Session 1 – The Search for Happiness 

 

Part 1

What are your happiest memories from childhood?

What part of the world did you grow up in and what was it like?

Did you believe in God and pray when you were growing up?

 

Part 2

What is happiness? Is it possible to find?

What gets in the way of human happiness?

If you knew the world was going to end in one hour, what would you do?

 

Part 3

What helps you to relax and de-stress?

Do you think the internet and smart-phones make life easier or harder for people today?

How does your Christian faith help you to keep things in perspective?

 

Session 2 – The Existence of God 

 

Part 1

What religious traditions do you remember from growing up? How were they passed on?

What are your religious beliefs today?

Do you know people from different religious backgrounds? Which ones?

 

Part 2

Why do you personally believe in God (on not!)?

If you are questioned about your belief in God, do you feel confident enough to answer?

What advice would you give to a person who says they would like to believe in God?

 

Part 3

Which person has had the greatest influence on your faith?

How does your belief in God affect your life?

How do you think the Catholic Church can help people come to know God?

 

Session 3 – A God who speaks. 

 

Part 1

How has your image of God changed over time?

Does this image influence your relationship with him?

What gives you meaning and purpose in life? What motivates you?

 

Part 2

Have you experienced moments when you felt God was speaking to you in some way?

How have these moments affected your life or your relationship with God?

What helps you to be more open to God?

 

Part 3

What do you find attractive about the person of Jesus? What inspires you about him?

What has helped you to know and follow Jesus?

Do you think it is possible to have a personal relationship with Jesus, and if so, how do you think you could develop this?

 

Session 4 – Who is Jesus? 

 

Part 1

Why is trust an important feature in any relationship?

What happens if we lack trust?

How do we show trust or lack of trust in Jesus in daily life?

 

Part 2

How can Jesus’s example change our lives?

What have you learnt from him in the bible or in prayer?

What examples of Christian service have you seen in the lives of others?

 

Part 3

When we say ‘Yes’ to God what are the implications for us?

Have you ever taken a “step of faith”? How did it feel and what were the results for you – positive or negative?

Do you think there is a difference between “faith” and “belief” and “trust”?

 

Session 5 – The Holy Spirit and the Church 

 

Part 1

What have you learnt about the Holy Spirit over the years?

How can we receive and know the Holy Spirit?

Why are we sometimes reluctant to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives?

 

Part 2

What is your own experience of belonging to the Church?

What happens when we try to be a Christian alone?

Why is the Church “for sinners”? Would you prefer a Church for perfect people?

 

Part 3

How does your experience at Church on Sundays help you to live your Christian faith?

What are your favourite Christian signs or symbols?

How have the sacraments helped you in your own life?

 

Session 6 – The Bible  

 

Part 1

How did you learn about the bible when you were growing up?

How do you see the Bible today? What does it mean to you?

What’s your experience of listening to the bible readings at Mass? How have they helped you?

 

Part 2

Which bible passages or stories have inspired you the most?

What makes it difficult for you to read and enjoy the bible?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to read the bible more?

 

Part 3

Have you ever listened to a bible passage and felt God was saying something to you personally?

Has reading or hearing the bible ever made you change the way you live?

Do you know other Christians who read and pray with the bible? How do they use it?

 

Session 7 – The Gift of Faith 

 

Part 1

What has helped you to believe in Jesus and put your trust in him?

If you truly believe Jesus is Son of God, what how does this affect your life?

If you have faith in Jesus, what helps you to make that relationship stronger and more personal?

 

Part 2

Have you ever struggled with your faith or had doubts?

In times of difficulty, what has helped you to strengthen your faith?

If you are struggling with moral questions, how can your faith help you to find the right way forward?

 

Part 3

When you have to make important decisions, how can prayer and the Holy Spirit help you?

When you are making big decisions, have you ever found it helpful to get advice from another Christian?

How could you allow God to be more involved in the decisions and choices in your life?

 

Session 8 – The Power of Prayer 

 

Part 1

Why is it hard to set aside some regular time for prayer?

When you pray, who do you address your prayer to? Why?

Why is prayer important to you?

 

Part 2

Jesus tells us “Ask, and it will be given to you”.  What do you do when God doesn’t seem to answer your prayers?

How do you make connections between your prayer and your everyday life?

Do you like having times of silence in prayer or do you find this difficult?

