The Bellarmine Small Communities (BSC) answer the need to share our faith experience with a small circle of brothers and sisters who have a common bond. It's purpose is to develop a small faith community, a "mini-church" within the larger parish structure. It gives members a place where they can share their experience and ideas about how the Word of God is living in our time and place. In this group we pray, talk, exchange ideas and feelings, in short, make our faith truly current. With this dialogue, we find the personal support that is so often lacking in larger congregational gatherings.
How do I get started?
We begin with orientation meetings in January, designed to give participants a sense of the BSC experience. Then new groups are formed, and they begin meeting in early February. Each group starts out with a guided program that lasts for about three months. The program is designed to start the process of faith exploration. After the initial program, each BSC group decides how they want to structure their meetings.
Beginning groups meet weekly for 9 to 12 sessions. After that, most groups meet about twice a month.
Groups are selected according to the meeting times people have available. Beyond that, we try for a balance of age and gender.
Is this a prayer group?
Not in the traditional way. Although there is prayer in the BSC groups, the purpose is to explore how faith is perceived and acted out in our lives. In one sense it is a learning community. We learn from one another the influence of God's message in our lives. It is a search for meaning. Often our lives seem to be without purpose. We know that God loves us and we know that we are going to God, but it all seems so abstract and impersonal. We get to know how God is played out in the lives of other people and, with their help, how to recognize God's movement in our own.
Is this a support group?
People sometimes seek groups for help with specific problem areas of life. A parish Small Community is not oriented toward problems. It is designed to help us to express our faith in our daily life. This is normally a joyful experience. Most people who are in the small community are there to express their personal faith and to learn what it means. However, there is support for each other in that we try to understand each person's point of view and individual experiences. There is support in that members are interested in each other's lives and, when they can, will gladly help with difficulties.
What is the experience like?
The small faith-group I am in
has been a real plus in helping me become more of a community member. I
feel more a part of the Eucharist, and have been helped to find out where I am
in regards to my faith.
--Greg S.
Our small group has become,
for me, a stillpoint around which revolves many aspects of my life: spiritual,
liturgical, faith-sharing and supporting, and finally, a microcosmic and
personal experience of the universal church.
--Ginny Z.
Being a part of a small faith
community has helped me explore and articulate my faith and called me to deeper
levels of sharing. It's all about exploring our interconnectedness.
Coming together with these other "travelers" twice a month is a
priority in my life.
--Mary D.
Our small group has been a
tremendous source of hope and strength supporting me spiritually and emotionally
through the darkness and pain of illness and death. Our yearly retreats
and ongoing care for one another give flesh to the gospel message of love.
--Don G.
For more information on
Bellarmine Small Communities, please contact Richard
Bollman, S.J. at 745-3398 or Karen
Brandstetter at 745-3349. Also, look for information about new groups
starting each January.
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