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NEXT WEBINAR: GAthered and sent as Disciples of Jesus

PART ONE: April 21 | PARt Two: MAy 12 | 2pm EDT

PRESENTER: MILISSA ELSE, ARCHDIOCESE OF NEWARK

This two part webinar series will explore how small groups are both gathered and sent.

The first webinar (April 21) will focus on how we are gathered in small groups and the nature of our internal life as a community of believers. As coordinators and facilitators we must nurture this inner life assisting groups to develop deeper relationships. Of concern for us is how do we accompany one another in faith in times of challenge?

The second webinar (May 12) will look at the public life of a small group and God’s invitation to us to be missionary disciples. This is often challenging for small groups as they grow and they are uncertain about being sent. As a small group how do we discern God’s call for our group? How are we sent forth in charity, service and advocacy?


Become a member today, to join us for these webinars and to access our webinar library.
2021-2022 Membership Drive Head Start: All new members who join after April 1, 2021 will continue their membership through June 2022.

$25 individual Member | $100 Diocesan, Parish, Organizational Member


ABOUT THE PRESENTER: MILISSA ELSE currently works for the Chancellor in the Archdiocese of Newark and serves as coordinator for parish strategies and small group ministry. Milissa also spent nearly five years as the Director of Pastoral Services for RENEW International. While with RENEW, Milissa provided training to small group facilitators in 20 dioceses across the country. 


Prior to joining RENEW International, Milissa was Vice President for a consulting firm. Through the consulting firm Milissa served the Catholic Church for nearly 20 years. Milissa worked with a wide variety of Catholic organizations, parishes, dioceses, and religious communities directing strategic planning efforts, conducting planning studies, and consulting on capital campaigns. 


Milissa has been a speaker at diocesan congresses in Allentown, Brooklyn, Metuchen, Newark and Scranton. She has also presented workshops on missionary discipleship and stewardship for national and regional meetings of International Catholic Stewardship Conference as well as being a frequent presenter for NCDC (National Catholic Development Conference) at their national and regional workshops.


Past News:


January 2021: NAFSCC presented "Small Christian Communities: An Evolving History" to launch our 2021 webinar series. A recording of this webinar will be available soon to members.


April-June 2020: NAFSCC responded to COVID-19 by offering "Faith Sharing Wednesdays" via Zoom with SCC participants throughout the country


February 2020: Sr. Donna L. Ciangio, O.P. offered a webinar on organizing Small Christian Communities.


December 2019: Sr. Nancy Fischer, SSJ, facilitated our online Advent Faith Sharing on December 12, 2019. Become a member for updates on upcoming events.


October 2019: Our Chairperson, Sr. Donna Ciangio OP, spoke at the Women of the Church Leadership Conference at St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, IL. Visit www.womenofthechurch.org for more information, as well as the Women of the Church Facebook page for photos and coverage of this event.


September 2019:  We met our new members on a Meet and Greet webinar to kick off the new year. 


January 2019: Our Chairperson, Sr. Donna Ciangio, OP spoke at Fordham University on January 15, 2019 about the Future of Women Deacons. Sr. Donna partnered with Dr. Phyllis Zagano to assist with her research into the subject over the past several months.


At the event, members of the Papal Study Commission on the Diaconate of Women spoke publicly for the first time since Pope Francis created the commission in 2016. They were joined by Sr. Donna Ciangio, an American woman religious who has done research on how women deacons would be received in U.S. parishes.


You can watch this panel discussion at the Fordham University Libraries Digital Collections Website.





Welcome to NAFSCC

Rejoice and Be Glad!

 

In his recent Apostolic letter Gaudete and Exsultate, Pope Francis asks us to hear the call to holiness and friendship with Jesus in our everyday lives. And, to rejoice and be glad about it.

 

In the early days of the church, all of the baptized were referred to as saints. That is what we are called to be. How do we do it? We walk with Jesus, trust in him, and live a life worthy of our belief in him.

 

Think of your own small faith community. As you listen to each person share their reflections, what does that do for you? Members are inspired by each other as they share their stories of joy, pain, and hardship, but with inspired faith and joy in the Lord. When dealing with difficulties, many people have said, “I don’t know what I would do without my faith and my small community!”

 

That’s what it is all about – walking together on the road and deepening our faith through prayer, the Scriptures, Mass and sacraments, community and service.

 

Pope Francis puts it this way: “This is a powerful summons to all of us. You need to see the entirety of your life as a mission. Try to do so by listening to God in prayer and recognizing the signs that he gives you. Always ask the Spirit what Jesus expects from you at every moment of your life and in every decision you must make, so as to discern its place in the mission you have received. Allow the Spirit to forge in you the personal mystery that can reflect Jesus Christ in today’s world.”  Amen 

 



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