Adult Faith Formation
Summer Reading with Pope Leo XIV
Two Options at IC Parish:
Tuesdays at 9:45 AM (Charity Dining Room)
Or
Thursdays at 6:00 PM (St. Louis Hall)
July 14/16 through August 25/27
Join with Deacon Ray Doucette, Aaron Giard and fellow parishioners as we read through Pope Leo's new encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence". We will begin reading the introduction together at the first meeting. Each subsequent week we will unpack a chapter (read at home) and seek to apply it to our lives.
We have purchased the books for participants, but would like to know how many to expect. Please RSVP to Aaron Giard at agiard@hriccatholic.org or (978) 462-2724 x 405.
Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
For those adults desiring to receive the sacraments and enter the Church, we are always welcoming new inquirers! This process is educational, but not just academically so. Becoming a Catholic Christian is not just a matter of learning doctrines and consenting to them intellectually. It is about encountering and entering into life in Jesus Christ and His Body, the Church. It is about embarking on a new way of life, taking on a new perspective (an eternal one!), learning to pray, how we read Scripture, how we serve the poor and our neighbor, and becoming an integrated member of the community, the family of God.
All parishioners are always welcome to attend intro OCIA sessions, which we call "Exploring Catholicism" (see below). This is a great way to be formed more in our faith, a faith we learned about as children. We also encourage parishioners to serve on the OCIA team in some capacity (hospitality, as teacher, mentor, prayer partner etc).
The initial set of 13 "Exploring Catholicism" sessions occur on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 AM Mass at IC in Newburyport, but our team is flexible and can accommodate schedules during the week if this does not work.
If you are interested in becoming Catholic or want to be involved in the process, please reach out to Aaron Giard, Director of Lifelong Faith Formation, at agiard@hriccatholic.org or call (978) 462-2724 x405. We also welcome drop-ins!
Exploring Catholicism
Sundays after the 9:00 AM Mass at IC (10:15 AM - 11:15 AM)
IC Parish Hall
Know Someone Who’s Curious?
Maybe it’s your neighbor. Your adult child. A friend at work. Someone asking big questions – or just quietly searching.
Let them know about “Exploring Catholicism,” our weekly drop-in conversation for anyone curious about the Catholic faith. It happens every Sunday after the 9:00 AM Mass (10:15–11:15 AM) in Room 305 of the IC Pastoral Center, unless otherwise noted (check bulletin).
No commitments, no sign-ups – just open doors. Sometimes the best way to evangelize is simply to share the invitation.
For questions or to learn more, contact: Aaron Giard, OCIA Director, (978) 462-2724, agiard@hriccatholic.org
Do you ever feel like there must be something more than your day-to-day routine? Are you seeking a way to connect to other faith-centered women in the midst of a busy work, social or parenting life? Or maybe you’re just searching for a new way to regularly meet and connect with Jesus.
Welcome to a community full of women just like you.
We invite all women to come join us at any time, no matter where you may be in your relationship with God and your faith journey. The group meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in person at the IC Parish Center and virtually on Zoom. If you have any questions, or would like to join via Zoom, please email HRICWomenAtTheWell@gmail.com.
