If you tend to arrive at Mass just before it starts, and you leave early to beat the traffic in the parking lot, you’re missing out. The community of faith offers so much to those who welcome its embrace. At St. Bonaventure, a new ministry under the guidance of the church’s new parochial vicar Quan Tran, is reaching out with that welcoming embrace.
“We are starting the Faith and Fellowship Ministry because I discovered that many parishioners at St. Bonaventure are hungry for spiritual nourishment. The people have asked for Bible study, retreats and other opportunities to learn and grown in their faith and spiritual life. Faith and Fellowship provides a setting for people to come together, share a meal, and be nourished in their faith,” says Fr. Quan.
The monthly gathering for an evening potluck dinner, followed by engaging speakers including Fr. Spitzer, Kathleen Beckman and others, will offer attendees a chance to be spiritually nourished and enlightened. Topics may include: Advent, Lent, Suffering, Forgiveness, Grace, Mary, and Gratitude. The discussion may also turn to world events.
“We know to feed and take care of our bodies,” says Fr. Quan, “which is necessary and important, but we tend to neglect the soul. We are body and soul, flesh and spirit. The body will die and decay but the soul lives on forever. God has also put into our hearts the desire to know Him, and love Him, and know His love for us. Therefore, we need to take time to learn and grow in our faith and our relationship with the Lord so that we may fully become who God created us to be, which is holy, and truly happy, and share in God’s nature and eternal life. Faith and Fellowship Ministry provides a regular opportunity to interact with others, and to learn and grow in our spiritual life.”
The first meeting of the new Faith and Fellowship Ministry will be Thursday, Sept. 12. The potluck will begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation in Duffy Center at 7:15 p.m.
Location
St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish
16400 Springdale St.
Huntington Beach, CA 92649
(714) 846-3359