Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell

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I’m not saying the book is for everyone, but it has and is helping my parish and other parishes across the nation get more involved and realize that being a Catholic means a lot more than just attending mass. I don’t say that to downsize mass at all. But some people get stuck in a rut that attending mass and saying a rosary at mass is all they do. I like the fact that his book has helped many good Catholics become better Catholics, many fallen away Catholics to return to the church and calls us (like Christ) to share our faith with others. If your parish and spiritual lives are thriving then I’d say there is no need to read the book. It is only the work of a normal human being. She is not a saint, just someone who has done her research and is passionate about helping others get closer to God. Certainly the book could have been better However, I believe, based on experience, it has helped our parish grow spiritually, wanting to do more and learn more.
 
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for SolaceSoul -
However, I believe, based on experience, it has helped our parish grow spiritually, wanting to do more and learn more.
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and for Tis Bearself -
I read the summary.
It seems a bit…basic. Is this book meant for people who are brand new Catholics or something?
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Here is an essay (LINK) that generally discusses the important substance that is lacking in the many “new programs” circulating among Catholic parishes and dioceses currently. It is good that some of these new approaches are in some senses helping some parishes to grow - but my concern remains, how and in what direction are they growing? The “old ways” are so rich, and substantial, and deep in Catholic tradition - it troubles me that many are quick to grab the new, when the full wisdom of the “old” has not really been applied or received as it deserves.
 
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Fide, our group was inspired to learn more about ourselves and the Catholic faith. First, we took a Spirituality Style Inventory, recommended by priests and approved spiritual directors, not the book. This lead each of us into deeper discovery of the saints and the ways in which each individual prays. I have an Augustinian spirituality style. To me, personally, it confirmed what I already knew but also gave me confidence in what I was doing. I began to research more about St. Augustine and the spirituality style. I learned a great deal about it and myself and have drawn closer to God because of it.

By reading the book, we were prompted to talk to Catholic family and friends who no longer attend mass and encourage them to return. Some did. We also have been discussion forming bible study groups, apologetics, and a youth ministry where before we only had mass and rosary before mass.

We are just starting to study the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit, how we can help our parish (group leaders, music, food pantry, etc) and evangelize to others. A few of us felt lead to study the topic of purgatory and we are compiling videos and teachings on the subject as it has inspired a devotion to pray for the poor souls in purgatory. We are basically rediscovering the rich traditional catholic faith, thanks to the spark of this book.
 
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What I would call a traditional Catholic formation process, would include the list below. It would be helpful to me if you could look over the items below, and let me know of any matches…
  1. Is Marian devotion incorporated into your formation?
  2. Is Catechism study present - including its four parts of Creed, Liturgy, Morals, and Prayer?
  3. Lectio Divina or other serious, prayerful immersion into Scripture?
  4. Has the universal call to holiness and to the perfection of charity been mentioned? Explained and incorporated?
  5. Has the necessity of infused supernatural faith been mentioned? Explained, and contrasted with acquired, natural human faith? And hope? And love? Has the danger to a soul of unconscious mixtures of supernatural with natural virtues and gifts been mentioned? Explained?
  6. Has the Dark Night of the Senses, and of the Spirit, been mentioned? Presented and explained as to its necessity?
  7. Has the path of growing in prayer, toward infused contemplation, been mentioned? Incorporated?
1 added: you said, “our group was inspired to learn more about ourselves.” Can you tell me what you learned about yourself, and/or what have others learned?

Thanks!
 
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Yes, it is aimed at empowering folks to reach those fellow parishioners who are at stages 0 - 1, heck simply acknowledging that there are people in steps 0 - 1, 2, 3 and helping them, mentoring them, along the journey to reach stage 4 and beyond.

There has been an idea that has taken root that those who are not at stage 4 simply need to buck up and get there, they do not really deserve to be called Catholic and they do not love the Eucharist enough if they are below step 4. Any good Catholic is at stage 4. I used to be one of those who through anyone at a lesser stage in their journey was simply being childish or stupid or too Protestant.
 
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My take on it is that there are people who go through their life just checking off box 1 and it’s better than if they were checking off no box at all. Maybe everybody is simply not given the ability or capacity to get to level 4.

I have mixed feelings about trying to “motivate” them down the path of a stronger spiritual life. I always feel that such motivation must come from within and there are a lot of different ways it could happen for a particular individual, such as running up against a big difficulty in their own life. I never really thought of it as my responsibility to push others. I suppose if I was involved in an evangelization ministry or worked for a parish all day as my day job, this might be more on my mind.
 
