Our popular Summer and Winter Forum programs offer Catholic adults and young adults an opportunity to learn and grow in a comfortable, familiar environment. We choose presenters from among pastors, pastoral leaders and academic experts on both the local and diocesan level. We ask them to address a variety of timely and important issues which shape the lives of adults and young adults in the Church and society today.
2025 Winter Forum programs will be conducted online via GoogleMeet.
A subscription is not necessary to participate on the GoogleMeet platform.
Use this link to join the discussion:
https://bit.ly/winter-forum-25
Our Summer and Winter Forum programs are made possible in part by a grant from the
Archbishop Kucera Center for Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Life at Loras College.
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What Did the Synod on Synodality Accomplish--and What Did It Leave Undone?
Presented by Matthew Shadle
In October Catholic bishops and lay people from throughout the world met in Rome to conclude a three-year process of consultation which began at the parish level and advanced through national, regional and universal discussions. This "synodal process" was designed to identify the concerns and needs which the Church must address in order to be more effective in its mission of evangelization to the world. Pope Francis said the process, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will help the church become "a church “that listens to our brothers and sisters speak of their hopes and the crises of faith present in difference parts of the world.” In this presentation, Matthew Shadle will discuss what the Synod accomplished and how it might shape the future of the church.
> Read :"10 Key Questions and Answers About the Synod's Final Document".
> Read the final Synod document here.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian known for his opposition to National Socialism and his involvement in the Confessing Church, which resisted the nazification of German Protestantism. He was executed in 1945 for his role in a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler and is recognized for his influential writings on Christianity's role in the secular world. There is a widespread debate among Bonhoeffer scholars about whether we have reached a new "Bonhoeffer moment" with the rise of nationalist and popularist politics in Europe and the United States. In this presentation Martin Lohrman and Jacob Kohlhaas will discuss Bonhoeffer's legacy and what lessons we might learn that are applicable to current circumstances.
> Read "Both Right and Left Claim Bonhoeffer--His Ideas Fit Neither".
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According to some observers, the 2024 election was an historic turning point which will reshape both political parties and the political future of the country. How permanent are the shifting trends which shaped the election? How do they compare with previous historic moments in American history? How significant are defections from the traditional Democratic base among white males, Latinos, and white Catholics? Was inflation the key factor? In short, how bizarre was the 2024 election? In this presentation David Cochran will give a political scientist's perspective on the recent election and discuss the current state of American politics in light of principles articulated by the Catholic Church in its social doctrine.
> Read David Cochran's article "Making Sense of the Election" in Commonweal.
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The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo are committed to providing formation, education and spiritual growth opportunities for adults of all ages.
We value the individual's life experience, respect the diversity of personal convictions, and welcome the wisdom of every participant.
We will never intentionally embarrass or offend participants.
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For more information contact:
Director of Adult Faith Formation • 1425 Kimball Ave. Waterloo IA 50702
Phone: 319-234-0498 • Email: DBQwcaf@dbqarch.org
[Last Update 12.26.24]