 

Part 3

What is your favourite way of praying? Why does this way of praying suit you?

How would you advise someone who wants to start praying?

What gets in the way of prayer?

 

Session 9 – Finding True Freedom 

 

Part 1

What has formed your conscience and the values you have?

How do you think Christians can inform their conscience and where do you think they should look for guidance?

Have you ever been in a situation when you have been afraid to speak out about your beliefs and values?

 

Part 2

When making important decisions, how can we allow the Holy Spirit to help us discover the best way forward?

Who are the people in your life you would confide in if you needed help to make a decision?

Do you look to the scriptures and the teachings of the Church for guidance when making important decisions? If so, can you give an example of how you do this?

 

Part 3

How has your Christian faith given you a sense of purpose or meaning?

What difference does it make to know that you are loved by God?

What do you think about the idea that God wants you to become a saint?

 

Session 10 – The Meaning of Love 

 

Part 1

Can you think of any bible passages or stories that speak about the love of God?

What are some of the practical ways in which we can show Jesus’s love to others?

What stops us from receiving God’s love and sharing it with others?

 

Part 2

Are there limits to loving? Do you think it is possible, and wise, to love someone who has hurt you?

Why do you think Jesus reached out to the poor, the sick and the most vulnerable in society?

What are the implications of this for us as Catholic Christians?

 

Part 3

Have you ever had a profound experience of the presence and love of God? Can you describe it?

What impact did it have on your life or on the lives of others?

How can the Church help us to know and share God’s love?

 

Session 11 – The Light of Christ 

 

Part 1

What does the Creed mean to you as a Catholic Christian?

How can the central beliefs of the Catholic faith affect you and your lifestyle?

Is there a particular phrase from the Creed that strikes you, or one that you would like to know more about?

 

Part 2

Can you recall any passages from the bible about “light”? How do they help us to understand our mission as Christians?

Do you remember any bible passages about the Resurrection of Jesus? Why are they important for us as Christians?

What are your memories of Easter services at Church?

 

Part 3

When have you felt closest to God?

What does the act of making the sign of the Cross mean to you?

Christians believe in the Trinity: one God in three Persons, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. What difference does this make to your faith as a Christian?

 

Session 12 – Creation, Fall, Salvation 

 

Part 1

Can you remember a time when you were struck by the beauty of Creation?

What can we do as individuals to take greater care of God’s creation?

What can we do as a Church and in society to take greater care of God’s creation?

 

Part 2

What signs do you see that human life is “fallen” or “broken” because of the tragedy of sin?

Do you know anybody who has experienced suffering, yet has somehow come through it?

Can you think of any biblical figures or saints who have worked through suffering with God’s help?

 

Part 3

What makes you realise that you need a Saviour?

What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is our Saviour?

What has helped you strengthen your faith in Jesus?

 

Session 13 – The Community of the Church 

 

Part 1

What led you to become a Christian or to commit to your faith as an adult?

What is your experience of belonging to a Church?

What are the different ways that people can contribute to the life of their parish community?

 

Part 2

What different Christian churches or denominations have you come across? What are the differences between them? What special gifts or characteristics does each one have?

What do you think makes the Catholic Church special?

What parts of Catholic history and tradition are you most proud of?

 

Part 3

How has belonging to the Church helped you in your life?

What are the strengths of your local parish?

As a member of the Church, what practical actions could you take to make other people welcome?

 

Session 14 – The Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation 

 

Part 1

What do you remember about your First Confession and First Communion?

How have the sacraments helped you in your own life?

What is the most powerful religious service you have experienced and why?

 

Part 2

What difference does it make, knowing that you have been baptised and that you are a Christian?

What makes it hard for you to believe and to live your Christian faith?

If you could change one thing about yourself, with God’s help, what would it be?

 

Part 3

What do you remember about your own confirmation? What difference did it make for you?

What part does the Holy Spirit play in your life and faith? Do you pray to (or for) the Holy Spirit?

Can you think of any opportunities you have had to witness and speak about your Christian faith with others?

 

Session 15 – The Holy Eucharist 

 

Part 1

What is your experience of going to Mass over the years?

Which parts of the Mass do you find most interesting or helpful?

What would you say to someone who said “What’s the point of going to church on Sundays?”

 

Part 2

When are the times that you feel closest to God in the Mass?

