FAITH FORMATION

Baptismal Preparation

Baptism is the first of the three sacraments of Christian Initiation, the beginning of a person’s journey of faith.  The newly baptized “put on Christ.”  They are “born again through water and the Spirit.”  Because the celebration of this sacrament is so special, so meaningful, parents who request Baptism for their child attend a preparation workshop.  Baptismal Preparation workshops are scheduled once a month on Sunday afternoons from 1:00 until approximately 2:30 PM in the Children’s Chapel.

Parishioners who are part of the Baptismal Preparation ministry facilitate the workshop, Baptism 101.  They discuss with parents the meaning and history of baptism as it was initiated by Jesus and as it continued in the early Church.  Parents learn about the sacrament’s symbols, water, fire, the white garment, oils, and the sign of the cross.  They see how beautifully these symbols are incorporated into the celebration of the sacrament and they review the rite of Baptism so that they know what to expect on their little one’s special day.

Facilitators also discuss the role of godparents, the role of parents as primary educators of their children in the faith and the many ways in which the parish offers educational support. 

The Bible Study group invites you to journey to the center of your faith by reading Scripture, the Word of God.  Share the wonder of the two disciples who traveled with Jesus on the road to Emmaus.  After Jesus had left them they exclaimed, “Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32) 

Come join the parish’s Bible Study group and feel your hearts burn with excitement and wonder as you explore the depth and meaning of God’s Word.  The group meets on Wednesday evenings from 7 – 8 in the STARR Reading Room. We meet with bible in hand (The American Standard Bible). We also use the online Bible for reference and affirmation as well as audio tapes and other training resources by scholars of our faith.

Join us and together we can open our hearts in a meaningful way to Our Lord's Word.

Cenacle of The Divine Will

The Cenacle of The Divine Will is a ministry of prayer that meets every Wednesday afternoon from 1:30 until 3:30 in the church.  With their focus on the Passion of Christ and living in God’s Divine Will, Cenacle members gather to pray for the love, honor and glory of God our Father, in reparation for all sins, for the salvation of all souls, and for the coming of God’s Kingdom in the world.

Members pray and meditate on the mysteries of the rosary.   At 3 o’clock they pray the Divine Mercy chaplet.  After prayers, the group enjoys a video or DVD presentation in the Children’s Chapel.

We learn from the Letter to the Hebrews that “in the days when [Christ] was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications” to God and “he was heard because of his reverence.”  What a beautiful way to engage in Stewardship, by “offering prayers and supplications,” just as Our Lord did!

If you would like to be a part of this Stewardship of Prayer, please meet with the Cenacle any Wednesday afternoon in the church.

Confraternity of Saint Ann

A ministry of prayer, the Confraternity of Saint Ann meets every Tuesday morning from 8:00 to 8:30, following the 7:30 morning Mass. 

According to a long-held tradition, Saint Ann was born on a Tuesday and died on a Tuesday, and so it became the custom to set aside Tuesday to honor Mary’s mother, the grandmother of Jesus.

Members of the Confraternity invoke the intercession of Saint Ann through hymns, prayers and petitions for all our needs.  With deep faith and complete confidence members of the Confraternity lift their voices in prayer to the good and powerful patroness of our parish.

Everyone is welcome to be a part of this special prayer group.  Come once, twice, or as frequently as you like.  Pray to good Saint Ann that she may enrich you, those you love and those you find hard to love with many graces.  You will be richly blessed.

Engaged Couples Workshop

Working with engaged couples as they prepare for marriage is a real opportunity for sharing.  Members of the Engaged Couple Conference Team are able to share some of the blessings received in marriage with those who are preparing for this lifetime commitment.

Once known as Pre-Cana, because Jesus worked his first miracle at the wedding feast at Cana, these preparation sessions are now called Engaged Couples conferences.  Together with a priest or deacon, volunteer married couples facilitate discussions at each conference on the many facets of married life.  Topics include personal growth and adjustment, communication, finances, intimacy and the Sacrament of Matrimony.

The couples who share their time and insights so generously do not consider themselves experts, nor do they believe they have perfect marriages.  Their goal is to help engaged couples to focus on preparation for the commitment of marriage.  One of the true joys of each conference is, the couples tell us, that “we all come away filled with more love for each other.”

The West Haven Deanery, made up of the Catholic parishes of Milford and West Haven, conducts the conferences six times each year for couples planning to be married in a Catholic ceremony.

SALT VOLUNTEER

SALT (Saint Ann Learns Together) is our innovative, whole-parish approach to faith formation.  Gathered together, like Christ’s earliest followers we share a meal and learn more about God and about our Catholic faith. It is a religious education program for people of all ages. We are all called to continue to learn about our faith, grow in faith and live our faith.

Many of our parish religious education programs fall under the SALT umbrella:  Baptismal preparation, Intergenerational learning sessions (six per year), Sacramental Program and other special learning programs. SALT learning is centered on liturgical and sacramental events. Materials are provided to encourage learning at home.

Perhaps you love to organize, or prepare or serve a meal. Maybe you can help assemble home kits or plan Sacramental Program Receptions. Let the Holy Spirit be your guide as you prayerfully consider sharing your gift all in the service of the parish family!

Rosary/Prayer Line

Stewardship means responding to Jesus’ simple and profound invitation:  “Come, follow me.”  (Matthew 19:21)  If we follow him, if we live according to Jesus’ example, ours will be lives of service and of prayer.

Over and over in the gospels we find Jesus in prayer.  Luke tells us that “He often retired to deserted places and prayed.”  (5:16) He “went up to the mountain to pray,” he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross; he taught us to pray the Our Father.

Prayer, then, is a beautiful expression of Stewardship, and our Rosary/Prayer Line provides a wonderful opportunity to pray and to give honor and praise to Mary, Christ’s Blessed Mother.

Consider joining us as we pray the rosary every morning before daily Mass.  Mass begins at 7:30; rosary recitation usually begins at 7:10.  We also pray the rosary on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM in the church.

During October, traditionally the month of the rosary, we honor Our Lady with an International Rosary in five languages, one for each decade.  We have, at various times, prayed in English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish and Polish.  The evening closes with refreshments in the Children’s Chapel.

We pray the rosary to honor Our Lady of Fatima on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, from October through February.

Parishioners called to this special devotion are part of the parish’s Prayer Line.  As they raise their voices in praise and petition, these stewards are praying for all the intentions recorded in a special book.  The Prayer Line is open to anyone who needs help.  Countless parishioners can attest to the amazing power of prayer.

SainT Ann Read and Rejoice

STARR, one of the parish’s newest ministries, offers wonderful and varied opportunities for Stewardship. Our new adult reading room, STARR encompasses a library, a media center, an internet “cafe” and a resource for faith formation. STARR’s plans also include a reading group which will meet weekly to discuss a selected book.

 The reading room, in the lower level of the rectory, is open after all the weekend Masses.  If you love the Lord and love to read we invite you to share your time as a STARR steward, helping us to staff and maintain this marvelous parish resource.