St Joseph's
Colwyn Bay
Adult Faith Formation
This picture was painted by Beth Burke, a Parishoner at St Joseph's (not a junior)
Forthcoming Events April 20th 2013
Vatican 2 and us by Fr Kevin Kelly, 20/04/2013 Community Centre click
Vatican 2. An afternoon led by the world famous theologian Fr Kevin Kelly of Liverpool. Fr Kevin is author of many books, his last one being '50 Years of receiving Vatican 2'
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Parish Advent Retreat: November 24th. 10am to 4pm at St Augustine's House of Prayer at Old Colwyn: Led by Fr Tom Shufflebotham SJ of St Beuno's - click for poster
A big Thank you to all who attended the “Tricky Questions” session last Saturday, especially to our guest chairman, Fr Tom Shufflebottom SJ. It was heartwarming to experience the honest and open sharing of thought in an atmosphere of welcome and trust.
We ended very positively, all delighted and grateful for our faith as professed in the Creed.
DOUBTS, DIFFICULTIES AND CONFLICTS: Is it possible to continue being a Catholic? CLICK FOR POSTER The Difficult Questions.........An afternoon of reflection on the challenge of being a catholic in today's world, was we hope, enjoyed by all.
This was chaired by Fr Tom Shufflebotham SJ of St Beuno's on October 6th 2pm-5pm at the Parish Community Centre.
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The “Why be a Catholic Today?” was a different style of event and, we hope, enjoyed by all.
The four panellists spoke very movingly about their personal experience of life as a Catholic, and a good time of “sharing” followed. Some had been wounded in the past, especially in Ireland, by having been excluded from the Sacraments. However, all felt that the post-Vatican II Church of today is so much kinder, more compassionate and inclusive.
Sergio was an excellent chairman and we are so sorry that he is leaving Colwyn Bay for Cardiff.
Our grateful thanks to Fr Tom from St Bueno’s for his wise guidance. He has agreed to lead our Parish Advent retreat.
Last but not least we were so delighted that Fr Frank was with us for the entire afternoon.
A big thanks to all who attended.
Sunday 24th June: "Why be a Catholic Today?" - at St Joseph's Community Centre - Click for poster
____________________________________Link to Handout for
Fr Gerry Hughes Talk held on 29th January 2012
______________________________________________Link to feedback notes on above
______________________________________________Link to Note on above Talk
______________________________________________Saturday 3rd March 2012 from 10.30am to 4.30pm
"The Gospel & Dementia - a Message of Hope"
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5 day retreat either on 4th to 10th of June 2012or else 16th to 22nd July 2012
"Waking the Sense"
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Fr Gerry Hughes SJ
29th Jan 2012
Here are some of the comments by participants in a very enjoyable afternoon with Fr Gerry Hughes SJ on Jan 29th 012
Thank you for making us THINK.
Excellent stimulus to continued thinking about essential issues applicable to all lives.
Dr Liz Oliver.
More please!
An excellent presentation which has left me wondering whether I've always been able to take right decisions.
'honesty with ourselves'... I think this is a lifetime task.
Many thanks
Rita Roberts
An excellent talk/discussion. It really made you think. It was good to hear reasoned arguement.
Many thanks
Very interesting and thought-provoking
Thank you for a stimulating afternoon which will stay with me for some time to come.
Dear Fr Gerry,
Thank you and please come back soon, you press all the thought buttons and I'm deeply grateful for your compassion and wisdom. God bless
Very thought-provoking. Thank you for an interesting talk.
Will make me think...Thank you
Excellent presentation, thought-provoking. Many thanks.
Thank you very much for arranging a thoroughly informative talk. As a theology student I was very engaged and interested in what he had to say
God bless,
Staphanie
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Advent Retreat Poster 19 11 2011
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Photos Taken at previous Fr Gerry Talk
Fr Gerry's Handout
What is all about - A personal appreciation from S Solera
Link to Fr Gerry's Talk Page
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St. Joseph’s Parish Day Retreat
On the 26th March 2011 The Adult
Faith Group, will again hold a parish retreat, hosted by Fr. Martin and Sr.
Catherine from the Oblate Retreat Centre.
The theme this time will be - “Sharing
Christ’s suffering & looking forward with hope”. Further information will be available, and
registration commence at the start of March.
2) "Lord thank
you for this day, for bringing us together. We pray that the unity that we have
experienced today will ripple out into the Parish. We pray for more
opportunities like today for space to meet You. Lord, bind us together in the
desire to know You better. Amen "
3) "Christ Our
Lord we thank you for being present in a special way among us today as you
promised it would be when 2 or 3 gather in your name. We have felt your Holy Spirit moving among
us. For all this we thank you.
And also we thank you
for the opportunity given to us today to find Christ together and we hope today
is only the first of many more retreat experiences".
4) "Dear Lord,
through the intercession of St Joseph, we thank you for the opportunity of
coming together in prayer and contemplation.
We pray that your grace enables us to grow in faith and witness during
the coming season of Advent".
5) "Thank you
for this day. Thank you for your
love. Thank you for all the people who
have come to share with us. Thank you
that we have met new people and have put names to faces.
May this day mark a
new beginning in the Parish of St Josephs.
Send your spirit to help us and to guide us in word and deed as we
strive to do work in this life until we meet you face to face in the next. Amen"
6) "Dear God,
We found you today in
the silence and calm. We also found you
in the comfort and encouragement of each other and the whole community. Give us the courage of letting go...... and
waiting for the opportunity to act.
We bring you our
burdens today. Help us to recognise
those who are "flames of hope" in our life. Keep the flame of your spirit burning in us,
so that we can be the flame of hope to others.
Thank you Lord:
For all your
blessings,
For all your loving
trust,
And for bringing us
here today."
On
the 25th November 2010 The Adult Faith Group, with Fr. Martin and Sr.
Catherine from the Oblate Retreat Centre hosted our first Parish all day
retreat.
Between
40 and 50 parishioners attended and actively participated, and the feedback
–apart from the coldness in the church- was universally positive.
Comments
received and photos from the day can be seen at at the following link
Encouraged
by this success, the AFG are keen to organise another, most likely at Lenten
time. In addition, we are actively considering a programme of evening sessions
on a range of topics, of interest to parishioners keen to broaden their
knowledge and faith.
Early
in January AFG members will be asking parishioners to complete a short survey to
guide these and other plans.
Contact Information
Coordinator: Sr Joy Elder
Email: AFF@gmail.com