Children’s Faith Formation at Newman
Faith Formation: Families gather on the first Sunday of each month.
Dates in Spring Semester 2025: Jan. 12, Feb 2, Mar. 2, Apr 6, May 4
Newman Families Faith Formation meets on the first Sunday of each month (except in January when it’s the second Sunday) from 9:00 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. in the Hecker Room. The program is for parents/guardians and their children who’ve yet to receive Confirmation and including those preparing for First Communion. Join us by registering online, at the front desk, or by coming and registering at a session.
Our goals are to build community, to assist parents and guardians in your primary role as faith educators, and to engage the kids in learning more about our faith. Each month we'll focus on a topic. The first program will focus on the basics of what it means to be Catholic today.
We encourage you to join any session that you can, but especially the first one so that we can find out who is in our community and keep you up to date on future programming. A donation of $75 per family for the program is appreciated. Contact Peter and Eva Nico at pnico123@gmail.com if you have any questions.
First Communion Class. Meets every Sunday from January 26 through mid-May 2025. On the first Sundays of the month, it will join with Eva & Peter Nico's Faith Formation class. All classes in meet in the Hecker Room from 9-10am. Class will be taught by Michael Dalton.
Teen Confirmation - Our year long confirmation program for high school students meets in the Gallery on Sundays from 9:00 -11:00 am. Contact Camilla for more information and/or to enroll your teen.
Adult Faith Formation at Newman
Help us shape our liturgies for 2025.
Complete this Survey of Liturgical Life by March 15th to let us know your preferences. Thank you!
Exploring Catholicism (OCIA )-
Who is this for?
1. Those Curious about Catholicism.
2. Those Exploring becoming Catholic.
3. Catholics who want to be Confirmed.*
4. Anyone wanting an “insight-driven” perspective on the Catholic Adventure.
Day, Time, and Place? Weekly on Wednesday, 7:00-8:30 PM, Multiversity Room
(Special arrangements can be made if the time and day are inconvenient for you or a small group.)
What if I missed a class? Meet with Fr. Xavier in person or online for a review. Let's make it easy.
How do I register? Just show up!
Requirements? Good questions and a prayerful heart!
Any Questions? Please contact Fr. Xavier or make an appointment here, Fr. Xavier’s Appointments. You can also call or text him at 650-291-4590.
Adult Confirmation Preparation—If you are a college student or older and have not celebrated the sacrament of confirmation but are well-educated in the faith, a special program will be designed for you. Please contact Fr. Xavier or make an appointment here, Fr. Xavier’s Appointments.
Marriage Preparation - If you need assistance with your upcoming marriage or are looking for a church to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony, please contact Fr. Xavier by email, or to select and time and insert it into his calendar, press: Fr. Xavier’s Appointments
Other Faith Formation Opportunities - We are blessed to have several groups to help us grow in our faith. Please check out the group that matches your interest:
Catholicism WOW! (Wed) - Explore various topics from a Catholic faith perspective, from basic catechism topics to current events. This academic year, Catholicism Wow! is not meeting online but is participating in the OCIA program on Wednesday evenings at Newman with Fr. Xavier.
Emmaus (Thu) - Explore the Sunday readings each week
Centering Prayer & Lectio Divina: Thursdays at 10-11am in the Patio Rm (2nd floor): Open to all, start your day with an hour of contemplative silence and listening in community! Centering prayer is a simple contemplative form of prayer where one empties their mind of thoughts and silently rests in the presence of God. Lectio Divina is a prayerful form of listening to the word of God in Scripture, as if we are in conversation with God. Both practices deepen our relationship with the Divine. No prior experience needed. If you’re new to either practice, please plan to arrive at 9:45am for a brief introduction. For more information visit this link: https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/centering-prayer-method/
Centering Prayer via Zoom (San Damiano Retreat Center Online) Monday Nights 6:30. Follow this link.
Women in Conversation (2nd Saturday of the month in Sept, Nov., Jan., March, and May) - This women’s group has presenters followed by small group discussions.
Newman Grads - Our graduate student and young adult group offers Bible studies, socials, and service projects.
