‘Our Catholic Faith’: Deeper understanding in 12 weeks

The 12-week study program is designed to help people to know and understand more about the Catholic faith.

TERESA LANTIGUA PETERSON | SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDA CATHOLIC

Posted: 07.01.09

ORLANDO | Is missing Mass on Sunday a mortal sin? Why do we confess our sins to a priest? Why do Catholics offer such devotion to Mary?

Catholics in the Diocese of Orlando who want to learn more about their faith are finding answers to these and other questions by participating in a 12-week study titled “Our Catholic Faith,” sponsored by Una Fides.

Our Catholic Faith is based on Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The study covers 12 topics essential to the Catholic faith, specifically the “Canonization of Scripture,” “Church Fathers,” “Papacy” and “Teaching Authority of the Church,” the sacraments, as well as the Church’s teachings on Mary, the communion of saints, salvation, sanctity of life and the Mass.

This program is different from others in that each participant must research one of the topics, with the assistance of a trained facilitator, and present information to the group.

“Una Fides not only teaches, but it enables us to become teachers and to evangelize, which is what we are called to do,” said Diana Coffman, parishioner of St. James Cathedral in Orlando, who helped develop the study.

It all started in 2001 when a small group of friends, all women and all members of St. James Cathedral, began to research doctrine of the Catholic faith so they could have a better understanding of what the Church teaches and why. This desire to learn helped them in their own faith journey and gave them the knowledge and confidence to explain their beliefs to family and friends, especially non-Catholic friends who posed questions sometimes difficult to answer.

“When I couldn’t answer questions from my Protestant friends, I started studying the faith and invited other friends to join me,” Coffman said.

Coffman has spent eight years developing Our Catholic Faith and this year the program received an imprimatur by Orlando Bishop Thomas Wenski. An imprimatur (let it be printed) is the official permission by competent Church authority to publish a book that touches on Catholic faith or moral teaching. A book written for the program has been published by Dominicus Press (www.dominicuspress.com), a nonprofit publishing company started by Coffman. Dominicus Press plans to publish the study in Spanish translation, “Nuestra Fe Catolica” by January 2010.

The study is typically offered once a year at the parish level, with each study group consisting of 12 participants and a facilitator. The enthusiasm for this type of study can be seen in the numbers. Between 2001 and 2008, 230 Catholics participated. This year alone, however, more than 200 men and women enrolled, representing 10 parishes. The program has also expanded beyond the Diocese of Orlando with a study group in the Archdiocese of Miami and one as far away as Windber, Pa.

“Our Catholic Faith helped me grow more connected to my faith. I felt like my understanding was fragmented before, but this put the pieces together for me and created a new enlightened picture,” said Janine McComas, who said she now prays the rosary more than before, and has started praying the Divine Mercy chaplet for the first time since learning it during the study.

“I have discovered there are so many books and resources to read and learn about my faith, such as the catechism. I actually owned the catechism for seven years but never read it until I participated in the study,” McComas said.

Past participants were asked about their knowledge of the faith before and after the study. Fourteen percent ranked their level at “highly knowledgeable” before the study, while 49 percent ranked their level as “highly knowledgeable” after the study.

Most Precious Blood Parish sponsored one group in 2007, two groups in 2008 and five groups in 2009, offering the study in both English and Spanish.

“Those who have participated in the study are inspired by the teachings and truths of the faith and are on fire with a love for the Church. They have a greater understanding and faithfulness to the practice of the sacraments,” said Father Stephen Parkes, pastor.

WHAT IS THE UNA FIDES MINISTRY?

Una Fides (Latin for “one faith”) started as a ministry of St. James Cathedral in Orlando. After various participants completed the 12-week study “Our Catholic Faith,” they were eager to continue growing in their faith and sharing knowledge with others. Parishioners decided to create a broader ministry that would encompass the study group, but find new and diverse ways to reach more people.

Una Fides was established as the sponsoring organization of Our Catholic Faith, but also organizes retreats and luncheons with inspirational Catholic speakers and maintains a Web site featuring many resources and links. Through these additional events and resources, the group has ministered to more than 1,200 people.

Additionally, Una Fides is planning a diocesewide conference in 2010. The conference mission is to help Catholics rediscover and deepen their faith, as well as provide tools necessary to defend the faith in a morally challenging time.

Una Fides is funded through private donations and last month was granted nonprofit status from the federal government, making donations tax-deductible.

“Una Fides is a great blessing. It’s exactly what the Second Vatican Council said laypeople should be doing,” said Father John McCormick, pastor of St. James Cathedral.

For information on Una Fides events and the Our Catholic Faith study, visit www.unafides.com.

Peterson is communications manager for the Diocese of Orlando.

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