What do you think about the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist? Do you find it easy or hard to believe? What difference does it make to your life and faith?

How can we honour the Real Presence of Jesus at the Mass? How could we be more reverent and show our love for him at Mass, as individuals and as a community?

 

Part 3

If you discovered that someone had died to save your life, what difference would it make?

What do you think about the idea that Jesus offered his life on the Cross to take away our sins and bring us salvation?

When we come to Mass, what helps us to know that this is truly a sacrifice that unites us with the Cross of Jesus? What difference does this truth make to our lives?

 

Session 16 – Forgiveness, Healing and Mission 

 

Part 1

What does forgiveness mean to you in general? Can you give some examples? (Without being too personal)

Why is it hard to overcome our sins and bad habits? What can help us? (Without giving too much personal detail)

What positive experiences have you had of going to confession? What makes it difficult to go? (Please don’t share your actual sins)

 

Part 2

When someone is sick, what kind of support do they most need? As a Christian community, how do you think we can reach out more to help the sick?

Do you have any experiences of healing, for you or for others, whether physical or psychological or spiritual?

Have you ever been present when someone is receiving the Sacrament of the Sick? What struck you?

 

Part 3

What memories do you have of people sharing their Christian faith in any way with you?

Do other people know you are Christian? Is your faith ‘visible’ to others in any way?

How, practically, could you share your own faith with others? What makes it difficult?

 

Session 17 – The Christian Vocations 

 

Part 1

Have you ever felt called or inspired to do something?

Do you think you have found your lifelong vocation or are you still searching for it? What helps you to live your vocation today?

What has helped you to know God’s will in your life? What ‘signs’ spoke to you along the way? Where did you look for guidance?

 

Part 2

What things help to make a good marriage and a happy family? What can make family life difficult? What can help families rediscover healing and peace again?

Can you think of any couples who have been a good example of marriage for you and why?

Many families struggle and feel isolated. What could your parish community do to support married couples and families more?

 

Part 3

Think of any priests or religious sisters you have known. What makes their lives special? What has inspired you about their lives?

What could your parish community do to support and encourage your local priests?

Why do you think priestly and religious vocations are very low in many countries? What could we do to encourage them?

 

Session 18 – The Social Teaching of the Church 

 

Part 1

Who are the most caring and compassionate people you have known and why?

How would you explain the term “sanctity of life” to someone who does not know it?

Are there ways that human dignity is threatened in our society today? What examples can you share of people working to defend the dignity and rights of others?

 

Part 2

What do you need to build a good society? What values or social structures or laws are most important?

Why does our Catholic Social Teaching place such a large emphasis on how we interact with the environment? What can we do as a church community to care for the environment?

Do you think Christianity requires you to be more “left wing” or “right wing”, or can Christians have different opinions about these political issues?

 

Part 3

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” and yet Pilate said to him “What is truth?” Why is truth so important?

Do you think you should always tell the truth?

Have you ever felt called to follow your conscience, even when it was difficult? (But without sharing anything too personal)

 

Session 19 – How to Pray 

 

Part 1

How did you learn to pray when you were growing up?

What types of prayer have you tried? What type have you found most helpful?

What types of prayer have you tried but don’t suit you? What types of prayer would you like to try?

 

Part 2

Have your prayers ever been answered?

Do you remember any passages from the bible that speak about prayer? What can we learn from them?

What’s your experience of reading or praying with the bible?

 

Part 3

What advice would you give someone who wanted to start praying?

What gets in the way of prayer? Why is it hard? Why do you think that people sometimes stop praying?

A wise Christian said: “Pray as you can, not as you can’t”. What do you think this means and how can it help us?

 

Session 20 – Mary and the Hope of Heaven 

 

Part 1

Do you think it’s hard for people to talk about death today? What customs help people to face death and to grieve properly?

What difference does it make for someone to know that there is life after death?

What difference does it make to know that we face God’s judgment after death? What difference does it make to know that we have the hope of eternal life with Him?

 

Part 2

Who is your favourite saint and why?

Can you share anything about local saints from your area or the patron saints of your parish or countries of birth?

What do you think of the idea that God is calling you to be a saint? What can you do about it?!

 

Part 3

If you think about heaven, how do you imagine it to be?

What does the Virgin Mary mean to you personally? How do you relate to her? What has helped you get to know her?

What do you know about the rosary? Have you found it helpful to pray the rosary?