GLACE BAY, N.S. — It’s been 25 years since members of St. John’s Adult Faith Development Committee gave a joint presentation to all Glace Bay area parishes about a Lenten series.
It was this series of presentations as part of the 150th diocesan anniversary that led to the formation of the Glace Bay Adult Faith Development Committee that’s still going strong to this day.
“Each of these was sent to every parish for Lenten reflection and we said ‘why have every priest do one of those,’ so we amalgamated,” said Sr. Martha Eileen Burrows. “We had the session at St. Anne’s and had every priest involved rather than have each one do their thing.”
Following five successful sessions — baptism, eucharist, reconciliation, church, mission — throughout 1994, a letter was sent from the St. John’s Adult Faith Development Committee to each parish priest in the Glace Bay area inviting the priest and two representatives from the parish to meet at St. John’s Religious Education Centre to discuss the feasibility of working collaboratively for future presentations.
MEMBERS
- Theresa Babstock, Ann Marie Boutilier, Carmie Chiasson, Mark Chiasson, Betty Crosby, Margaret Howie, Wendy Jensen, Cathy MacInnis, Linda MacNeil, Fr. Norman McPhee, Gwen Martel, David Nearing, Mary Clare Sampson, Sr. Martha Eileen, Simone Walker.
These meetings would later lead to the larger faith development committee that exists to this day whose purpose is to ensure that there is ample opportunity for all those wishing to further develop their faith.
Work that followed that first year has included Catholic information, introduction to liturgy, the Lenten series, Advent Twilight Retreat, understanding the mass, ministries workshop, an invitation to prayer, a journey in hope, and Lenten Twilight Retreat.
Others sessions have included, and continue to include in many cases, ministries workshops, social justice sessions, Lenten reflection, sacred tritium, workshops and countless other activities.
There’s also an Alpha program which introduces faith to a younger audience.
The Aging Hopefully program, later renamed L’Esperanza, is another of the programs the Glace Bay group saw a need to offer to the senior adult fair formation. The first sessions were held at St. John’s Convent on Jan. 21, 2001 and sessions are held monthly from September to June.
Glace Bay Adult Faith Development Committee:
- Established 1994
- Presentation for 150th anniversary of diocese led to formation
- 150th Diocesan Anniversary Lenten Series:
- Baptism, Feb. 20, Fr. Jake Andrea
- Eucharist, Feb. 27, 1994, Fr. Norman MacPhee
- Reconciliation, March 6, 1994, Fr. Angus Morris
- Church, March 13, 1994, Fr. Anthony O’Connor
- Mission, March 20, 1994, Fr. John MacKinnon
Odds and ends:
- Aging Hopefully, now known as L’Esperanza, 2001-15.
- Sr. Agnes Burrows (as part of the adult faith committee) organized a team to present sessions to seniors. The team met once a month to prepare the sessions. Two grants were received from the Sisters of Charity to help with qualifications and certificates for the team.
- Ecumenical alpha program for adults 2011-14
- Ecumenical alpha program for youth: 2014-19. The first year the Glace Bay Adult Faith Committee organized along with the catechists and diocesan youth co-ordinator. Then Holy Cross and St. Anne’s catechists, along with the diocesan youth co-ordinator and a team organized and presented it.
- Finances: Each Catholic parish in Glace Bay and area helps with the finances each year (although anyone is invited to attend).
It’s ongoing goal is to assist older adults in meeting the challenge of aging with grace and hope.
“Motivation I’d say, keeps it going,” said Burrows of the committee. “Wanting to help the adults. Even last (week) we had a session on the Bible. We are going to have a number of sessions on the Bible … but Fr. Duane Deveraux is going to do four sessions on Mark’s Gospel and then we are hoping someone will pick up the rest. I was surprised at the number of people that came. People are hungry for that, for spirituality.”
Another example of that hunger came last year during a mission under the direction of Fr. Bill Burke at Holy Cross Parish.
“It was four nights and the last night it rained like mad and we thought there would be nobody there. The church was filled. People want spiritual stuff.”
It’s business as usually for the group during its 25th year. That means nothing formal has been planned, but it is a busy time ahead as has become the custom. The group meets once a month at Burrows home in Glace Bay to plan events, including activities for Lent and Advent. That’s the way things are expected to continue for the next 25 or more years.
“I can’t see myself going on for 25 years,” she said with a laugh. “I think it will go on for 25 years if the young people pick it up.”
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