ASCEND

FOUNDATIONS, TRANSFORMATION, PREPARATION, MISSION

Start where you are at, and work your way up.  ASCEND the mountain to God, one step at a time, with fellow travelers and pilgrims, and become more joyful and alive along the way!

WHY: As C.S. Lewis put it, in eternity each person will either become a saint of unimaginable happiness, splendor, and glory, or become a monster of unimaginable horror and ugliness.  There is no middle ground.  ASCEND is a chance for each person to become who he or she is meant to be.

WHO: MS & HS Teens & Parents, All Adults, & All RCIA participants and sponsors.  Whole families are welcome too!  Learn how this works (below).

WHAT:

• Stage 1 - Foundations - Take nothing for granted.  Ask the hard questions and get satisfying answers!
  • Sept-May or Feb-Aug
• Stage 2 - Transformation - Live your best possible life.  By God's grace overcome the hurdles that are holding you back from God and the flourishing He has planned for you!
• Stage 3 - Preparation - Learn your God-given gifts and talents, and prepare to use them!
• Stage 4 - Mission - Set out on mission in a "life worth living" that bring's God's light into a dark world!

WHEN: 

• September Cohort: One Wednesday night session per month, and one Sunday morning session per month, with "Home Formation" assignments between sessions.
• February Cohort (Foundations Only) - Two Wednesday nights per month with "Home Formation" assignments between sessions.

STAGE 1 - FOUNDATIONS

• WHAT: Foundations is an open and encouraging space to ask questions and get answers to life's most fundamental questions: Does God exist?  Is Jesus divine?  Did he rise from the dead?  Is the Catholic Church the one, completely true religion?  Do science and faith contradict one another?  How can an all-loving God allow so much suffering in the world?  Are the Church's teachings about marriage outdated and wrong?   After addressing these fundamental questions we'll take a close look at the basic message of the Gospel, and try to decide whether or not we want to be "in" or "out."  Along the way, we'll have fun, develop new friendships, and keep things lively and interesting.
• MATERIALS: Fr. Spitzer's "7 Essential Modules," Fr. John Riccardo's book "Rescued: The Unexpected and Extraordinary News of the Gospel," "Why We're Catholic," Theology of the Body, Pamphlets and Handouts, The New Testament, "The Chosen," and "The Passion of the Christ"
• LEADERS: Jason Houle and Dale Oden
• WHEN: 
  • September Cohort - September through May
  • February Cohort (Foundations Only) - February through August
• To Learn More or Register: Click Here

STAGE 2 - TRANSFORMATION

• WHO: Anyone who has completed "Foundations" or who can "skip" Foundations by being able to demonstrating a high level of knowledge and commitment to Christ and his Church.
• WHAT:  Led by Fr. Tom, thics course is packed with a "Carmelite spirituality" that can help someone ascend the mountain of God with sure footsteps.Transformation focuses on undergoing a spiritual and moral conversion through prayer and growing in virtue.  We will dive deeply into spiritual warfare, spiritual and emotional healing, virtue and vices, morality, and most especially prayer. 
• LEADERS: Fr. Tom
• WHEN: September through May
• To Learn More or Register: Click Here

STAGE 3 - PREPARATION

• WHO: Anyone who has completed Transformation or who can demonstrate a high degree of commitment to sanctity, growing in virtue, and pursuing sainthood in one's personal life.
• WHAT: Preparation focuses on coming to know one's spiritual charisms and natural gifts and talents, and preparing to become an "apostolic missionary" at Saint John's and/or in their personal lives.  After learning one's charisms and gifts through a "Called and Gifted" exercise, this will be a year of further exploring those charisms and gifts in various ministries in the Church or contexts in one's family or community.  As we further ascend up the mountain of God along the "hard and narrow path" that leads to life, we will prepare ourselves for the following year, in which we will live out our mission by selecting a ministry at Saint John's (or in their family or community) and taking on a mentor in that ministry to help them "put out into the deep and lower their nets for a catch."
• MATERIALS: "Called and Gifted," "From Christendom to Apostolic Mission," Practicum 
• LEADERS: Joe Block
• WHEN: September through May

STAGE 4 - MISSION ('23-'24)

• WHO: Anyone who has completed the Preparation year.

• WHAT: After coming to know one's spiritual charisms and natural gifts and talents, and after preparing to become an "apostolic missionary" at Saint John's and in their personal lives, this year puts it into practice while being strengthened and supported by a small group, a personally-assigned mentor, and ongoing catechesis.  Each individual will engage in a ministry at Saint John's (or potentially outside Saint John's).  The year culminates in a three-day retreat  focusing on reflection, renewal of strength, and discerning what the following years look like.

• MATERIALS: TBD
• LEADERS: TBD
• WHEN: September through May

Whole families are welcome to participate! 

Here is what each member of your family will be doing...

• Children Ages 0-2 - Catholic Childcare
• Children Ages 3-6 - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Children in Grades 1-5 - Family of Faith
  • Grade 2 - First Confession & First Communion
• Teens in Grades 6-12, Parents, Parishioners, Confirmation sponsors, and RCIA candidates, spouses, & sponsors
  • Year 1 - Foundations Year
  • Year 2 - Transformation Year
  • Year 3 - Preparation Year
  • Year 4 - Mission Year