Adult Faith Formation
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in adult learning classes. Your Catholic faith formation is a life-long journey. Our classes are lively with interactive discussion and full materials provided. Some classes are free, others require a fee to cover materials. They are ongoing most of the year, with day or night sessions. Parish wide Missions with outside speakers are offered several times a year (including Advent and Lent).
All registrations are done online through the link below our class descriptions. Once you have registered you will receive a confirming email. Your class facilitator will reach out to you a few weeks before class begins. Our classes are ongoing most of the year. Check back for new offerings.
St. Benedict offers many ways to help you grow in your faith:
- Classes are offered day and night
- A library full of spiritual reading
- Online and in-person classes
- A variety of ministries
Small Groups
St. Benedict Small Groups are intentional gatherings of people who meet regularly with the purpose of growing their relationship with God and others.
Are Small Groups for you? If you long for a place to grow in your faith, develop friendships, and share in the love of Christ, small groups are for you!
Registration for Small Groups happens twice a year (January and August). If interested in becoming part of a small group, please contact sbsg@stbenedict.net.
Classes Offered
New classes are starting regularly. Look back here often for new class options.
Monday Daytime Classes
Sunday Scriptures Study
EVERY Monday morning in the library from 8-9 AM, we have a study of the coming Sunday Scriptures lead by Deacon John Puetz. This class runs all year long. All are welcome…no RSVP needed & no commitment, no homework & no prep-just show up!
This class is FREE, offered in person only.
What We Believe: The Beauty of the Catholic Faith
Discover the Amazing Riches of the Catholic Faith. What is the Catholic Church all about? What does it mean to be Catholic? What do Catholics actually believe? The Catholic Church is extraordinary. Founded by Christ himself, the Catholic Church is where we encounter God in his Word, his sacraments, and his saints. The Church faithfully proclaims the fullness of faith, leaving no truth out. It proclaims the fullness of life, leaving no person out. It calls all to repent and to believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the source of all life and salvation. Maybe you’ve been Catholic your entire life. Maybe you’re just beginning to explore the Catholic Faith. Wherever you may be in your journey, you will be profoundly moved by the beauty and the richness of the Catholic Church.
Start Date: September 9, 2024 @ 10:15-11:45 AM
Zoom Course
Price: $33.00
Streaming Access will need to be purchased separately from Ascension Press.
Materials will be available for pickup at St. Benedict Catholic Church.
Tuesday Evening Classes
Ordering Your Priorities: Building a Life Well Lived
Another glass of wine, just one more episode on Netflix, a little more scrolling on Instagram… Women are numbing out at ever-increasing rates. Why? What is it about our lives that makes us feel so overwhelmed? What might change if we figured out how to build lives that we don’t want to escape?
Ordering Your Priorities: Building a Life Well Lived is an immensely practical Bible study that will help you put the most important things first. Learn how to feel satisfied at the end of the day, knowing that you’ve loved your family not just in your heart, but in your schedule. You will discover, not only what matters most in life, but also how to prioritize things.
Our Walking With Purpose women’s group will be hosting this study on Tuesday evenings from to 7:30 PM-9:00 PM.
This class begins on September 17th and runs for 8 weeks.
There is no cost for this study. YOU MUST PURCHASE YOUR OWN BOOK.
The Bible and the Virgin Mary
Unveil the mystery of Our Lady
Based on Scott Hahn’s Hail, Holy Queen and presented by dynamic speaker Matthew Leonard, this study has something for everyone from the newly confirmed to the fully engaged cradle Catholic.
The Bible and the Virgin Mary, part of the St. Paul Center’s Journey Through Scripture series, unveils the mystery of Our Lady that is woven into the fabric of Sacred Scripture. Twelve visually stunning lessons convey the beauty of the doctrine and devotions surrounding Mary, bringing them to life in a powerful, new way.
Tuesdays 7:30- 9 PM
Start date: September 10, 2024 @7:30 PM
Classroom 5 & 7
$30 per person
Wednesday Morning Classes
Walking with Purpose: Touching the Divine
Touching the Divine Bible study (Second Edition) is a study focused on the many qualities of Jesus revealed through the Gospel of John. This study draws us into a deeper, loving relationship with Jesus as we reflect on His life and personality.
Saint John referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Through John’s eyes, we learn how much Jesus deeply loves us, and how His love is the true satisfaction of our souls. Knowing Christ more intimately, as John did, will touch your heart and fill you with hope!
Wednesday 10:00 am -12:00 pm
Start date: September 11, 2024 @10:00 am
Women of the Spirit
The fall sessions of Women of the Spirit group will begin on September 11th at 9:45 am in room 9. The group will learn and discuss various topics from renowned scholar, Brant Pitre, including The Origins of the Bible, The Jewish Roots of Mary, and Catholic Teaching on Purgatory. Join us for prayer, study, and faith-sharing!
