Unit Two

Dates: Twelve evenings 7.30pm – 9.30pm: Omagh: Tuesday evenings (10 January – 4 April)

Maghera: Wednesday evenings (18 January - 26 April)

Theme:

This unit will explore the nature of the Church and the ministry of the Church through the sacraments and liturgy. We will also explore morality and Christian Social Justice.

Aim and Content of Unit Two:

In this unit, we will look at how God is present to us in the life and ministry of the Church. We will explore what it means to be Church and the importance of the sacraments in the life and ministry of the Church. Particular attention will be given to the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Reconciliation. We will also reflect on the way we celebrate our faith in the liturgical life of the Church with particular reference to the liturgical cycle (Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas). We will explore morality and how moral living is central to how we relate to God and to others. In speaking about moral conscience, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 1776) speaks of our conscience as our “most secret core” our “sanctuary” where we are “alone with God whose voice echoes in our depths.” We will also look at the Christian social conscience and issues of social justice.

The following areas will be covered:

• What is it to be Church? Church as Body of Christ
• Introduction to the Sacraments – moments of grace and blessing
• The sacrament of Baptism – Welcomed into the Body of Christ
• The sacrament of the Eucharist – Celebrating as the Body of Christ
• Reconciliation – Healing the Body of Christ
• The Church at Prayer – Liturgy and Worship in the life of the Church
• Morality – Living as the Body of Christ
• The Social Teaching of the Church – Justice and the Christian Social Conscience