Faith Formation

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis said, “a sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president no matter how you voted, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger, as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger - the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively

Help Online, from Around the World

Ten years ago, Andy Alexander, S.J., and Maureen McCann Waldron created the Online Ministries web site, through the Collaborative Ministry Office of Creighton University. "While building a ministry online, initially for our own faculty and staff at Creighton, we discovered that the World Wide Web could be a tremendous way to provide support for the lives of busy contemplatives in action".

Access 10 of their favorite online partners in ministry from around the world directly below

Sacred Space

Center for Liturgy Sunday Web Page

Pray-as-you-go: The English Jesuits

Orientations for Spiritual Growth: Canadian Jesuits

Daily Prayer Online: The Australian Jesuits

The Daily Word of God: The Jesuits of Singapore

Jesuit Saints and Martyrs: The Jesuits of Singapore

Universalis: The Liturgy of the Hours Online

Daily Reflections:
By Creighton Univ. staff and faculty

Daily Reflections:
By Creighton Univ. students

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer:

Online Retreat for Busy People

Audio Retreats

The Apostleship of Prayer

Faith Formation Registration

Registration forms and letters for Faith Formation Programs were mailed to all registered members of our partnered parishes. If you are not a member of the parish and would like to participate in the programs, please contact our Director of Faith Formation, Mary Ann Zervas: 651/227-7669, ext. 311 or E-mail her here.

Beginner Faith Formation is for preschoolers (three years old by September 1, 2007) and Kindergarteners. Classes are during the 9:15 AM Mass of St. Thomas More's East Campus and in the St. Thomas More School.

Family Faith Formation is a home-based program for students in grades one through eight, which will provide families with a weekly curriculum to use at home as well a eight family gatherings a year, to share and celebrate as a community.

Liturgy of the Word for Children is a form of the Liturgy of the Word in a simpler version, proclaimed by a trained leader from a children's lectionary. It is for children in grades one to three within the 9:15 & 11:15 AM Mass at the East Campus and the 10:15 AM Mass at the West Campus of St. Thomas More Church. An actual experience of the Word of God takes place as children are led prayerfully to listen and to respond.