Adult Faith Formation and Spiritual Life
OLA’s Adult Formation and Spiritual Life Ministries foster continuing education on the teachings of the Catholic Church and opportunities for spiritual growth for adults.
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If you have questions about an individual ministry, please contact the ministry contact listed or the Pastoral Council Commission Ministry Head, Art Keegan, at PC-adult-formation@olachurch.org.
Bible Studies/Courses
Throughout the year various studies are offered to the parish. Each study presented allows you to better understand sacred history and your role in this history.
Elizabeth Piper, Director of Faith Formation, epiper@olachurch.org
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Bible Discussion Group for Men
The group attends the 7:30am Mass and then meets for breakfast and bible study. We are in need of fresh blood and would welcome new members with open arms. Joining is easy - just show up at Mass on Friday or if you sleep late come to J. Christopher’s on Dresden at 8:15am.
Al Massey, almassey3394@att.net; Art Keegan, artkeegan@hotmail.com
Catholic Divorce Ministry
Catholic Divorce Ministry is a place that welcomes you during the time of healing after a divorce. This group provides topics to encourage healing, meet guest speakers and participate in socials. Click here to register for the group.
Elizabeth Piper, Director of Faith Formation, epiper@olachurch.org
Christ Renews His Parish Retreat (CRHP)
Christ Renews His Parish is an annual parishioner led retreat designed to give both the individual and the parish community an opportunity for renewal and growth in the spiritual life. CRHP is held early in the new year on the OLA campus and lasts from Friday evening until Sunday afternoon. The weekend is a great opportunity to get to know other members of the parish, and to see where God is calling you to serve. Participants go home each night.
Jenny and Mike Kelly, crhp@olachurch.org
Elijah Cup Vocations Ministry
Every other weekend at one of the Masses, a different family or individual takes the Elijah Cup home to pray for vocations to the religious life and priesthood - especially to the Society of Mary (Marists), the religious society that serves our parish. Click here to sign up.
Katie Schermerhorn, ktscchermerhorn@gmail.com
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Marriage Encounter (WEDS)
Marriage Encounter is the largest pro-marriage organization in the world and promotes weekend experiences for couples who want to make their good marriage even better. WEDS groups are couples who have attended a Marriage Encounter Weekend. They meet for to help each other live out the concepts of the Marriage Encounter Weekend.
Karen Sheehan, marriageencounter@olachurch.org
Mosaic (Interfaith Couples Ministry)
The goal of this ministry is to offer support for couples who are in dual faith relationships. Parish leaders will work with our interfaith couples to determine their needs and how our parish community can best help them navigate the challenges – and joys – that an interfaith relationship can bring.
Laura and Alan Berstein, mosaic@olachurch.org
Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA)
Inquirers into the Catholic Faith are invited to meet Sundays at 4pm in the Upper Room of the church. The Inquiry Group starts with time to ask questions about the Catholic church and how to become Catholic. It is the beginning of the Order of Catholic Initiation for Adults (OCIA). OCIA is also for baptized Catholics who seek to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and/or Confirmation.
Elizabeth Piper, Director of Faith Formation, epiper@olachurch.org
Saturday Men's Discipleship Group
The Saturday Men's Discipleship Group welcomes all men in the community. They meet every Saturday from 7:30-9:00 am in the Parish Office Conference Room. We discuss a variety of issues that all men face, utilizing both scripture and Christian teaching to guide us through the issues on our hearts. This diverse group of men, at all different places in our Christian journey, is focused on men in their relationship with God, their spouses, their children, and in their careers. We strive to become better men, better husbands, better fathers ... Better Christians. Deacon Bill Kester and Ralph Williams, olasatmorningmensgroup@gmail.com, bkester@olachurch.org
Second Touch Retreat
Relive the experience that awakened you at CRHP by joining us at this mini-retreat that is held in the Fall from Friday night through Saturday. You must have attended a CRHP weekend retreat in order to attend this retreat.