The beauty is that we all have different gifts/talents.

I read a wonderful chapter in “Building A Parish of Intentional Disciples” just last night. It was an account of a parish who started an Intercessory Prayer group. They began by praying the DMC for specific intentions, it grew into a group who were intercessors in various ways. One group goes out and walks the neighborhood around the parish while they pray for the people who live in that neighborhood.
 
Fide, I never said we were in a traditional Catholic formation process. We started a book club and this was our first book. By reading this book, we became encouraged and inspired to grow spiritually. We all already participate in Rosary before each Mass and yes, we also are interested in learning more about Marion Apparitions but we are praying about it and allowing God to leads us in whatever direction He wants us to go. Weddell’s books and study guides always quote CCC as well as the bible, especially the life of Jesus. There are several ways to pray, all are not the same. This is what we learned from St. Augustine and St. Ignatius, so far.
Yes, the focus is on how we can become closer to God and give of ourselves to help others.

By your questioning, I’m wondering if you’re trying to find fault in the book, just want to argue, or if you’re simply curious.

I’m not trying to shove it down anyone’s throat. I simple started the thread to talk to like minded people about how the book has inspired them. I am not going to get into a debate about it. We have priests guiding us, its not like we are out there on our own going crazy with some new found cult.

~Peace
 
I’m very interested in all popular parish renewal processes and programs and presenters and teachers. And there are many (Alpha for Catholics, ChristLife, Evangelical Catholics, Matthew Kelly, Intentional Disciples, Marian Catechists, From Maintenance to Mission, Disciples in Mission, … etc.).

I am a “retired” catechist - catechesis, growing in the Faith, growing in prayer, … this is what I am most concerned about - this is what the Lord sent me to, in Him, and this is what the Church is most in need of in these times. You presented yourself as someone endorsing the approach of “intentional disciples”, so I was/am trying to learn your actual experience with it - not just whether you like it or not, but what exactly is it leading you and your group or parish into - and where it is possibly not leading you. IOW, exactly what “being a disciple” means to the leadership of the process or programs: where it is taking those who follow.

I’m sorry if I am or sound confrontational - the issue is important! Not merely to me, but to our Lord: He sent the Church to “make disciples”.
 
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HI Fide, I apologize if I was a little defensive. My only excuse is… its Friday and its been a very stressful week. I’ve found that faith calls for constant discernment. This world can be extremely difficult to navigate without such. I appreciate where you’re coming from and your sincere curiosity. Allow me to share how our little book club came about and a little history of our parish.

I have been with this parish for about 43 years. We moved here when I was about 7 or 8 years old. I have raised seven children in this parish, all my children went to CCD and all but one received the sacraments of Confirmation. All of my married children were married in the church and all but one are raising their children in this same church. (I brought more souls to God the old fashioned way) 😊
We have never had a playground or a day care. There is very little to do in this town and the parish offers even less for its members. We have mass twice on the weekend and once during the week. The parish is not lively. It is not welcoming, it is not family friend and never has been. All my adult life I have tried, with a small handful of others (very small) to help it flourish but it is stuck in a rut. The good and faithful members go to mass once on the weekend and once during the week. They do not want to be “bothered” with anything extra. Yes, they pray the Rosary before each mass but thats it. Once we had a KOC and lady’s club but it didn’t last. We are the red headed stepchild of the diocese and seem to get every new priest out there. None were bad priest, but just inexperienced in management of a parish. (Why isn’t this taught in seminary?)
I have a Masters of Education and have taught in a Catholic School, but am only a level one catechist for now. I am in the process of increasing that. I want to go all the way. I want to learn everything there is to learn and then some. We just do not have the luxury of the opportunities of a larger parish. Although we are small and surrounded by a strong protestant community, we have managed to keep strong in our faith and traditions.
I have been on the parish council and head of the parish life committee for several years. The parishioners do not want to be involved, for the most part, they just are not interested. They “do their part” by going to mass and being a good Christian. (Their words, not mine) (continued)
 
