“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me for God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and proclaim a year of God’s favor.”   
—Luke 4:18

JustFaith Ministries presents a spiritual deepening process that invites small groups of adult Christians to explore the intersection between contemplative presence and social action, as it is lived out in their own lives. Engaging Spirituality focuses on the practical challenges of following Jesus into the broken heart of our world, inspired by the urgency and spirit of the Gospel message to our lives, to our relationships, and to our times. Participants practice “the undivided life” of Christian discipleship—engaging in contemplation while immersing ourselves in the heart of our fragmented world.

“(Those) who attempt to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening (their) own self-understanding, freedom, integrity, and capacity to love, will not have anything to give others.”    —Thomas Merton

Engaging Spirituality …

□     is accessible and practical, inviting people to plumb their own depths.

□     introduces seekers to a breadth of contemporary and ancient wisdom.

□     moves us out to embrace current social realities from our hearts.

□     seeks a “grounded spirituality” for contemplative-prophetic living today

F.Y.I.--There are 21 sessions (2 ½ hours each) in each seminar, an opening retreat held before the first session, and three day-long immersion/retreat experiences. The approximate cost of the journal and the five books is $80 per person.

For additional information about the program: http://www.justfaith.org/programs/engagingspirituality.html

History of JustFaith Ministries

JustFaith Ministries provides programs that transform people and expand their commitment to social ministry. Through these life-changing opportunities, members of a church or parish can study, explore and experience Christ’s call to care for the poor and vulnerable in a lively, challenging, multifaceted process in the context of a small faith community.

Jack Jezreel, M.Div., the founder and Executive Director of JustFaith Ministries, introduced the original JustFaith program in 1989 while working in a parish in Louisville, Kentucky. It was immediately and dramatically successful. Since then, churches around the country have had similar results.

Over 20,000 people have participated in various JustFaith programs in over 1,000 churches across the country.

The Justice Library is a collection of books and videos on biblical justice. The resources  are used in the JustFaith Seminar throughout the year and are available for borrowing to any parish member. The library is located in the front meeting room of the parish office and is available for browsing or checkout any time the parish office is open.

Thursday Night Book Study Group is open to all parishioners also. The group reads four books throughout the year in five-week sessions. Book topics include social justice, Bible studies, spirituality, and current issues. Please check the bulletin for current study. We meet in the St. Dominic Center.

Contemplative Prayer Group meets Wednesday evenings from 6-7 PM in St. Dominic Center front room. On the first and third Wednesdays of the month, the prayer is the ancient lectio divina using the scripture that will be in the coming weekend Masses. On the second and fourth Wednesdays, the prayer style is centering prayer. All are welcome. Anne Werdel facilitates the group.

Want to participate in a small faith-sharing group format? "Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton" may be just what you are looking for. Contact Barbara Quinby at socialconcern@sacredheartcathedral.org for more information.