FORMATION
Adult Faith Formation
About Adult Faith Formation
Our parish community is large and diverse. A wonderful way to make friends and develop meaningful relationships while growing in your faith is through our small communities … groups of people with whom you can have fun and feel safe. People who will have your back when times get tough.
People have various needs, so we have a variety of groups!
Some of our groups meet in person at our St. Joan campus, others meet in local homes, still others meet via Zoom, and a few are hybrid (meeting both in person and on Zoom).
Take a look at some of the groups we have available to find one that suits you. If you’d like to form a new group, reach out to Adult Faith Formation Director Mark Morelli at mmorelli@sjasr.org
The Adult Confirmation process is designed specifically for practicing Catholics who have not received the sacrament of Confirmation. Any adult over age 18 interested in attending this class and receiving the sacrament of Confirmation can register by calling the Parish Office at 925-830-0600. To complete the application/registration for adult Confirmation, please click here.
Alpha is a 10-week experience that creates a safe space for honest, open, and judgment-free conversations for anyone who wants to explore the Christian faith. It’s not just for those who haven’t found Jesus yet – it’s also for those of us who have been lifelong Christians who want to explore our faith in new ways.
Why Alpha?
In a world of isolation, anonymity, and keyboard warriors, Alpha offers a space for honest and judgment-free conversations about life’s biggest questions. Everyone is welcome, and no questions are off-limits.
Alpha creates a space where you can be excited to bring your friends, neighbors, and co-workers to have a conversation about life, faith, meaning … and Jesus.
Alpha is a 10-week course (with a special Saturday together) that includes a film and exciting dialogue. Each session looks at a different question designed to inspire stimulating conversation.
Alpha gives you (and your guests) an opportunity to encounter Jesus in a life-changing way … and to be empowered to play a part in each other’s journeys.
There’s no pressure, no follow-up and no charge; just an open, informal and honest space to explore life’s big questions together. The next series time will be announced through the Parish bulletin. For questions, please get in touch with Adult Faith Formation Director Mark Morelli.
The area focuses on caring for our planet. This program is in development.
Occasionally, we deeply dive into a social issue from a Christian perspective. This is the purpose of our Mission Focus group.
Contact: Mark Morelli
Email: mmorelli@sjasr.org
Phone: 925 830-0600
The Peacemakers of St. Joan’s is a committed group of Christians who strive to live in and bring God’s peace, hope, and love to others through prayer, discernment, and action. As a community and as individuals, we strive to become the hands, feet, heart, and mind of Christ in our world. To accomplish this, we work on two different levels in balance with one another:
Our “inner work” is comprised of prayer, meditation and discernment regarding where the Holy Spirit is calling us to act. We see Christ as the ultimate model for our peacemaking efforts. We also recognize that the non-violent peace that we seek to share within our families, communities, and world must first begin within us.
Our “outer work” springs forth from the spiritual foundation of our “inner work.” In our efforts “To be Christ for others” (our St. Joan of Arc mission statement), we reach out to those living in darkness in our world. Whether it be in the areas of poverty, racism, homelessness, nuclear armaments, the climate crisis, and care for the Earth, we educate ourselves and others about the issues, pray and discern about our response, and then act to make a difference (via participation in advocacy campaigns, vigils and protests, educational workshops, interfaith gatherings, novenas, Food Bank support, visits with migrants at the border, etc.). We are a growing and evolving community of dedicated Peacemakers, endeavoring to be in alignment with the expansion of God’s life within us.
We currently meet weekly on Tuesday mornings, from 10 a.m. to noon, in Classroom 4, and we plan to offer an evening meeting each month going forward. We welcome new members with open hearts.
For more information, please contact the St. Joan of Arc Peacemakers at sjapeacemakers@gmail.com
Periodically, we host an interactive event increases our understanding of poverty and offers ways to be involved in alleviating poverty in our community. Unless you’ve experienced poverty, it’s difficult to truly understand the reality of it. The Community Action Poverty Simulation is an immersive learning experience.
We have done an interactive event will increase our understanding of poverty and will offer us ways to be involved in alleviating poverty in our community. Unless you’ve experienced poverty, it’s difficult to truly understand the reality of it. The Community Action Poverty Simulation is an immersive learning experience.
Contact: Mark Morelli
Email: mmorelli@sjasr.org
Phone: 925 830-0600
This is a gradual process established for the universal Church, for individuals to become Catholic and receive or complete the Sacraments of Initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. It is based upon the model of the early Christian Church in which potential members passed through stages of conversion and learning into full membership at Easter.
For more information call the Parish Office at (925)830-0600. To register, you click on the button below:
The group organizes two annual parish-wide events for women: a full-day retreat in the spring and a half-day retreat that coincides with the Saturday Mass honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary in May. These events are designed to enrich the spiritual lives of women through presentations, discussions, music, and prayer while building community at St. Joan of Arc. Volunteer opportunities range from chairing a committee, speaking or singing at events, tracking reservations, baking items to be offered for snacks or meals, or being a worker bee for a variety of jobs.
Contact: Mark Morelli
Email: mmorelli@sjasr.org
Phone: 925 830-0600
Bible Study Groups
All are welcome at St. Joan’s bible studies. To register, contact Rosemarie at rmckenney@sjasr.org. If acquiring the materials for these studies presents a hardship for you, let Rosemarie know and she will get them for you. And, if you would like to host a study on another day or time, let her know, as well!
Each semester the Women’s Bible Study chooses to follow either the current Parish Bible Study or a new series which involves a section of scripture and a study guide with questions. Sessions are about 90 minutes on Wednesday mornings from 9:45-11:45 AM.
Contact: Colleen Homolka
Email: parishoffice@sjasr.org
Phone: 925-830-0600
The Saturday Men’s Bible Group meets for one hour every Saturday morning to read, discuss and pray the bible, fellowship and partake in action projects. The group follows “God’s Word Today” which leads us through alternating months on Books of the Old Testament, Books of the New Testament, and spiritual subjects. The group is also committed to action-supporting ministries in which the members are involved within the parish and in outreach to the greater community with activities, such as, adopting needy families. All men of the parish are welcome.
Contact: Jim Noe
Email: jlnoe3@gmail.com
Phone: 925 743-0893
Why Catholic?
That's a great question.
We've put together some resources to help answer that question for you.