Learning

“In what is necessary, unity; in what is not necessary, liberty; and in all things, charity.”
-St. Augustine of Hippo

Knowledge of the truth brings true freedom.

How do we come to know God? It isn’t enough simply to know about Him; God wants us to know Him, intimately. We can spend a lifetime learning to truly know another person and never know all there is to know; how much more the infinite God? God reveals Himself to us in Christ, who is the Word of God. That Word speaks to us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, as recorded in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, stewarded faithfully and guarded through the ages by the Magisterium. As the Lord reveals Himself to us, we are challenged to grow in faith and become the saints He has created us to be, living out lives of true freedom, peace, and joy, regardless of our circumstances. This journey is often referred to as ongoing conversion.

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?” Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:13-17

Religious education ideally begins when we are children, but it is never too late to start. At our parishes, we offer Religious Education classes for children, youth, and adults. There are groups for people new to faith, those who have been walking with the Lord for decades, and everything in between. From stunning video presentations to intimate small groups, the Faith is shared in diverse settings, with a variety of fellow sojourners, and through a host of formats.

Explore three different avenues of learning at our parishes in the links below. Click to expand each box.

 

Evangelization

The basics of the Gospel & the nuts and bolts of living the Faith.

Alpha for Catholics

What is Alpha?

Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith, typically run over eleven weeks. Each talk looks at a different question about faith, and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all over the globe, and everyone is welcome.

Each session has three things in common: a good meal, a talk focused on the big issues of faith, and conversation. Alpha is a great starting place for those who have never been to church, or those who might have grown up with religion as a given in their life but never personally engaged much with it.

“Alpha provides a communal context where people can once again ask the fundamental basic questions about life: Why are we here, who are we, what’s our purpose? “

Matt Maher
Catholic Worship Leader and CCM Artist

Alpha is hosted at various times during the year; check the home page or the current bulletin to find out when the next one starts, or drop us a line through the contact form. Contact link, one for each parish.

“Being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive direction.”

Pope Benedict XVI
Deus Caritas Est [God is Love]

Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.

Catholics Returning Home

  • Were you raised Catholic, but no longer or seldom attend Mass?

  • Are you a Catholic who feels separated from the Church, because of scandal, hurt, or some other personal reason?

  • Would you like to know more about the Catholic Church as it is today?

No matter how long you have been away, no matter for what reason, Jesus welcomes you back with open arms. You are invited to come explore with us how you can consider renewing your relationship with Him and with His Church.

This program is usually held twice a year, after Christmas and after Easter. Please contact us to find out more about when the next session meets, or check the current bulletin or home page for updates.

Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.

The Wild Goose

The Wild Goose is a video series which explores the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. “Wild Goose” was a phrase the ancient Celtic Christians used to describe the Holy Spirit. According to Fr. Dave Pivonka, Franciscan priest, author, and host of the series:”The dominant images of the Holy Spirit are a meek dove or a flickering flame of a candle, both of which are in one way accurate. But the Holy Spirit is more than that. God’s Spirit is power, and blows not merely like a gentle breeze, but at times like a raging wind.” Join us for this powerful series, and see where the Wild Goose wants to lead you next.

“The Holy Spirit is not merely something relegated to Confirmation, but the Spirit desires a relationship with us that will take us on the greatest adventure imaginable; a journey to the very Heart of God. The Holy Spirit desires to be present to us in a manner that brings light out of darkness, freedom out of bondage, order out of chaos, and life out of death. Such is the power of the Wild Goose.”

Fr. Dave Pivonka

The Wild Goose series is hosted at various times during the year. Contact us to find out when the next presentation will be, or check the home page or current bulletin for updates.

Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.

Men's Group

Join the men of our parish for small group prayer, fraternity, and mentorship. Groups meet weekly.

Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.

Faith Formation

A deeper walk starts with a single step. What are you waiting for?

RCIA | The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults

“Each of us is the result of a thought from God. Each of us is willed. Each of us is loved. Each of us is necessary.”

Pope Benedict XVI

Are you ready to take the next step in your relationship with Christ and His Church? RCIA is the short name for the process by which an inquirer formally becomes a Catholic in full communion with the Catholic Church. If you are unbaptised, or were baptised as a child yet have not completed subsequent Sacraments, RCIA is the bridge to full participation in the life of the Church.

This program runs annually, beginning in the fall, and culminating in the Easter Vigil. 

Check the home page for updates, or click here for more info. Classes are generally held once a week. 

To find out more about the process, click here to read the USCCB’s overview.

To get started, contact us and we’ll have someone reach out to you! Please mention which location (Forks, Sequim, Port Angeles) you’re interested in, so we can route you to the right coordinator.

Adult Scripture Studies

Our parishes host several Scripture studies for adults in a small group format. Join us to break open the Bible and discuss how it can lead to a deeper relationship with the Word of God Himself, Jesus Christ.

How can we profess faith in God’s Word, and then refuse to let it inspire and direct our thinking, our activity, our decisions, and our responsibilities toward one another? Faith is always demanding because faith leads us beyond ourselves. Faith imparts a vision of life’s purpose and stimulates us to action.

Pope St. John Paul II

Check the weekly calendar (Pg. 7 of the weekly bulletin) to find out current times and locations.


Tuesday Morning Ladies’ Bible Study | Queen of Angels

Our ladies’ bible study has been meeting for over thirty years! All women are welcome. We are currently finishing up Stephen Ray’s ten-part DVD series, Footprints of God. We’ve studied the Gospels and other books of the Bible, as well as series presented by Bishop Robert Barron, Fr. Dave Pivonka, Scott Hahn, Jeff Cravins, Tim Gray, Dr. Brant Pitre, Women of the Bible, and more. We are a diverse group, and allow time for lively discussions.

QA | Tuesdays | 9:00 -10:30 am | St. Benedict Rm.

Contact us for more information about how you can get involved.