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Connected Catholics,
a welcoming ministry
for single, widowed, separated and divorced Catholic
men and women over 40.
Connected Catholics is a group
who gather to share their faith journey and celebrate
life, who want to participate in their Church, grow
in faith and build a better life in their community.
The purpose of Connected Catholics is to offer a
variety of programs, experiences and opportunities
that enrich members socially, educationally and spiritually.
They attend Masses, days of recollection and retreats,
and bible study. They also sponsor seminars on topics
of interest such as finances and travel. Also offered
are boat rides and cruises, seaside excursions, and
trips to museums and historic places, sporting events,
the Boston Pops and Tanglewood and vacation trips
and cruises. Each chapter has a Spiritual Advisor
who meets with the chapter leadership routinely to
review plans for activities and to offer guidance
and advice.
CONNECTED CATHOLICS ... MEETING
A NEED
Refreshed by their association
with other committed Catholics and affirmed by their
peers, members may be renewed individually and collectively
as they experience Church in their parish community,
and may seek to serve that community in new ways,
bringing back to their local community what they
have experienced in the broader community. Members
are encouraged to recognize and respond to who they
are as people of God on their faith journey to the
Kingdom.
In a society that does not readily
recognize the feelings of isolation experienced by
some single adults, a group like Connected Catholics
can assist these individuals to venture forth, to
try new things and become part of the larger Church
community. Members observe that Connected Catholics
support those who have never been married and may
feel the societal stigma of having always been single.
The group supports those who have experienced the
trauma of a death or divorce and who find it hard
to reconnect with others as a single person.
COMMENTS
WE HAVE HEARD:
-
Connected Catholics
gives us an opportunity to meet new people who
share our values.
-
We can go to a
restaurant with new friends and feel comfortable.
-
We look forward
to our regular meetings.
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We enjoy being
part of this group.
-
We've made great
friendships during the past few years.
-
I've even had
a chance to network with members who have helped
me in my job search.
SUPPORT, REFERRALS AND INFORMATION
The Office of Life and Family Ministries provides
help and referrals for Connected Catholic Chapters individually and
collectively. At the present time there is one chapter in the Archdiocese
of Boston located on the South Shore. For information concerning South
Shore Connected Catholics please contact Susan Bailey, 781-878-8398
or visit their website: ConnectedCatholicsSouthShore.org.
Connected Catholics of the South Shore is sponsored by Holy Family
Parish in Rockland and their Spiritual Advisor is Mrs. Theresa Doyle
Smith. There are also chapters outside the Boston Archdiocese in Manchester,
NH and Norwich, CT.
CONNECTED CATHOLIC GROUPS ARE NEEDED IN ALL
AREAS OF OUR ARCHDIOCESE!
Each group might have its own character and age
focus. For example, many people have been interested in forming groups
that are specifically for those in their 40’s.
How to begin:
- Speak to your pastor to
see if he may be interested in sponsoring this
program and appointing a Spiritual Advisor.
- With the pastor’s
permission, place a notice in the bulletins in
your area to invite people to discuss this opportunity.
- If you find there is an
interest, contact the Office of Life and Family
Ministries and arrange for us to come speak about
Connected Catholics.
- From this meeting, form
a core team to share the leadership and responsibilities
for planning the initial activities of your group.
- The Office of Life and Family
Ministries will assist you with ideas for speakers,
activities, and advertising your program.
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