All posts by Michael DiCosola

The Creed

ODB Films

 

Is there a difference between believing there is a God and believing in God?

This video is great for reflecting on what we believe as Catholics and why we believe it. As you are taking time this summer to quiet down and allowing God to speak to you, think about the components of the Creed and why they are essential to the Catholic faith.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

  1. When you recite the Creed do you know what you are saying or are you being a robot?
  2. Have you ever taken the time to really look at the words of the Creed and what you profess to believe in?
  3. What does it mean to believe in one God, and in Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God, and in the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life?
  4. What did Christ do for our sake and our salvation? Why did He do all of that for us?
  5. What is the difference between believing there is a God and believing in God? Who is He to you?

Take-Away Box:
Pray the Creed at least once every day this week, and take the time to really pray the words and ask God to help you understand them and how they personally affect you.

#StealingTime

ODB Films

 

We always ask for more hours in a day, but what if the hours we’ve been given aren’t enough because they’ve been stolen? And what if we’re the ones doing the stealing? Explore the possibility that we can take back time by doing one simple, but difficult thing.

Focus on freeing up your mind by cutting back on your electronic devices! Remove the noise, distraction, and gadgets, and allow God to speak to you in the quiet moments. Get back in touch with your family, your faith, and yourself.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:

  1. Have you ever thought of your electronic devices as “stealing” your time?
  2. How many different devices do you use during the day? And how many of those would you label as critical or indispensable?
  3. The narrator in the film mentions that Pope Francis asks us for an “openness to letting God encounter us in the little moments.” Why is focusing on “little moments” important?
  4. How would limiting your use of social media help you notice the little moments?
  5. How would your relationship with your family, your friends, and with God change if you took more time interacting with them and less time on social media and looking at your devices?

Take-Away Box:
This week, try to cut back on social media and gadgets and work on having more personal interactions with those around you. Make eye contact!

Lesson One: Introduction to the Mysteries

Bible Sacraments

Discussion Questions: Available in the Participant Workbook
1. What do sacraments tell us about the place of the physical matter, creation, in God’s plan?
2. What does it mean to live “sacramental” lives?

Click the link below to purchase the Bible and the Sacraments Study series for your home or parish.

Use Promo code: “myparish” to get 15% off any Journey Through Scripture product.

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20h30 Vendredi | Père Leon N’Zi

Uncategorized

Marriott Gateway – Gullfstream Room

Père Leon N’Zi Né en Côte d’Ivoire, en Afrique de l’Ouest, en 1972, le Père Léon N’Zi a obtenu son baccalauréat en philosophie et en théologie de l’Université catholique d’Afrique de l’Ouest. En février 2004, il a été ordonné prêtre de l’archidiocèse d’Abidjan en Côte d’Ivoire. Il y a servi en tant que vicaire paroissial et il y a été responsable, de 2004 à 2010, des ministères pour la jeunesse et pour l’éducation religieuse. Membre du Renouveau charismatique depuis l’âge de 16 ans, le Père N’Zi a dirigé et enseigné dans plusieurs mouvements du renouveau catholique. Il s’est impliqué dans la prédication, l’enseignement, les séminaires de vie familiale, le ministère de la guérison et dans la formation au leadership. Grâce à son ministère, le Père N’Zi a amené de nombreux jeunes à une vie de foi. Il poursuit actuellement des études de théologie contemporaine à l’Université de Sherbrooke au Québec. Conférencier lors de rassemblements évangéliques catholiques, de colloques et de retraites, il a également effectué des travaux de mission d’évangélisation en Europe (Royaume-Uni et Allemagne), aux États-Unis (Atlanta, Baltimore et Newark), au Canada et en Côte d’Ivoire. Il est déjà intervenu, pour son audience française, au Congrès Eucharistique de 2015 à Atlanta.

Father Leon N’Zi was born in Ivory Coast, West Africa in 1972 where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology from the Catholic University of West Africa. In February of 2004, he was ordained to the Priesthood for the Archdiocese of Abidjan in Ivory Coast.  He served as Parochial Vicar and was in charge of youth ministry and religious education programs from 2004 to 2010.

A member of the Charismatic Renewal since the age of 16, he has served as a leader and teacher in several catholic renewal movements and he has been active in preaching, teaching, family life seminars, healing ministry, and leadership training.  Fr. N’Zi has brought many young people into a life of faith.

Guest Speaker at Catholic Evangelistic Rallies, various conferences and retreats, he has also done Evangelization mission work in Europe (UK, Germany), USA (Atlanta, Baltimore, and Newark), Canada and Ivory Coast.  He is currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Contemporary Theology at the University of Sherbrook in Canada.