Faith Sharing Groups

Growing in faith is part of the lifelong journey of all Christians. To help adults in our parish grow in understanding and love of God, we offer seasonal faith-sharing groups. These small groups meet to pray, explore scripture, liturgy and tradition, to share faith and daily Christian living. 

Hearts Afire - Parish-based Programs from the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception

The Hearts Afire Parish-based Programs are a bold and fresh approach to small group, adult faith formation at Catholic parishes. Structured around four bestselling books by popular author and retreat master Fr. Michael Gaitley, these simple programs are setting hearts on fire in thousands of parishes across the globe. For more information or to start/join a group at St. Gabriel, call/text Mary Helm at 816-806-7591.

The Hearts Afire Program consists of three stages:

STAGE 1: The Two Hearts

Part 1: The Immaculate Heart  The groups begin their journey by preparing for total consecration to Jesus through Mary following the book 33 Days to Morning Glory and its accompanying group-retreat materials. Fr. Gaitley's unique preparation for Marian Consecration has helped countless people worldwide to formally entrust themselves to Mary. (Features six 30-minute video lessons/retreat companion booklet)

Part 2: The Sacred Heart  The second part of Stage One focuses on the devotion to the Sacred Heart, following the book Consoling the Heart of Jesus. This retreat gives us an awareness of God's infinite mercy and how we can give Him joy, showing us the way to console His heart by accepting His love and trusting in Him completely. (Features ten 30-minute video lessons/retreat companion book)

STAGE 2: Wisdom and Works of Mercy

The second stage of the Hearts Afire program follows the books The 'One Thing' Is Three and You Did It To Me. The purpose of Stage Two is to give group members a summary of Church teaching and Catholic wisdom and to offer various works of mercy, apostolate suggestions, programs, and support. (Features eleven 30-minute video lessons/retreat companion book)

STAGE  3:  Keeping the Hearts Afire:

This is the stage of ongoing formation and includes two group retreats:

The first follows the book 33 Days to Merciful Love exploring new material on the heart of St Therese of Lisieux’s Little Way uncovering the power of trust in the face of personal darkness, inspiring participants to become great saints amid ordinary circumstances and laying the foundation for a personal consecration to Divine Mercy. (Features six 30-minute video lessons/retreat companion book)

The second follows the book Divine Mercy in the Second Greatest Story Ever Told. Fr. Gaitley connects people and events in history to a unifying vision of the splendor of God’s merciful love. It includes the epic story of Poland’s national suffering, the events of Fatima, the revelations of St. Faustina, the heroic efforts of St. Maximillian Kolbe and the life of St. John Paul II. (Features ten 30-minute video lessons/retreat companion book)

For more information or to start/join a group at St. Gabriel, call/text Mary Helm at 816-806-7591.