From Word to Worship to Witness
The life of faith is lived in community with other believers. We are called, by God, to community and communion with others. To be formed in the faith, in part, is to be prepared for life in a community – a life marked by service, humility, and charity. Come! Journey from Word to Worship to Witness in our Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic Tuesday evenings.
Discover the Amazing Riches of the Catholic Faith
Following Jesus and living as a Catholic is a life-long process of conversion, formation, education, and on-going conversion. As adults we should always be continuing to learn and grow, about our faith and the world around us.
How much do you really know about your faith? And, what is the Catholic Church all about anyway? 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. This evening study is open to all adults, both men and women are welcome as we explore the depth and joys of our Catholic faith. Using the best-selling study from Ascension Press, What We Believe, the Tuesday evenings’ journey begins September 9th. See below for the full Tuesday evening line-up which includes the What We Believe study and the Tuesday evening Holy Hours of Adoration.
Please note: there is a great study set for the What We Believe portion of the course through Ascension Press. Cost is $30. If you are interested in these materials, please contact Kelly at kjohnson@stmarygostyn.org to reserve a study set.
Interested in Growing Your Faith?
Following Jesus and living as a Catholic is a life-long process of conversion, formation, education, and on-going conversion. As adults we should always be continuing to learn and grow, about our faith and the world around us.
ALL adult parishioners are invited to learn about our faith and fall more deeply in love with Jesus.
- Whether you are new to our parish, or a member for many years
- Whether you have never been Baptized or Baptized into another faith tradition
- Whether you have been Baptized Catholic but never received your other Sacraments
We invite you to our Tuesday evening sessions, which aim to help all adults in our community:
OCIA Inquiry
If you have never been Baptized or are Baptized into another faith tradition, or if you were Baptized Catholic but never received your other Sacraments, we invite you to our Tuesday evening Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic sessions. These Tuesday evenings, which include the What We Believe study as well as Holy Hours of Adoration, are a way to deepen your faith, or, if you are interested, become Catholic. We invite you to embrace the invitation and challenge of an ever-deepening faith in Jesus.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 1:12
In a Catholic Parish, OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults, is the amazing journey of entering into the fullness of the Catholic faith. Here at St. Mary’s, we will help you to learn, grow, find community, and prepare for the fullness of life that God desires for us all! Find this new, abundant life in Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic and OCIA Inquiry Course!
Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic and OCIA Inquiry Course is a way to ask questions about the faith, deepen your understanding of our faith, and, if interested, become Catholic. It is open to everyone – whether you were baptized Catholic or in another faith tradition, attending Mass because your spouse is Catholic, or never been Baptized. Together, we welcome you to this amazing journey of faith.
For more information, call the Parish Office at (630) 969-1063 to speak with Father Shaun, or please complete the Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic OCIA Inquiry Course questionnaire.
Dates & Topics
What We Believe and our Tuesday Evening Holy Hours comprise our Becoming Catholic, Living Catholic sessions and are a part of our OCIA Inquiry.
Together these opportunities for “Adult Catechesis” form a robust and dynamic offering at St. Mary’s. What is Adult Catechesis? It is an invitation to faithfully and consciously grow in the life of Christ through experience, reflection, prayer, and study. It is to enter into a better understanding of, and participation in, the full sacramental life of the Church. It’s being Catholic!
These evenings are open to everyone since everyone, from life-long Catholics to those inquiring about the faith, should continually learn and grow. Below are the dates and topics for What We Believe, and the way in which they work in conjunction with the Tuesday Holy Hours of Adoration. Come for one, come for all. You are welcome.
Part I: Who We Are
September 23, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (1): The Catholic Faith, The Fullness Of Christian Life
Part II: Our Faith
September 30, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (2): The Journey of Faith
October 7, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: The Bible, Old Testament: The Story of Salvation History
October 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
October 21, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
October 28, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (3): God the Father, Creation, and the Fall
November 4, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (4): Jesus Christ Our Savior
November 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
November 18, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (5): The Holy Spirit, the Breath of God
November 25, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
December 2, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Advent-themed Holy Hour of Adoration
December 9, 2025 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: The Bible, New Testament: The Heart of Our Relationship with God
December 16, 2025 @ 7:00pm in Church
Advent-themed Holy Hour of Adoration
January 6, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (6): The Church
January 13, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Holy Hour of Adoration
Part III: Our Life
January 20, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: The Liturgy. The Privileged Setting in which God Speaks to us
February 3, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (7): The Sacramental Life
February 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Parish Mission, with guest speaker
February 17, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: The Sacraments, Participating in the Life of Christ
February 24, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Lenten Holy Hour of Adoration
March 3, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (8): Union with God, The Life of Prayer
March 10, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Lenten Holy Hour of Adoration
March 17, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: Morality
March 24, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Lenten Holy Hour of Adoration
March 31, 2026 @ 6:30pm-8:00pm in Church
Topic: Lenten Reconciliation (opportunity for Individual Confession)
Part IV: Witness + Mission
April 7, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: Mystagogy and What We Believe (9): Fasting, Becoming Christlike
April 14, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
April 21, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
April 28, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: What We Believe (10): Almsgiving, our Mission of Mercy
May 5, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: Moral Decision Making
May 12, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
May 19, 2026 @ 7:00pm in the Gathering Place
Topic: Mary, the Saints and End Times
May 26, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
June 2, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration
June 16, 2026 @ 7:00pm in Church
Topic: Holy Hour of Adoration