Jason Hoback, jwhoback@yahoo.com
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Small Christian Communities
Small Christian Communities are faith-sharing groups of persons that meet on their own schedule to discuss materials rooted in Scripture and Church tradition. They are powerful vehicles for adult faith formation, providing opportunities for learning, prayer, mutual support, and the shared experience of Christian living and service. ​
Elizabeth Piper, Director of Faith Formation, at epiper@olachurch.org
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SoulCore
Join SoulCore Leader Sue Soha to nourish body, mind & soul with SoulCore - a prayer experience that combines the prayers of the rosary with core strengthening, stretching and functional movement.
Sue Soha, SueSoha@SpecialSettingsPT.com
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Sponsor Couples for the Engaged
Lay ministers/married couples meet with engaged couples as part of the marriage preparation process. Training is required.
Bridgett and Lee Posey, sponsorcouple@olachurch.org
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Theology on Tap
Rooted in the conviction that Christ’s ministry took place in the community to meet all of God’s children where they are, Deacons Mat Mathews and Bill Kester are fostering an environment where members of our diverse community can share in fellowship, experience the Gospel in a different way, and have a safe space to ask the questions they’ve always wanted to about Christ, Faith, the Church, and anything else on their journey through our ever complex society. We welcome adults 18+(but you must be 21+ to order an alcoholic beverage) to join us once a month at Los Bravos Mexican Restaurant. (You must be 21+ to order an alcoholic beverage.)
Deacons Mat Mathews and Bill Kester, theology-on-tap@olachurch.org
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Thursday Morning Bible Study with Art Keegan
Parishioner Art Keegan presents a Bible Study each Thursday morning September - May. Classes are from 8:15 - 9:15am. in the Upper Room. Multiple books of the Bible are discussed each year - selections are chosen by the group under Art's leadership. Everyone is invited to join the group after the 7:30am Mass.
Art Keegan, artkeegan@hotmail.com
Women's Small Faith Groups
Women's small groups are groups of 10-15 women who meet in each others homes to support one another in their journeys as individuals, spouses, mothers, and Christians. Part social and part reflection, these groups promote deepening friendships through faith-filled connections.
Catherine Rice and Gianna Kasten, olawomensgroups@gmail.com
Young Adult Ministry
All young adults (20s and 30s) are invited to join the Young Adult Ministry! There are several ways to participate: we have a Bible/spiritual book study group that meets weekly and we also plan social events and service opportunities. For more information on ways to get involved and to receive our emails, please contact us. Angela O'Donoghue and Meghan Schmidt, youngadults@olachurch.org
Current & Upcoming Offerings
Catholic Divorce Ministry
Sundays at 6:30pm in the Upper Room
Catholic Divorce Ministry is starting a new group on September 10th. Registration is required. If you have been divorced for a short time or for years this group is a
community for you. It is a place of support to help you heal and connect to others - and to ask questions about annulments. Register now for our upcoming group at www.olachurch.org/divorce-support
Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary
Tuesdays at 8:15am beginning September 12th in the Upper Room
In Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary, Dr. Pitre takes readers step-by-step from the Garden of Eden to the Book of Revelation to reveal how deeply biblical Catholic beliefs about Mary really are. Dr. Pitre uses the Old Testament and Ancient Judaism to unlock how the Bible itself teaches that Mary is in fact the new Eve, the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, and the new Ark of the Covenant. Join us on Tuesdays from 8:15-9:45am in the Upper Room to learn more. All are welcome.
Email Elizabeth Piper at epiper@olachurch.org.
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Walking with Purpose Bible Study
Opening Your Heart: The Starting Point
Tuesdays beginning September 5th at 7pm in the Upper Room.
Longing for connection to live a Christian life? Connection to God and to other women? Walking with Purpose invites all women of the parish (not just OLACS Moms) to journey through Scripture together and build relationships that matter! Join us for our new bible study - Opening Your Heart: The Starting Point -as we explore the fundamental question of our Catholic faith and our relationship with Jesus Christ. Email OLA.wwp@gmail.com to RSVP by the Friday before each meeting or with questions. More information will be emailed to attendees.
