Calendar of activities for Social Justice.

http://www.silk.net/RelEd/reviewsadvent.htm
Links to several other great Advent sites.

May you experience the peace and hope of our Emmanuel this blessed season!

Advent Happenings

Advent is here and many of the parishes have wonderful opportunities for ongoing faith formation. Listed below is what Holy Trinity in Des Moines has to offer.


Holy Trinity Catholic Church will present ADVENT PRAYER IN WORD AND
MUSIC on Wednesday, December 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the church at 2926
Beaver Avenue in Des Moines. Come and join us for prayer, music, and
reflection during the season of Advent. For one evening put away the
hurry of getting ready for Christmas, and let the peace and joy of
Emmanuel, God-with-us, be part of your life. Everyone is welcome.

WELCOME!

Welcome to the Blog for Adult Faith Formation in the Diocese of Des Moines! It is my hope that this web log will be an avenue for us to continue to share information and ideas with each other concerning formation initiatives for adults. I will periodically post articles or blurbs on the blog and you will always have the opportunity to add comments...the comments can take the form of conversation strands, information sharing or event updating.

Hopefully this blog will be an added means for us to engage each other in resource sharing while continuing our own formation without taking additional time for meetings and travel. Perhaps folks who are not able to join us when we gather will be able to enter the conversation with us on line as their time permits!