The course is free. The group meets every other Wednesday.
Start Date: September 11th @ 9:45 am
Thursday Daytime Classes
Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom
The Compelling Story of the First Christians
Acts is the story of how a few Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, were chosen to bring Christ and the Good News to the ends of the earth. They faced secular forces, internal strife, and hostile crowds, and despite all of this, they brought the kingdom of God to a broken world and the love of God to the hearts of men.
Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom traces how the gospel witness spread outward in waves from Jerusalem, and reveals how the seeds of Church structure and authority took root. Presenter Jeff Cavins shows how the joys and struggles of the early Christians in living the life of Christ apply to us today.
Acts: The Spread of the Kingdom will help you to see your place in the Church as a disciple of Christ.
20 sessions
$44 per person
Class begins September 12, 2024 @ 1 PM
The Historical Jesus: Understanding Jesus’ Life, Times, and Ministry
For nearly 2,000 years, Christians have followed the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, called Messiah or Christ in the New Testament. Indeed, no other person has had such a wide-ranging and powerful impact on the history of the Western world. This has compelled scholars and the faithful alike to undertake the quest for knowledge about his life.
Now, you too can take this quest. In this series, you will explore the ways in which contemporary scholarship, scripture, and our culture have approached the life of Jesus. Your guide, Professor David Zachariah Flanagin, is both a historical scholar and Catholic educator, providing a singular and faithful perspective into this fascinating and inspiring subject.
The course is free, however registration is required. Materials for course will be accessible through email.
Class begins September 12th at 10 am in Classrooms 5 & 7.
Thursday Evening Classes
Total Abandonment to God’s Will (via Zoom)
In this incredibly practical and powerful course, Matthew Leonard teaches how to deal with all the events and circumstances of this life in a manner that allows us to maintain peace of heart and not get upset.
In fact, he shows how every circumstance we encounter can actually propel us forward in the spiritual life and move us closer to God.
It’s all about a trustful surrender to God in every aspect of our lives…and it changes everything!
This class includes digital access to videos and study guide. The Thursday PM class is held via ZOOM only.
Participants will buy the guide on their own which includes digital video access. Once you have registered, you will be sent a link to order materials in the confirming email.
First class begins: September 12 on Zoom at 7:00 pm.
Resources
The Catechism in a Year
If you have ever wanted to understand what it means to be Catholic and allow those truths to shape your life—this podcast is for you!
Link to full info and to sign up for the daily alerts, reading plan, watch the preview and more!…
The Chosen Series
The Chosen Series Study Guide- the attached study guide is meant to help you in watching the videos, relating them to your faith journey and understanding Jesus and the times he lived in. The Chosen brings the Gospel to life and provides us with a unique opportunity to reflect on Scripture in a new way. While the creatives behind The Chosen have beautiful intentions in producing the show, it is important to understand what the Catholic Church teaches. CLICK HERE for a Catholic commentary of The Chosen. Click SEASON 1 , SEASON 2 or SEASON 3 to download the pdf study guide.
Forming Catholic Conscience
Voting with a Catholic conscience, we are often asked what we as Catholic’s are supposed to do and how we decide who to vote for. Over the next several weeks we will have literature in the lobby regarding forming your Catholic Conscience. We will never tell you who to vote for, but the materials can help you to form your own decision based on solid Catholic Christian values.
Here is a link to a video message from Ascension Presents by Fr. Mike Schmitz about what it means to live in a democratic society. He talks about “the burden of freedom” and explains why true freedom requires wisdom, virtue, and a thorough understanding of the story of our nation and the world.
What Constitutes a Practicing Catholic?
We hear this all the time-Are you a practicing Catholic? How do you know? What does it really mean to be fully practicing your faith? Fr. Mike Schmitz explains the basics pretty well in this video from Ascension Presents. Six minutes worth your time! Don’t just say you are Catholic, live your faith with meaning!
Missions
We often have missions as a concentrated learning opportunity wrapped around a particular subject or liturgical season.
Our Lenten Mission 2023: The Eucharist
Lent Mission 2021
(Due to copyright restrictions, no longer available)
Recorded Classes
Deep Thinking with Father Ben (March 2023)
What does reason have to do with God? The answers may surprise you.
If you would like to greatly improve your understanding of the faith, join Deep Thinking with Father Ben.
Deep Thinking with Father Ben Sessions 1-5
Awake My Soul Women’s Retreat (January 2021)
Awake My Soul Women’s Retreat from January 23, 2021
Senior Wellness Talk (September 2020)
Senior Wellness Talk presented by Sandra McKay, Holy Family Counseling Center via zoom on September 17, 2020.
Bible 101 Class (September 2020)
Bible 101 Class presented by Deacon Jamie Morgan on September 28, 2020.
If you have questions about adult classes, call the Adult Formation Office at 678-992-2047