'Good News People' in Monmouth Beach
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By David Kilby| Correspondent
A new nationwide program called Good News People is offering parishes a dynamic, engaging approach to faith sharing, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, has decided to become the first parish in the Diocese of Trenton to give the program a shot.
Precious Blood Parish kicked off the Good News People program Oct. 6 with an opening plenary session. Good News People is a parish-wide, small group, community building process which not only challenges parishioners to become better disciples but brings awareness to issues of social justice.
“It’s a wonderful program that helps promote the ‘New Evangelization’ called for in the Church,” said Kimberly Williams, who is coordinating the program for Precious Blood.
Good News People was piloted last year in 25 parishes nationwide and in its very first year 95 parishes are participating.
“Precious Blood is the only parish in the Diocese of Trenton participating and we are excited to do so,” Williams added. “So far, it has been well-received by our parish and we are building excitement to get many of our parishioners involved in the small groups.
Between 90 and 100 people signed up for the program, which is a product of Just Faith Ministries, a publishing company based in Louisville, Ky. The authentic artwork for the program is the work of Brother Mickey McGrath, a Salesian brother from Camden.
“It’s faith sharing, but more than that it’s really a call to discipleship,” said Father Robert Kaeding, pastor, regarding Good News People.
He said the program is about “putting the faith to practice” and responding to Jesus’ call to “baptize in my name and heal in my name.” He added that the program “helps us become more aware of what it means to be Catholic.”
Among many other benefits, Father Kaeding said the program develops community among parishioners and inspires them to practice virtue in their daily lives.
The nine participating groups of about 10 people each came together for the first time at the plenary session before beginning their 14 weekly sessions, seven in the fall and seven in the spring.
Each session has a different theme, starting with “God is Love” as the first session in the fall, and ending with “Called and Sent Forth on Mission: Transforming Faith” in the spring.
Each theme is built around a Scripture passage, and provides theological aspects related to the passage. As the participants grow in faith and understanding with each session, they also begin to learn how to apply what they learned about their faith through the program in their everyday lives.
During the break in between fall and spring, the participants are called to partake in immersion experiences, which are relationship building opportunities to learn more about the needs and initiatives that should be addressed in the local communities.
At the plenary session, each of the facilitators was given a candle. The candles were then blessed before being placed in the facilitators’ homes where the 14 sessions will take place.
As Father Kaeding addressed the crowd of about 50 at the plenary session, he spoke of how it was an exciting time for the parish and a time to grow in faith and meditate on Scripture.
Carli Gibson and Zach Ditrich, a newly-engaged couple and parishioners of Precious Blood, said they signed up for the program because they wanted to meet new people, to have a new experience and to grow in their faith.
Gibson said she and her fiancé wanted to reach out to more people and become more engaged in the community.
“It’s important to get our generation more involved, and for people our age to keep (the church community) growing,” she said.
Ditrich added that he also believes it’s important to grow in faith and spirituality together as they prepare for marriage.
“It’s a chance to take a moment to think and reflect,” said Cathy Kornek of Precious Blood. “Life is hectic, so that kind of creates the need to do this.”
For more information and to buy the program material for your parish, visit www.goodnewspeople-jfm.org. The program includes a coordinator binder, participant book, facilitator manual and program DVD.
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By David Kilby| Correspondent
A new nationwide program called Good News People is offering parishes a dynamic, engaging approach to faith sharing, and Precious Blood Parish, Monmouth Beach, has decided to become the first parish in the Diocese of Trenton to give the program a shot.
Precious Blood Parish kicked off the Good News People program Oct. 6 with an opening plenary session. Good News People is a parish-wide, small group, community building process which not only challenges parishioners to become better disciples but brings awareness to issues of social justice.
“It’s a wonderful program that helps promote the ‘New Evangelization’ called for in the Church,” said Kimberly Williams, who is coordinating the program for Precious Blood.
Good News People was piloted last year in 25 parishes nationwide and in its very first year 95 parishes are participating.
“Precious Blood is the only parish in the Diocese of Trenton participating and we are excited to do so,” Williams added. “So far, it has been well-received by our parish and we are building excitement to get many of our parishioners involved in the small groups.
Between 90 and 100 people signed up for the program, which is a product of Just Faith Ministries, a publishing company based in Louisville, Ky. The authentic artwork for the program is the work of Brother Mickey McGrath, a Salesian brother from Camden.
“It’s faith sharing, but more than that it’s really a call to discipleship,” said Father Robert Kaeding, pastor, regarding Good News People.
He said the program is about “putting the faith to practice” and responding to Jesus’ call to “baptize in my name and heal in my name.” He added that the program “helps us become more aware of what it means to be Catholic.”
Among many other benefits, Father Kaeding said the program develops community among parishioners and inspires them to practice virtue in their daily lives.
The nine participating groups of about 10 people each came together for the first time at the plenary session before beginning their 14 weekly sessions, seven in the fall and seven in the spring.
Each session has a different theme, starting with “God is Love” as the first session in the fall, and ending with “Called and Sent Forth on Mission: Transforming Faith” in the spring.
Each theme is built around a Scripture passage, and provides theological aspects related to the passage. As the participants grow in faith and understanding with each session, they also begin to learn how to apply what they learned about their faith through the program in their everyday lives.
During the break in between fall and spring, the participants are called to partake in immersion experiences, which are relationship building opportunities to learn more about the needs and initiatives that should be addressed in the local communities.
At the plenary session, each of the facilitators was given a candle. The candles were then blessed before being placed in the facilitators’ homes where the 14 sessions will take place.
As Father Kaeding addressed the crowd of about 50 at the plenary session, he spoke of how it was an exciting time for the parish and a time to grow in faith and meditate on Scripture.
Carli Gibson and Zach Ditrich, a newly-engaged couple and parishioners of Precious Blood, said they signed up for the program because they wanted to meet new people, to have a new experience and to grow in their faith.
Gibson said she and her fiancé wanted to reach out to more people and become more engaged in the community.
“It’s important to get our generation more involved, and for people our age to keep (the church community) growing,” she said.
Ditrich added that he also believes it’s important to grow in faith and spirituality together as they prepare for marriage.
“It’s a chance to take a moment to think and reflect,” said Cathy Kornek of Precious Blood. “Life is hectic, so that kind of creates the need to do this.”
For more information and to buy the program material for your parish, visit www.goodnewspeople-jfm.org. The program includes a coordinator binder, participant book, facilitator manual and program DVD.
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