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Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church
Wednesdays from 8:15-9am in Upper Room beginning September 13th.
The statistics are troubling: 6.5 people leave the Catholic Church for every one that joins, and 50% of young people who were raised Catholic are no longer Catholic today. The Catholic Church is hemorrhaging young people. Behind these statistics are countless stories of wounded families. Millions of mothers and fathers are longing for their prodigal children to come home to the Church, crying: “Where did we go wrong?” We need a different strategy. We need to understand the real reasons why our young people drift away, and we need a game plan to bring them home. www.wordonfire.or/return.
Elizabeth Piper, epiper@olachurch.org.
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Bible Basics 101: Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible
Wednesdays at 7pm in Parish Conference Room
Parents of Confirmation Students, this is just for you. Special dates and times to correspond to Confirmation preparation. Join Kevin O'Toole in Bible Basics. Laying out the Plan of God. This program will help you better understand the unfolding of Sacred History.
Elizabeth Piper, epiper@olachurch.org
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Epic: The History of the Catholic Church
Wednesdays at 7pm in the Upper Room
This is our story, our family. As Catholics, we are the inheritors of holy men and women who over two thousand years built a great civilization and spread the gospel throughout the world. The history of the Church is not just the recitation of popes and saints; it is a story of adventure, intrigue, rebellion, reform, and devotion. In this study you will learn about the important people, places, and events in two thousand years of Church history, presented in twelve easy-to-remember color-coded time periods. You will discover the true stories behind the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Protestant Reformation. You will also learn about the massive persecution of Christians in the twentieth century. Throughout, you will be gaining an understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit in our Church. The better we know our history, the better prepared we will be to face the future. RSVP to Elizabeth Piper at epiper@olachurch.org
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Thursday Morning Bible Study
Thursdays at 8:10am in the Upper Room - September - May
Join Art Keegan for a weekly Bible Study on Thursday mornings from September - May.
Various books of the Bible are discussed each year - selections are chosen by the group under Art's leadership. Everyone is invited to join the group after the 7:30am Mass.
Bring your own Bible for an hour of reading, commentary, discussion, and more. All are welcome. Contact Art Keegan for more information at artkeegan@hotmail.com.
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Sanctuary Course
Thursdays at 7pm in the Parish Conference Room Beginning 10/19
The Sanctuary Course, led by Dick Baxter, is an eight-part course for small groups designed to raise awareness and start conversations regarding mental health.
It was created in collaboration with Catholic mental health professionals, theologians, and clergy, and offers faith communities the opportunity to learn about mental health and grow in their ability to support members living with mental health challenges. Topics covered include: mental health and mental illness, stigma, recovery, companionship, self-care, and community.
Email Elizabeth Piper, epiper@olachurch.org
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First Corinthians
Thursdays, at 7:30pm beginning
September 21st/ZOOM
The Church and the Christian Community explores the key elements of the gospel message that Paul introduced to a new and growing Church. Presenter Tim Gray examines Paul’s advice for living an authentic Christian life in a pagan culture as well as his teachings about the nature of grace, the Church as the body of Christ, and the most powerful gift of all—the
Eucharist. All are welcome. Email Elizabeth Piper for the Zoom link,
FORMED: The Best Catholic Content - All in One Place
OLA is happy to provide our parishioners with free access to Formed, a digital library of Catholic resourses for all ages. Formed resources, including those listed below, are used throughout our programs for children and adults.
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Register for a Free Subscription to Formed
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Go to formed.org/signup.
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Select your parish by entering name, city and/or zip code. Select: Immaculate Conception - press 'Next'
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Register as a Parishioner with your name and email address.
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Check your email account for a link to begin using FORMED.
Contact Us
Art Keegan
Adult Formation and Spiritual Life Ministries Pastoral Council Commission Head
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