Audio Tape Library

Audio tapes can be a useful and valuable way to continue to learn for busy and active people. The material is available to you whenever you have time. Our audio tape lending library has a wide selection of scripture, prayer, and spirituality tapes.

For more information, contact Joe Milner at 314-977-7305 or milnerjv@slu.edu.

Cana Institute

The mission of The Cana Institute is to guide adults towards healthy relationships. Healthy and Holy intertwine. It is in healthy and thus holy relationships that we encounter God, through, with and in others. God is Love and we who abide in Love, abide in God.

The Cana Institute is dedicated to providing educational, social, and personal opportunities for adults to discover the power of healthy, intimate relationships. Bridget Brennan, founder of the Institute is the author with her husband, Jerome Shen, of the recent book Claiming our Deepest Desires, the Power of an Intimate Marriage.

For more information, please visit their website at www.canainstitute.org.

College Church 101

College Church 101 is an annual series of three sessions to help people get to know the College Church. In 2009, at the first session, on August 23rd, we will look at who we are as College Church and some of the history that has shaped us.

During the second session on August 30th, representatives of various parish activities will describe their work. During the third session on September 13th, we will offer a tour of the facilities.

If you have recently become involved at College Church, or if you are deciding if you want to make this your faith community, plan to attend College Church 101. The sessions will be held between the Sunday morning Masses on August 23, August 30, and September 13. (There is no session on September 6.) Refreshments will be available about 9:15 AM and presentations will begin at 9:30 AM in the Adult Faith Room of the Parish Center. Please call 977-7300 or e-mail us at milnerjv@slu.edu if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you!

Dialogue with the Word

Each Sunday people desiring to better understand the Sunday readings gather to discuss, pray, and reflect on them between the Sunday morning masses. The leader offers some insight into the texts and participants explore their application to life.

If you would like to experience Scripture in a small group with people who sincerely wish to live its message, consider joining Dialogue With The Word.

For more information, contact Joe Milner at 314-977-7305 or milnerjv@slu.edu.

JustFaith

JustFaith is a 30-week long formation process and spiritual journey that we offer each year for those interested in deepening their faith and their knowledge of the justice tradition of the Church. The program meets weekly for readings, videos, guest speakers, discussion, prayer, retreats and hands-on experiences in justice education. 2009-10 is the College Church’s 8th year for offering JustFaith.

More information can be found here.

Intercessory Prayer

Christians have long supported one another through difficult, challenging and confusing times on life's journey with prayer. Each week we have general intercessions at the Eucharist during which we can each call to mind particular people as the general needs of the human family are presented in prayer. The parish also offers a prayer line for prayer requests where people may call and leave a message requesting prayer (314-977-1885). Additionally, there are the books in the church in which you may record prayer requests — on the Mary shrine for general prayer requests and on the Joseph shrine for prayers for those who have died.

There are sometimes significant moments in life when individuals or families need particular and specific prayer to seek God's help and assistance. A group of parishioners with pastoral care training has formed to pray with those who have such needs, which may include health, job, grief, or family issues. The group gathers and begins with a time in prayer. They then spend time listening to the story of an individual so that they can come to a good understanding of how to pray. Prayer is then offered for the person and the particular situation that they have presented. This process normally takes about 30 - 40 minutes.

If you would like to request a time to be prayed with, please contact Sandy Spencer at 314-351-8713. She will answer any questions that you may have and arrange a time for you to meet with the intercessory prayer ministry. Please keep this ministry in your prayers as well as all the intentions recorded in the books of intentions in the church.

Spiritual Direction

Everyone needs a guide, a confidant, a friend, a companion at one time or another. We all need someone special at certain times. Spiritual direction remains first, foremost and always, God-oriented: both the director and directee listen to God and to God’s mysterious, ineffable ways within the directee.

The direction or guidance which a directee is seeking to discover is already within him/herself. The spiritual director assists the directee in bringing his/her inner wisdom to consciousness in order that they may find their own unique way along the journey. Spiritual direction, sometimes called spiritual companioning, offers a way of fostering emotional, psychological and spiritual growth through dialogue with each other and contributes to the deeper integration of the human person. Spiritual Direction is an excellent way to discern God's presence, and direction in one’s life. Ordinarily, spiritual direction is an ongoing process in which the director and directee discern the frequency of sessions.

College Church has several people available to serve as directors. These include Fr. Jim Costello, SJ, Mary Frigon-Milner, and Joseph Milner. For more information, please contact Joseph Milner at 314-977-7305 or milnerjv@slu.edu. Fees are negotiated with the director.

Women’s Faith Sharing Group

The College Church Women's Group is an informal gathering of women from the parish who meet for prayer, discussion and faith sharing in the home of a parishioner on the first Tuesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., September, 2009 through May, 2010. This year, we are reading and reflecting on selected works from Catholic women authors, with a focus on the relationships between feminine images of God, ourselves, and our life in the Church. You can join us anytime to see if this group is a good fit for you; all are welcome! For more information, please contact Lucy White at 314-776-1901, lucywhite1943@gmail.com, or Ann Steffen at 314-313-0158, ann_steffen@umsl.edu.

Xavier Books

Since the College Church community has a strong interest in continuing to learn and grow in faith, each fall and spring, the adult faith ministry makes available books on prayer, spirituality, and other reflection materials. These are chosen to support and encourage faith and spiritual development. Materials generally fit into 7 areas: 1) Daily reflection materials that offer a scripture, reading or prayer for each day or for the week; 2) Materials on Ignatian Spirituality; 3) Books that offer insights into prayer; 4) Materials that focus on the special liturgical seasons; 5) Materials for parents and children; 6) Resources for those who are grieving; 7) Liturgical music from the College Church Choir, the St. Louis Jesuits, or John Foley, SJ. Occasionally, titles will be highlighted in the bulletin.

These materials are available at Gathering Places from late October through early Lent. They are also available in the Parish Office throughout the year. We discount most prices by 10%. Any profits from these sales are used to support the faith formation of children and adults at College Church.