Adult Faith Formation Visioning Team
What we do: Research and plan faith formation opportunities for the adults of the parish.
Contact: Suzanne Crowley 515-633-0868

Children's Wednesday Night Faith Formation
What we do: The seed is the word of God. The sower is Jesus Christ. Two thousand years ago he proclaimed the Gospel in Palestine and sent the disciples to sow the Gospel in the world. Today, Jesus Christ, present in the Church through his Spirit, continues to scatter the word of the Father. Each Wednesday night we gather to share the Word of God with our first through eighth graders. We gather to pray, to learn about the teachings of the Church and to be with one another in Christ.
Contact: Mary Heinrich 278-5684 ext 130

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
What we do:  We provide an environment so that the child may fall in love with God.  Our prepared environment is called an atrium.  The atrium is the place for religious life, for community and worship – not a classroom for instruction – facilitating recollection and silence.  The atrium is a place of work which becomes a conversation with God.  The materials in the atrium are attractively displayed inviting the children to explore and deepen experiences in their own rhythm.  The most important characteristic of the materials is their close link to the biblical and liturgical sources.  We believe that God and the child have a unique relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child. We further believe that children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship, and that the child's spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means.
Contact: Mary Heinrich 278-5684 ext 130

Children's Liturgy of the Word
What we do: The Liturgy of the Word with Children has the same form and structure as the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word in the general assembly. Ministers break open the Word of God with children ages 5 – 10.  Children are dismissed from mass following the opening prayer. Ministers of the Word share the Sunday readings, a brief reflection and lead the children in prayers of petition.  Children return to mass during the preparation of the gifts.
Contact:Joan McCleish 253-0526

Middle School Youth Ministry
What we do: Serve our middle school youth through various social events, service opportunities and spiritual development. Middle School Youth Ministry fosters community within the youth of our parish as well as builds their spiritual development.
Contact: Sherri Hunt 278-5684  

High School Youth Ministry
What we do: Modern Day quote from the US Bishops' document, "The Vision of Youth Ministry": "Youth Ministry is the Church's mission of reaching into the daily lives of modern young people and showing them the presence of God. It is a return to the way JESUS taught, putting Ministry before teaching and people over institutions. Youth Ministry transcends and encompasses all former apostolates to youth. In this ministry, 'religious content' is a way of life for the person ministering and the young person touched, through a sequential development of faith, dependent on the need and readiness of the adolescent." At St. Pius X, we work to foster the personal and spiritual growth of young people; to draw youth to participation in the life, mission and work of the faith/larger communities.
Outreach: Provide opportunities to unchurched or uninvolved youth based on one-to-one relationships that include social, non-threatening events that enable youth to feel welcome and
willing to participate.
Community: Provide opportunities that foster trust, a sense of belonging to and identity with the youth/parish community.
Worship/Spirituality: Provide opportunities for youth to share faith, experience God in a personal relationship as well as within the youth/parish and larger communities.
Service: Provide opportunities that foster a sense of committed Christian service to those in
need within the youth, parish and larger community.
Contact: Barb Mease 238-0878
 
Natural Family Planning
What we do: Teach and learn the language of the body. Understand and give thanks for how God has made us.
Contact: Mark and Patty Conway 276-0313

Personal Formation

Bible Study
What we do: Study different books of the Bible. Chapter readings are assigned for each meeting. Members study the Bible chapters and a commentary on those chapters on their own. During the meeting the chapters are read again and the meaning is discussed.
Contact: Cathy Yuska 252-0753

Christ Renews His Parish
What we do: We are called to know him, love him and serve him. Finding time to work on our faith life isn't always easy. It takes time, effort and some encouragement. CRHP is a 2-day retreat for men and women of the parish. It is offered twice a year, in the spring and the fall.  CRHP is
 an excellent opportunity for you to renew your faith.
Contact: Msgr. Joe McDonnell  276-2059

Just Faith
What we do: Just Faith is a spiritual journey into compassion, It is a conversion-based process that seeks to provide a context in which participants can grow in their commitment to be about the care of the vulnerable and to become advocates for
Contact: Anne Wandrey 988-9398

Men's Groups
Looking for a "few good men" to facilitate some study groups.
Contact: Mike Huntsman 276-8437.

Women's Groups
What we do: The study series “Women of Grace” if offered periodically.  Women are encouraged through one of the closing messages of the Second Vatican Council to “aid humanity in not falling.” Through the use of the Full of Grace books, accompanying DVD messages, Scripture and the Catechism, women are made more fully capable of gaining the knowledge and wisdom required to answer this call.
Contact:Suzanne Crowley515-633-0868..

Theology of the Body
What we do: The  ‘Theology of the Body’ is Pope John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit. Theology of the Body is scripture-based and was the subject of 129 of Pope John Paul II’s Wednesday audiences from 1979 through 1984. The eight-part introductory study, “The Gift”, is presented by renowned author and theologian Christopher West, who has been lecturing since 1997.
Contact: Anne Preziosi 201-8543 or Deb Culp 278-8063

Teams of Our Lady
Teams of Our Lady
What we do: In teams of five to seven couples, members meet once a month in each other's homes to eat a simple meal and, in a spirit of friendship and support, share their experiences of the previous month. After dinner, the mood shifts to the more obviously spiritual as the couples and chaplain reflect on efforts to pray and to improve marital spirituality. Finally, they discuss study material on married life and faith. The Team meeting is a truly unique gathering-lively and enjoyable, yet structured and meaningful.
Contact: Kirk and Peggy Peterson 278-8399
www.teamsofourlady.org

Sacramental Formation
 

Pre-Baptism Class
What we do: All new parents are required to attend a 1-1/2 hour preparation before their
child is received into the church and baptized. Godparents are required to attend a pre-baptism class either at St. Pius X or at their home parish. Grandparents are strongly encouraged to attend as well. Babysitters are provided by the parish at no cost.
Contact:  Deacon Dave Bartemes 331-4902

RCIA
What we do: This process is for adults joining the Catholic Church. Sponsors provide support to the person who is joining by attending the weekly meetings, answering inquirer's questions, if possible, and praying for them. Other supporters provide help to the RCIA Team by helping with special events, like the retreat or the commissioning, and meals.
Contact: Mary Sue Lone 276-2059

Sponsor Couple/Engaged Couple Prep
What we do: Meet with engaged couples and review their FOCUS (Facilitating Open Couple Communication, Understanding Study) with them. This is a tool Sponsor Couples use to help engaged couples identify and work through issues before marriage.
Contact: Madeline Meyer 254-9145