Student Bible Studies - (various) - Contact FOCUS Missionary Josh to find out more or join.
Retreat Centers
Retreats can be an important part of our spiritual path. In providing quiet time away from the normal rhythms of life, retreats give us an opportunity to listen for God's voice and reflect on the ways that God is present in our lives. We are fortunate in the Bay Area to have a number of retreat centers within a few hours' drive. Many offer short day-long programs as well as weekend and longer retreats. Check out some of the offerings and see if one or another appeals to you.
Reasons you may want to consider attending a retreat:
Deepen your faith: Engage in prayer, reflection, and spiritual teachings to strengthen your connection with God and deepen your understanding of Catholic teachings.
Retreat from the hustle and bustle: Take a break from the demands of daily life and immerse yourself in a tranquil environment conducive to spiritual growth and renewal.
Foster community: Connect with fellow Catholics in a supportive and nurturing community atmosphere, fostering friendships and shared spiritual experiences.
Receive guidance: Benefit from the wisdom and guidance of experienced retreat leaders who can offer insights into Catholic spirituality and help you on your spiritual journey.
Renew your commitment: Use the retreat as an opportunity to recommit yourself to living out your Catholic values and principles in your daily life.
Experience sacraments: Participate in Mass, confession, and other sacramental rituals that can deepen your spiritual experience and provide opportunities for grace and healing.
Gain perspective: Step back from the distractions of the world to gain a clearer perspective on your life, priorities, and relationship with God.
Encounter God's presence: Open yourself to encountering the presence of God in a profound and transformative way, allowing His love and grace to work in your life.
A selection of nearby Retreat Centers
San Damiano Retreat Center. 710 Highland Drive, Danville, CA 94526
(925) 837-9141
Santa Sabina Center. 25 Magnolia Avenue, San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 457-7727
El Retiro San Iñigo Jesuit Retreat House, 300 Manresa Way, Los Altos, CA 94022
(650) 917-4000
New Camoldi Retreat House Hermitage, 62475 Coast Highway 1 at Lucia, Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-2456
Vallombrosa Center, 250 Oak Grove Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025
(650) 325-5614
Saint Columba’s Retreat House, 12835 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, Inverness, CA 94937
(415) 669-1039
Lenten Resources
Ignatian Blog
Lenten Reflections One of the participants at our Ignatian Prayer and Spirituality Series, Francis Mangeni, has written some Reflections for Lent. Francis, who joins us from the Archdiocese of Lusaka in Zambia, is currently a student in the Master of Divinity Course at the Jesuit School of Theology.
Lent is the time Mother Church sets aside every year for us to con-front ourselves with courage, and to achieve all the change we yearn for in the depths of our hearts—that we may have life to the full. After Lent, we are to have become a totally new person, in love anew with God and with His creation. We rejoice with our Lord Jesus Christ who is truly risen, having overcome death and sin. We live in full freedom and joy, knowing the meaning of life, that we each are God’s own. Life is a celebration, a never-ceasing party; after we have totally repented.
These reflections are meant to encourage you as you cooperate with God on your faith journey, a journey of concrete lifestyles and plans that transform you, ever becoming Christ-like, by His grace. You’ll find the reflection booklet here.
Busy Person’s Retreat
What is The Busy Person’s Retreat? It’s a parish-wide Lenten program offering members of the parish an opportunity to meet individually with a spiritual director for about an hour a week for 3 weeks.
It is for YOU-- parishioners of ALL ages and stages of life
You’ll meet once a week for an hour with a Spiritual Director
It is an abbreviated retreat for those who don’t have the freedom to take a weekend-long or extended retreat.
It gives you a taste of what Spiritual Direction is like
Why participate?
You may have an issue or question you wish to discern or just feel spiritually “stuck”
You may wish to discern relationships with others
You may wish to deepen your relationship with God.
You may be deciding on the future
A Spiritual Director is there to LISTEN WITH YOU, not tell you what to do. (Remember, you don’t have to be especially busy to participate. All are welcome!)
SIGN UP in the FOYER for an in-person meeting or pull a tab from the list on the right to arrange a ZOOM or phone meeting