Adult Faith Formation - Hoag

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Adult Faith Formation Model:
Living the Witness of Religious Freedom Retreat for Parish Evangelization Teams

by William Christopher Hoag, D.Min.
Catechetical Program Manager
Diocese of Cleveland

Purpose

The primary purpose of this adult faith formation reflection session is to draw parish evangelization teams into an awareness of the centrality of religious freedom in the defense of human dignity today. The secondary purpose is to serve as a small group reflection for general adult faith formation. The Church today faces severe challenges to religious freedom and shares these challenges in solidarity with other Christians and peoples of other religions. This reflection intends to raise awareness of the need to boldly witness on behalf of religious freedom in order to protect the dignity of all persons.

This reflection session should be about 75 minutes in length. It is most effective with small groups of 8-15 persons.

Materials Needed

Preparation

Prior to this session, photocopy the three handouts in quantities according to your needs. Arrange the environment of the formation session in such a way that the prayer altar is visible from all points in the session area. It would advisable to arrange seating around the prayer altar in a semi-circle if possible. You as facilitator should take your place among the participant seats instead of at a place apart from the group. This helps to build solidarity in the small group.

Place first the colored under cloth on the prayer altar. Try to use the appropriate liturgical color for the season. Atop the colored cloth place the white over cloth. Be sure that under cloth is sufficiently visible. Then place the statue of St. Thomas More in the center of the prayer altar. Position the candles on either side of the statue. Light the candles if this is permitted.

Be sure that the refreshment table is arranged ahead of time. Be sure to give yourself ample time for coffee to brew. The refreshment table should be at a wall opposite from the prayer altar and seating.

Overall Schedule

Welcome and Gathering (10 minutes)

Reflection #1: What is Human Dignity? (15 minutes)

Reflection #2: Roots of the Crisis of the Human Person (15 minutes)

Break (15 minutes)

Reflection #3: Living the Witness to Religious Freedom (15 minutes)

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Welcome and Gathering (10 Minutes)

Greet the participants as they arrive to the session. Invite them to refreshments and to find a seat near the prayer altar.

When all have arrived and are gathered in their seats, begin with the following dialogue:

Welcome, everyone to this special time for reflection upon the importance of religious liberty and its relation to human dignity. This reflection time will last about 90 minutes. We will take a fifteen minute break during the session.

For those of you who do not know me, my name is __________. I am the __________ here at __________. For those who do know me it is a pleasure to be with you again. Please help yourselves to refreshments at any time during the session. Restrooms are located __________.

I would like to start this session by placing before us the witness of this saint [indicate towards the statue on the prayer table], St. Thomas More, whose story is one of brave witness to religious freedom.

It may be helpful to read aloud on the life of St. Thomas More on pages 277-278 of the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults. Be sure that all participants have handouts #1 and #2. Invite a participant to read the first three paragraphs from Henricks' essay on Handout #2. You may also wish to reference popular dramatizations of St. Thomas More such as A Man for All Seasons.

St. Thomas More gave the ultimate witness for religious freedom. Rather than accept a situation that would compromise his convictions as a Catholic, Thomas surrendered his very life as a witness to his religious convictions.

Therefore, with the spirit of Thomas in our midst, let us pray that our time here together will be informative and fruitful for our spiritual lives. And let us pray together the opening prayer from your prayer handout.

Indicate to the participants to use Handout #1, and proceed to lead the group together in the opening prayer—

Together let us pray.

O Glorious St. Thomas More,

Patron of Statesmen, Politicians,

Judges and Lawyers, your life of prayer and penance

and your zeal for justice, integrity and firm principle

in public and family life led you to the path of martyrdom and sainthood.

Intercede for our Statesmen, Politicians, Judges and Lawyers,

that they may be courageous and effective

in their defense and promotion of the sanctity of human life — the foundation of all other human rights. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

(Excerpt from Litany of St. Thomas More, Martyr and Patron Saint of Statesmen, Politicians and Lawyers, by Bishop Michael Saltarelli,copyright © 2004, Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)

At this time I would ask that we move into our first reflection.

Reflection #1: What is Human Dignity? How is it Threatened? (15 Minutes)

Be sure that all participants still have handout #3.

At this time I would ask us to focus ourselves upon the mystery of God's Creation and, within that Creation, the human being. What is a human being? What sets mankind apart from the rest of Creation?

Please look at your handout entitled: The Dignity of the Human Person. Would someone please read the first paragraph?

Invite participants to read the subsequent paragraphs.

Once the essay has been read aloud, invite the participants to reread the essay silently and slowly.

After the participants have read the handout silently, read aloud to them the following passages which are found on Handout #3:

  • Genesis 1:26-31
  • Gaudium et Spes 26

Invite the participants to think about the content of the essay in light of Scripture and the Magisterium.

