Continuing to Learn our Faith as Adults

I’m sort of a convert to the Catholic faith. I was baptized Catholic, but never raised in the Church.

As an adult, I connected with more and more Catholic people and went though private instructions with a priest before going through Conformation in my early twenties.

It’s been almost 20 years since I found my way to the Church I love. I’m still amazed at the amount of things that I continue to discover along the way. I’m still learning and growing in my faith, every day.

In today’s world, we’re blessed to have an amazing array of resources available to help us on our faith journey.

1. A Good Catholic Bible

My personal Bible looks like it’s taken a beating. I need to upgrade, but I’m having a hard time find one that meets my criteria. I’d love one in large print, with plenty of room to write in the margins.

2. Catholic Books

I have a giant bookshelf full of Catholic books I recommend, but I’m working on something a little different this winter.

During the Year of Faith, I’m working my way through a free series from Catholic Home Study Service. Right now, I’m half way through We Worship – A look at the Mass. These books are a wonderful way to learn and will serve as a resource for my family for years to come.

Don’t forget to add the Catechism to your shelf. I actually have two

3. Learning by Listening

With many small children in the house, it’s sometimes easier for me to listen to a program instead of reading. I can fire up my iPod and hear Catholic speakers while I’m folding laundry or washing dishes.

I’m a huge fan of Catholic Radio programs such as Ave Maria Radio, Immaculate Heart Radio and EWTN. We even have a Catholic radio station in my area.

If you don’t want to be tied to a radio schedule, you can always check out podcasts. You’ll often find me listening to Father John Riccardo. I’m also a huge fan of Raymond Arroyo’s World Over Live podcast,which keeps me up to date on current events affecting the Church.

For the cost of shipping, you can pick up CDs from Catholic companies such as The Mary Foundation. You can download the talks for free, then order CDs to leave in the gathering space of your church.

Lighthouse Catholic Media even has a CD or MP3 of the Month club, making it easy for you to add to your

4. Social Media

I follow my local parish on their website, along with their Facebook page. I often peruse the websites or online bulletins of other Catholic Churches in my area to be aware of dinners, talks, and retreats.

5. Talk to Your Leaders

Our priests, deacons and religious are very busy, but will take time to answer any questions you may have for them. Make out a list, ask for an appointment, or shoot them an email. I interviewed my priest and deacon and loved finding the answers to questions I’d had for years.

7. Video

Check out the video archive at Word on Fire, Salt & Light TV, or the YouTube videos of Fr. Roderick (founder and CEO of SQPN).

6. Blogs and Online Forums

Connect with other Catholics in real life, as well as online. I’ll soon be heading to Peoria, IL, to meet up with my friend Lisa Schmidt from The Practicing Catholic. We met via the Catholic blog world and forged a friendship on Twitter.

Meeting up with other Catholic women, whether it’s via email or a a real live coffee refreshes my soul. It’s a tangible reminder that I’m not alone in my quest to live my faith.

If you’re involved in social media, you can easily ‘meet’ other Catholic women via blogs, Facebook, or Twitter. I’ve even seen a strong Catholic presence on Pinterest.

Do you have other tips for learning and growing in your faith?

Dianna Kennedy

Dianna Kennedy is the newly minted mother of five, including a college freshman, a precocious first grader, identical twin boys, and a newly walking toddler. You'll find her sharing her stories at The Kennedy Adventures. You can connect with her on Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.