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Over the summer, I was talking to a friend of mine and we both shared that we both felt a hunger for God. We needed (name removed by moderator)ut, formation, knowledge, something we didn’t have yet and didn’t know where to find it. We needed to be fed. He suggested and we start a book club. it was something we hadn’t tried before and he loved books. I don’t read for entertainment, I read for knowledge. But I agreed to help him. I contacted a few people who I thought might like to read Catholic books and they agreed. My friend suggested we read “Forming Intentional Disciples”. I asked him why because I had never heard of it. He said, he didn’t know. He just felt led to do it. He hadn’t read anything about it at the time but said he saw it somewhere. I agreed to check it out and did so, then agreed to go with it. About 10 or so of us meet a week later and that quickly grew to about 16. We were meeting every two weeks. After the first two weeks had passed, I mentioned it to our priest who was amazed, because the Bishop of our diocese had just recommended that all the parish leaders of the church and schools read this same book. He asked how we knew because he had just gotten the letter. We told him and we just smiled. The Holy Spirit may have had a hand in this.
We have about 24 people in the group now, though all do not come to every meeting, which is once a week at this point. But they are still interested. I started creating PowerPoints for the ones who didn’t have time to read (the teacher in me coming out) and I started leading the group through them, quoting the book and asking them about their experiences with the topics and what their thoughts were. This lead to the discussion on wanting more and feeling as if God was tugging on our hearts, burning with the desire to learn and do more than what we all had been doing.
We became closer to each other, getting to know each other as if we hadn’t our entire lives. We became friends and starting sharing our personal thoughts on how we could help ourselves and others become closer to God.
It truly is as if this book was the spark that helped ignite a fire that cannot be quenched.
I honestly do not know where we will go from here and I don’t need to know. I know, without a doubt, that God has lead us to this point and that He will lead us the rest of the way as well. The entire experience has been a wake up call for all of us.
We all have the gifts of the sacraments but it was as if we kept them dormant. Now we feel the need and the desire to use them to lead us closer to God and help others move closer to Him.
I have experienced an incredible since of peace since I started reading this book. It is as if I’m starving for the peace I find when I read and study God’s word. I want more. We all want more. Before this book, we thought we were doing a great job being good Catholics and there was no need to change our routine. But now, we all feel a deeper connection with the Lord, see our sins more clearly, want to make amends and better ourselves, not for us but for God.
 
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fide said:
What is reproduced above is true, but I find curious and troubling their decision NOT to focus on what does “provide the inner ‘Christlikeness’ necessary” - namely, the graces and gifts infused at Baptism - but rather to focus on “non-sanctifying” charisms, or “Graces Gratis Datae ”, which may benefit others.
(see part 2 below)
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Hi Fide, I was just reading over some older posts and thought I’d comment. You’re correct This book does focus more on the charisms because during CCD and confirmation prep we received that education. However, and sadly, until a few years ago, I had never heard of the word being used my catholic circle. I think this is part of what Weddell is talking about. It was as if we were taught the basics until confirmation then once we were confirmed our instruction came to a standstill. We were done.
Thats not how it’s supposed to be. Parishes need ongoing formation, especially at that impressionable age. We barely received confirmation prep classes and our RCIA classes always skipped the mystagogy. I have no idea why. I think that is just as important as the rest. But instead, for over 40 years, our parish just patted them on their heads, congratulated them, and sent them out into the big bad world completely unarmed.
Theres a war going on out there! We need weapons! (Don’t get me started)
This is one of the important steps our parish (and apparently many others) completed missed. Now we have generations that do not know their faith. At the risk of sounding protestant… we need a revival.
 
Thank you, SolaceSoul, for all that background and commentary. The Lord is clearly working in you, and potentially through you for the good of your parish and her members (maybe even the pastor).

My main lingering concern about “Intentional Disciples” is that I perceive building upon a weak and incomplete foundation. I have seen, in my travels, many examples of a popular “program” or approach (to “solving” the wide-spread “lukewarm” status of many Catholic parishes) initially accepted in a parish with great interest and optimism, finding participation and support for some months, only to gradually die out leaving no deep or lasting change. I am convinced that consistently the reason is a failure to take the fundamentals of Christian faith seriously, with a patience and willingness to build upon true spiritual rock, in authentic supernatural grace.

I strongly suggest a book, that can be read on-line (or copied/printed out), that presents briefly the traditional Catholic understanding of the spiritual life of holy grace, and how it can grow in a person, in the “three ages”, or “three stages” of the interior life. The author taught at the Angelicum (The Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas) in Rome for some 50 years - an expert in spirituality as well as other core subjects of Catholic Faith. One of his many books is here:
http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/saints/3ways.htm

Every chapter of this (brief) book is important. I hope you can read it and assimilate the truth and wisdom of it, into your studies and participation in catechesis.

The author, Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P., has written treasures for the Church. If you appreciate that first book, he has also written a two-volume much more comprehensive presentation on the same matter - a real jewel, which is also free on-line.
 