Then invite the participants into discussion using these questions—

1. What is implied about the dignity of mankind that God would make man alone for God's own sake and place his divine presence in each person?

2. What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God? To be an icon of God in the world?

3. Identify specific threats to human dignity found in our contemporary world? In which way is each a threat to human dignity?

Wrap up the discussion with these words:

Thank you, everyone for these insights. As we recognize, human dignity is fundamental to humanity as creatures made in God's image. Now let us look at the roots of Crisis of the Human Person today. We will return to the Henricks' essay.

Reflection #2: Roots of the Crisis of the Human Peron (15 Minutes)

Be sure that all participants still have Handout #2.

Please return your handout entitled: Heroic Witness on Behalf of Human Dignity by Catholic Lay Leaders. Let us look at the section entitled: Roots of Crisis of the Human Person. Would someone please read the first paragraph?

Invite participants to read the subsequent paragraphs.

Once the essay has been read aloud, invite the participants to reread the essay silently and slowly.

After the participants have read the handout silently, read aloud to them the following passages which are found on Handout #3:

  • Psalm 8
  • Mater et Magistra 215

Invite the participants to think about the content of the essay in light of Scripture and the Magisterium.

Once again, invite the participants into discussion. Time use these questions—

1. What is present in Creation that entices mankind into sin? Can you think of examples of this for your experience?

2. What is religious indifferentism? When have you encountered religious indifferentism in your life? How did you respond to this?

3. What is secularism? How have you encountered secularism in your life? How did you respond to this?

Wrap up Reflection #2 with these words—

Thank you, everyone. As we can see, the very dignity of the human persons is threatened when the importance of religion is forgotten or placed into question in society. This threat is greatly compounded in societies where religion and religious freedom is directly mocked by the culture or even restricted or outlawed by governments.

Let us take a short break and return to our final reflection in 15 minutes.

Break (15 minutes)

Allow enough time for participants to get refreshments, use the restrooms, and engage in fellowship.

Reflection #3: Living the Witness to Religious Freedom (15 Minutes)

Be sure that all participants still have Handout #2.

Let us resettle ourselves and again place ourselves in the divine presence so that he may speak to us during the time together.

Please return once more your handout entitled: Heroic Witness on Behalf of Human Dignity by Catholic Lay Leaders. Let us look at the section entitled: One powerful example of faith in action. We will read through the Conclusion. Would someone please read the first paragraph?

Invite participants to read the subsequent paragraphs.

Once the essay has been read aloud, invite the participants to reread the essay silently and slowly.

After the participants have read the handout silently, read aloud to them the following passages which are found on Handout #1:

  • 1 John 3:1-2
  • Populorum Progessio 47

For a final time, invite the participants to think about the content of the essay in light of Scripture and the Magisterium.

And finally, invite the participants into discussion using these question—

1. What strikes you about the way in which Simple House lives out its witness to human dignity? How can you help do this in your own life?

2. Why must the issue of religious freedom not remain an academic or legal exercise? Which are ways that you can promote religious freedom in your work?

3. Why is it important to have one's relationship to God and temporal cares in right order? How are you on this?

Closing Prayer (5 minutes)

Be sure that all participants still have Handout #2.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing this time together. I think we can agree that we need to be witnesses to the importance of religious freedom in defense of human dignity.

As we conclude, let us pray together one final time. Please refer to your handout with prayers.

And together let us pray—

O God our Creator,
from your provident hand we have received
our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
You have called us as your people and given us
the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God,
and your Son, Jesus Christ.
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
to every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
give us courage in making our voices heard
on behalf of the rights of your Church
and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
gathered in your Church
in this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
so that, with every trial withstood
and every danger overcome—
for the sake of our children, our grandchildren,
and all who come after us—
this great land will always be "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Copyright © 2015, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to duplicate this work without adaptation for non-commercial use.

Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed.© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Scripture excerpts used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, rev. ed.© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, copyright © 2000, Libreria Editrice Vaticana–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from documents of the Second Vatican Council are from Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documents, edited by Austin Flannery, OP, © 1996. Used with permission of Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota.

Excerpt from Pope John XXIII, Mater et Magistra, copyright © 1961, Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV); Pope Paul VI, Populorum Progessio, copyright © 1967, LEV; Pope Francis, Address to European Parliament, November 25, 2014, copyright © 2014, LEV Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Excerpt from Litany of St. Thomas More, Martyr and Patron Saint of Statesmen, Politicians and Lawyers, by Bishop Michael Saltarelli,copyright © 2004, Diocese of Wilmington, Delaware. Used with permission. All rights reserved.