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*Please reach out to the host of the PSG you choose to sign up in order to let them know who is part of their group.

Christ the King is beginning a new initiative as we continue cultivating the Faith and spreading the message of Christ in our parish and beyond. An important focus of our pastoral vision is gathering in small groups to deepen our relationship with Jesus and one another. To follow Christ means to be called into community where we abide with Him and one another in friendship.

This is a parishioner-led opportunity to connect parishioners, to build friendships, to evangelize through those friendships and to strengthen the domestic church. The goal is that gathering in small groups becomes part of the fabric of our parish life.

We are not a parish with small groups; we are a parish of small groups.

The small groups run for a period of about 6 weeks at a time, afterwhich members then get together in another small group. This way we can get to know more people.

Small groups can take just about any form as long as the number for discussion does not exceed 8 people, so that everyone can take part in the discussion. A small group can be composed of a few families where the adults and teens take part in the discussion while the smaller children play. It could be a group of friends or co-workers. The members of the group don't all have to be Catholic or a member of Christ the King, but seeking friendship in the Lord.

The format is simple. Small groups meet weekly, and someone in the group agrees to host. The host isn't expected to lead the group but simply coordinate the gathering. Each group can decide to always meet at the same home or rotate among the homes and which video series to watch (see below for options). The group shares a meal together and visits. Then they watch a video and share what stirred their hearts or caught their attention. Each gathering doesn't have to go more than an hour and a half.

The anticipated launch of the first period will be February 18th-19th, 2023.  

Structure: 
-Groups meet once per week beginning the week of February 18th-19th.
-Share a meal  and visit. Then watch a video and discuss.
-Time: Approximately an hour and a half.

Guidelines for discussion:
-Suggested Opening Prayer: "Almighty Father, source of everlasting light, send forth your truth into our hearts and pour the brightness of your light over us."

-Suggested Closing Prayer: "Lord, we encounter you in your Word and Sacraments; increase our faith and transform us. Send us as your witnesses, placing Jesus at the center of our lives and sharing what we have heard."

-Host opens the discussion, but not expected to lead it.  
-No one expected to be preached to but rather exposed to the truths presented in the videos.
-Non-judgmental discussion: This is meant to be a discussion over what stirred your heart or caught your attention in the video.
-Prioritize relationships over transmission of information.

Video Options: (Click the title of choice)

1. The Search: 
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The Search on Formed is an inspiring exploration of the deep questions of life about creation, God and the meaning of life. Viewers will see themselves in light of God's entire plan of creation and salvation and His call to a communion of life and love with Him. 

2. The Kerygma: 

This video series by Msgr. Cihak from 2021 (and revisited in 2022) leads viewers through the essential Gospel message (kerygma) as presented by Fr. John Riccardo and Acts XXIX: created, captured, rescued, response.

3. The Chosen (Two seasons, pick six episodes): 

The Chosen is a well-known and popular series. It displays Jesus and his relationship with his disciples and various people, religious, non-religious, and sinners encountering him in a very personal way—not as an almighty, impersonal deity far removed from everyday lives—a place secular society likes to place God.

4. Priest, Prophet and King:

The better we understand Jesus, the more we can love Him and the better we understand ourselves. In Priest, Prophet, King, you’ll discover Jesus as the Anointed One – the ultimate priest, prophet, and king foreshadowed throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. Using biblical insights and engaging stories, Bishop Barron affirms that we see Jesus most clearly through the lens of the Old Testament. This series helps viewers see themselves as participants in the most incredible drama in history: Christ as a Priest, Prophet, and King—showing the link between Christ's divinity and his humanity and ours.

5. Prayer:

This pratical series by Msgr. John Cihak helps us cultivate the life of prayer, that vital, daily relationship with the living God. He teaches us about Ignatian meditation and other gems from our spiritual tradition to grow in prayer. Sixty-eight percent of people remain involved in the Church when they encounter Jesus in prayer.

6. Marriage Enrichment: (* Go to Beloved: Living Marriage on FORMED.org): 
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The Beloved: Living Marriage series on Formed leads viewers more deeply into God's plan for marriage. The more married couples understand and live this divine plan, the stronger, more joyful, loving and meaningful their marriages become. Studies show that divorce is directly related to declining faith and Church attendance (cf. YouTube Video: The Real Reason Young People Are Leaving the Faith).

7. Communion of Saints: Forthcoming.

The video series, Communion of Saints, records personal testimonials of parishioners on how the saints influence their lives of faith. Testimonials are an excellent way of sharing the faith because they are non-threatening, not preachy, or viewed as argumentative or confrontational. They are a simple sharing of one’s own experiences of embracing the spiritual reality of the intercession of Saints.

8. Wonder: The Harmony of Faith and Science.

Did you know that the Big Bang Theory was created by a physicist who was a priest? How do we approach the creation story in Genesis as Catholics? How does the Catholic understand their faith in relation to science?  The Word on Fire Institute has produced a miniseries demonstrating how scientific truth does not contradict but rather enhances our understanding of our God, harmonizing with revelation.  Each video is approximately 12-15 minutes long and narrated by Jonathan Roumie who plays Jesus in The Chosen.

9. The Rescue Project.

A series from Fr. John Riccardo, described in the website: Simply put, an experience of the gospel surrounded by food, conversation and prayer. The Rescue Project seeks to proclaim the gospel in a compelling and attractive way over eight weeks in a small group format. This experience is imbued with beauty, authentic humanity, and accompaniment. The Rescue Project is for anyone and everyone! It appeals to those who have been walking with Jesus for years, as well as those for whom Jesus is only a figure in ancient history.  The Rescue Project is ideal for use in parishes, homes, workplaces, bars, prisons, schools, dorms, and more.