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Thank you, Fide! I will read it this weekend, if all goes well. 🙂 This first book, “Forming Intentional Disciples” has sparked the fire, like I said. I want to continue with the series and workshop, but I think taking breaks between them to read/study something deeper could only enhance the process. God continues to guide us and it is so comforting and peaceful. I’ll let you know what I think about the book and possibly present it to our book club on Sunday.
 
I’m glad to share that little book with any who might be able to hear it. I first heard (so as to begin to understand!) the spirituality of John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila, in graduate school, as the oldest man in the class. I had been a Catholic for many years, but had no understanding of those two “giants” of Catholic spiritual wisdom, or what it even means to “grow in prayer” or “grow in the interior life of grace.” Then, I took a short summer course that included this little book, and the spirituality it presents, and my entire life took a new direction.

Please let me know of your readings, and any comments that follow…

May the Holy Spirit light your way!

Edited to add - digital copies of another book I know of, on the same spirituality, is The Ordinary Path to Holiness. Amazon has it for the Kindle, and B&N for the Nook I think. It is more recent for sure, and maybe easier to read for contemporary readers - I’m thinking of the more “average” Catholic reader, maybe it could be more readable for the Book Club, it you get that far with it all. See what you think after reading “The Three Ways…”
 
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Have not read the book but I had a discussion with someone who was very enthusiastic about it and when explained to me I had some issues with it. From what I understand it is about bringing people to Jesus but without the Church. It almost seemed like the protestant notion of a ‘personal relationship’ with Jesus which is how I replied. I said Jesus and His Church are One and the Same so why separate them when evangelizing? She kept harping on the ‘personal relationship’ thing and then said that most cradle Catholics are just pray, pay and obey Catholics. I said what is wrong with that, we are commanded to do all three in Scripture. That sounds like a pretty good relationship to me! So after that I had no interest in looking into it.
 
I’m sorry they gave you the wrong impression about the book. The entire book is about reviving our parishes. Some Catholics fear that by talking about a relationship with Jesus may lure them into a protestant religion. The truth is, if we don’t evangelize our own, someone else will. If we don’t preach the kerygma in our own parishes, they will learn some modified version if it elsewhere and may come to the conclusion that it isn’t to be found within the Church. “The basic kerygma that awakens Christian faith and leads to the Church is not primarily about the Church herself.” However, once one knows the truth in the Story of Jesus, one will come to appreciate the Church, as it is His Church. Without knowing Him, how can one appreciate the Church itself? It make sense then, to teach about Jesus first then when they experience the beauty of the Church they see Christ throughout it. With all things, discernment is foremost. We judge a thing by its fruits. Has this book encouraged non Catholics to become Catholics? Yes. Has this book encourage us to reach out to fallen away Catholics in hopes they return to the Church? Yes. Has this book helped the majority of the people who have read it, seek a deeper spiritual life (relationship with Christ). Yes. Has this book helped parishes come back to life? Yes.
What bad effects has this book had on anyone or any parish? None that I am aware of.
 
Apparently they did not give me the wrong impression as you seem to be advocating the same theology. A separation of Jesus from His Church. Jesus and His Church, the Catholic Church are One and the Same.

"As St. Joan of Arc said…About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter. CCC 795

By separating Jesus Christ from His Church protestantism complicated the matter. Why emulate error?

Those Catholics you speak of don’t fear a personal relationship with Jesus…we understand that a true personal relationship with Jesus is through His Church…the Sacraments He instituted for us, especially the Eucharist ( ‘I will be with you always’) and His teachings (Doctrine…‘if you love me you will obey my commandments’)
 
yankeesouth said:
Apparently they did not give me the wrong impression as you seem to be advocating the same theology. A separation of Jesus from His Church. Jesus and His Church, the Catholic Church are One and the Same.
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If I invited you to a party to celebrate an honored guest, would you not want to first know who we were celebrating and why?
 
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You can not know Jesus without His Church.

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Notice that he does not say where there is a Catholic Church there is Jesus Christ. (but that would be true also) 🙂

There are many protestants who claim to know Jesus. A ‘personal relationship’ without the Catholic Church is really nothing more than having a ‘personal Jesus’.

Did you read CCC 795?

"As St. Joan of Arc said…About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter. CCC 795

By separating Jesus Christ from His Church protestantism complicated the matter. Why emulate error?

Those Catholics you speak of don’t fear a personal relationship with Jesus…we understand that a true personal relationship with Jesus is through His Church…the Sacraments He instituted for us, especially the Eucharist ( ‘I will be with you always’) and His teachings (Doctrine…‘if you love me you will obey my commandments’)
 
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