Contacts

Office:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Maureen Rosati – Administrative Assistant / (678) 992-2515

Roz Murphy – Sessions Coordinator / (678) 992-2514 and (678) 992-2518 (downstairs)

Rita Anderson – Youth Minister / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / (678) 992-2519

Vionette Ruberté – Director of Religious Education / (770) 442-5903

Rosemarie Turner – Adult Formation Coordinator / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / (678) 992-2050

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Elementary School Program

2010-2011 Religious Education Classes for Pre-K through 8th Grade

We are now registering for the coming Religious Education School Year (2010-2011). Forms are available in the Administration Hall. Please pick one up and return it ASAP. Space is very limited.

VERY IMPORTANT: If registering for first communion, please bring your child's original baptismal certificate along with the sacramental registration form.

Attention Parents of Rising First Graders!

We are now registering for the coming Religious Education school year 2010-2011. The Archdiocese of Atlanta requires that children have two years of religious formation in order to receive the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. The sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion are celebrate in the 2nd grade, so please register your child now for 1st grade RE so they will be ready to receive in May of 2012.

Middle School Program (EDGE)

The EDGE is a Catholic middle school youth ministry experience created for early adolescents in sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. The EDGE is designed to meet the educational, spiritual, emotional and social needs of young adolescents. Kids are always welcomed anytime of the calendar year and encouraged to bring their friends to the EDGE.

Our calendar shows our current event plans. You can find it at the top of this page under Calendars. "Breaking news" – last minute changes, new special events, etc. – are always announced in the bulletin.

High School Program (Life Teen)

WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME

Life Teen Core, Teens and Parents - I hope that your summer was filled with lots of blessings and fun! I can't wait to see all of our amazing teens, parents (friends) and spirit filled Core Team. Don't forget to register before August 8th so that the year begins smoothly for us ALL! Let's have an incredible year!

The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25: 14-21): Jesus gives us a goal: use your talents so that when you enter judgment you will hear: "well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master." What makes your heavenly master rejoice? The excellent use of your talents.

We are in need of YOUNG adults for our Core Team!

The challenge of passing on the faith to the next generation has never been more difficult nor more important. We play critical roles and we need YOU!

What's Happening Now?

Our calendar shows our current event plans. You can find it at the top of this page under Calendars. "Breaking news" – last minute changes, new special events, etc. – are always announced in the bulletin.

Adult Bible Study

We offer a variety of interesting and informative Bible study programs. New classes are formed regularly, overlapping the school year (around 25 weeks) and occasionally summer (around 10 weeks). Each class meets once per week and most are offered at both morning and evening times. There is a nominal fee for most classes that covers the cost of classes and materials.

Details of current and upcoming classes, together with sign-up forms, appears in the Adult Bible Study folder of the parish information repository.

Adult Classes (Priest Led!)

Several classes are offered on an on-going basis by our priests. Stop in anytime to join the group!

Reflections on Sunday Readings

These groups explore the scripture readings for the upcoming Sunday with their relationship to each other. Readings are also examined together with time-line and other background. All are welcome to join Father Joseph and Father Charles, but those with children attending Religious Education classes will find the times particularly convenient! Sessions are informal and fun, meeting in the library weekly at the following times:

• Monday from 6:00pm to 7:15pm
• Wednesday from 6:00pm to 7:15pm

Classic Study of Spirituality by St. Francis de Sales

This class led by Father Joseph meets monthly. Join us on last Fridays in classroom #1 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.

Adults Becoming Catholic — RCIA

RCIA stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is the process where the baptized Christian or the unbaptized person journeys to become Roman Catholic, ultimately celebrating the Real Presence at the Lord's table. Each stage of the process is ritually celebrated and recognized with special prayers and liturgical ceremony in the presence of the worshipping community.

There are three steps in the spiritual journey of the initiation of adults, each leading to periods of inquiry and growth. The first step is Inquiry or the Pre-Catechumenate. At St. Benedict's, there are Inquiry sessions on the first Thursday of every month. The second step, the Catechumenate, runs from early fall to late winter. In this stage, the group attends the 8:45am Mass and is dismissed immediately following the homily to meet, "break open the Word" and receive further catechesis. The shorter third stage coincides with the Lenten preparation for the Easter celebration and the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

Inquiry

This first step of the RCIA process is a time of discovery. It is a time of getting acquainted, feeling comfortable in the company of other seekers and Catholics, and getting answers to questions. Through this exchange the Church shares its life story – its traditions, people and history. People who are considering if they are called to the Catholic way of life are known as inquirers. This first step of the RCIA process is a time of discovery. This period ends with the Rite of Welcome into the order of Catechumens. In this special rite, celebrated with the parish community during Mass, the inquirers are given a special blessing recognizing their intention to become Catholic and seriously continue their journey of faith.

Catechumenate

The Catechumenate phase marks the beginning of formal instruction in the faith. The word "catechumen" comes from biblical Greek and literally means "one who sounds out something". The unbaptized catechumens or the baptized candidate are given a thoroughly supportive and encouraging environment to continue their faith journey. A sponsor is assigned to each one who walks the faith journey with them. The participants enter into a more intense preparation for the reception of the sacraments of initiation. This phase ends with the Rite of Election.

Purification and Enlightenment

The third step of the RCIA is a time for inward reflection, spiritual purification and enlightenment. It spans the season of Lent, six weeks of preparation culminating at the Easter Vigil, when those to be initiated are baptized, confirmed and share in the Eucharist for the first time and those to be fully initiated make their solemn profession of faith, are confirmed and share in the Eucharist. Lent is an especially appropriate time for this final step of reflection and examination of one's motivation as one focuses on Jesus' journey to Gethsemane.

Celebrating the Mystery

The seven weeks of Easter time from Easter Sunday to Pentecost form the fourth and final step in the RCIA process. This step is titled Mystagogy. The name comes the Greek and refers to the profound and joyous "mystery" of living life fully aware that Jesus is Lord. The newly initiated are called neophytes (from the Greek for "new believers"). On each of the Sundays of Easter time, the Church presents scriptures which tell the wondrous stories of how the disciples were convinced of their call and power to proclaim the victory of Jesus. From the experience of Pentecost onward, they traveled forth, announcing the good news of Christ's presence in every step of life's journey. It is this sense of "mission " that culminates the RCIA process. Having become a follower of Jesus, the newly baptized Christian is called to spread the good news of Christ's life and message in their new parish community and the larger community in which they live.

We are happy to answer your questions! For more information, please contact Rosemarie Turner in the Adult Formation Office at (678) 992-2050 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

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