Go Make Disciples Resources

The links below take you to articles, video, and audio material used in the Go Make Disciples small groups. Many of the resources are free on Formed.org. Click here to sign up for a free account on Formed.org Use these step-by-step instructions to register for your account.

Go Make Disciples Documents from the Diocese

• Go Make Disciples Vision Statement
• Bishop Hying's Pastoral Letter on Pentecost

 

Small-Group Monthly Reading Assignment Documents

• Readings to prepare for the November 2021 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the December 2021 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the January 2022 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the February 2022 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the March 2022 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the April 2022 Meeting
• Readings to prepare for the May 2022 Meeting

 

Into His Likeness by Dr. Edward Sri

• Free video series on Formed.org
• Into His Likeness book (Amazon)

If you enjoyed Dr. Sri's book and would like to see more of his work, check out the following resources:

• AUDIO: All Things Catholic, Edward Sri's Podcast
• VIDEO: The Virtues of a Christian Disciple
• STUDY PROGRAM: Who Am I to Judge, Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love on Formed.org
• Dr. Sri's Books (several of these titles are in the St. John Vianney library and can be borrowed)
• VIDEO: Praying the Rosary Like Never Before
• EBOOK: Love Unveiled: The Catholic Faith Explained on Formed.org

The Kerygma

• VIDEO: Kerygma: The Message that Changes the World, Chris Stefanick (11 minutes). Free on Revive Parishes (you will be asked to set up a free account) or Formed.org.
• VIDEO: Someone Has Come to Save Us, Fr. John Riccardo
• ARTICLE: The Kerygma, Fr. John Riccardo.
• ARTICLE: The Content of the Kerygma, Marcel LeJeune
• VIDEO: Proclaiming the Kerygma, Fr. John Riccardo

 

Prayer for Beginners by Dr. Peter Kreeft

• Ebook on Formed.org (available in Kindle and ePub formats)
• Audiobook on Formed.org (2 hours and 40 minutes)
• Summary of Prayer for Beginners

 

Additional Resources on Prayer

If you are interested in learning more about prayer, consider the following options:

• AUDIO: Pray Like a Saint, by Matthew Leonard on Formed.org. This short talk offers a great overview of Catholic prayer.
• Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay (Amazon). You can see a summary of Prayer Primer before purchasing.
• The Basic Book of Catholic Prayer: How to Pray and Why by Fr. Lawrence Lovasik (Amazon)
• Deep Conversion, Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay. Available as an audiobook or ebook on Formed.org
• The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer by Fr. John Bartunek (Amazon)
• In Prayer for Beginners, Dr. Kreeft references Brother Lawrence's book Practice of the Presence of God. You can read/download this spiritual classic online or listen to it as an audio recording.
• Lists of Catholic prayers
   

Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina means "divine reading" and is an ancient Catholic method of prayerfully reading Scripture or another spiritual work. In addition to your daily prayers (saying the Our Father or Morning Offering, for example), you should also try choosing a short reading, such as the Gospel for the day, and meditating on it to see what God is saying to you personally today. The saints tell us that when we pray, we speak to God, but when we read Scripture, God speaks to us.

Christian meditation (from the Latin meditatio, meaning to "think over" something) is a form of mental prayer that engages your mind and heart in a conversation with God. In contrast to Eastern forms of meditation that strive to empty the mind, Catholic meditation engages our intellect, memory, and will (the powers of our soul) to foster spiritual reflection and resolution.
To meditate with Lectio Divina:

1. Remember that you are in the presence of God and pray to the Holy Spirit for grace and guidance.
2. Read the passage you have selected slowly (maybe even out loud) to try to understand the story or what the author is trying to convey.
3. Reflect on the passage as you slowly read it again. What word or phrase jumped out at you? How does it relate to your life or to ways you can grow in your faith? What is God saying to you?
4. Respond to God with prayer thanking Him and asking for His help and a deeper understanding of what His will is for you.
5. Rest in the love and presence of God. Take a moment to simply BE with God in the quiet of your heart.
6. Resolve to take a concrete action based on what God called you to in the reading. Will you work on being more patient with loved ones? Do you need to go to Confession? Did the passage encourage you to greater service or increased prayer? Make a promise to God and to yourself to take the next step on the path to holiness.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LECTIO DIVINA:

• VIDEO: Lectio Divina, Fr. Mike Schmitz
• VIDEO: Lectio Divina, Fr. Josh Johnson
• AUDIO: Lectio Divina, Dr. Tim Gray on Formed.org
• ARTICLE: Lectio Divina Guide: What It Is and How It Helps Prayer Life
• ARTICLE: Guide to Catholic Meditation

LEARN MORE ABOUT MENTAL PRAYER:

• Mental Prayer, Our Catholic Prayers
• A Beginner's Guide to Mental Prayer

SPIRITUAL READING TO USE WITH LECTIO DIVINA

• Daily Mass Readings
• The Bible-NAB (USCCB)
• The Bible-RSV Catholic (Searchable)
• Spiritual Classics
• Books by Saints
• Free Catholic e-Books
• e-Catholic Library of Catholic Classics

Personal Testimony

• How to Give Your Testimony by Marcel LeJeune
• How to Share Your Personal Testimony from FOCUS
• Sharing Your Testimony (video)
• How to Share Your Testimony in 3 Steps (video)
• Sharing Your Testimony 101
   

Confession

• 7 Secrets of Confession Talk by Vinny Flynn on Formed.org
• A Guided Examination of Conscience by Fr. Mark Mary (Video)
• St. John Vianney Confession Web Page
• Why Confess to a Priest by Fr. Mike Schmitz (Video)
• A 5-Minute Argument for Purgatory (Video)
• What You Should Know About Purgatory by Fr. Mike Schmitz
• The Inner Life: Lenten Confession (Audio)
   

Science and Faith

• Is Religion Opposed to Science? Reason Faith Science with Bishop Barron
• Does the Church Oppose Science by Christopher Kaczor
• The Myth of the War Between Science and Religion by Bishop Barron
• From Nothing to Cosmos: God and Science (Video series on Formed.org)
• Cosmic Origins: Interviews with Scientists (Video on Formed.org; interviews begin at the 7-minute mark)

 

Discipleship

• Discipleship video course with Julianne Stannz (Revive Parishes)
• Discipleship course workbook
• A Beginner’s Guide To Missionary Discipleship by Marcel LeJeune

 

Resources for Catholic Teachings

• Catholic Answers: Explanations of Catholic Teaching
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (Searchable)
• Explanation of Catholic Teaching (EWTN)

Phase III Ideas

Please use the form below to submit your ideas for Phase III of Go Make Disciples. What can we do to grow the Four Holy Habits at St. John Vianney? How can we help people become comfortable sharing their faith with others? How can we invite people to join us at Mass, parish events, etc.? How can we reach out to fallen-away Catholics and non-Catholics to share the love of Jesus and invite them into personal relationships with him? NOTE: You might need to refresh the page to submit more than once.