Catholic Student Organization

Spiritual Development:

 GIFT: Growing IN Faith Together

Purpose: To help one another grow spiritually; to support one another; to deepen participation in our faith community at the University of New Hampshire

Theology: GIFT groups give witness to our belief that God works in the center of everyday life.

Role of participants:

Simply pledge to be here, to listen, and to share your faith experience. Regular attendance is very important it is what helps us as a group to grow together. Please keep everything confidential.

Composed entirely of students, these groups of 6-8 people meet once a week/every other week in a casual manner to listen, support, and learn from each other as they share their experiences in their lives, and how it relates to their understandings of God, themselves, and the world.

Why have small faith communities?

• The earliest Christian communities were small Christian communities. They gathered together in people’s homes for table fellowship – presumably in much smaller gatherings than what we have today for Sunday Eucharist!
• It can be difficult to connect with such a large group like our Sunday liturgies. Certainly, large gatherings are not designed for the kind of personal sharing that is often necessary for going deeper in our faith and in our relationships.
• GIFT is based on a very simple theology. GIFT is based on the belief that God works in the center of our everyday lives, that God is always and everywhere present, and that we need only to seek God to find God.
• Jesus made some bold claims about God’s power and love for us.

“Amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20

• When we gather together with the intention of seeking God’s presence in our lives, we will find God.
• Intentional reflection helps to clarify beliefs and assumptions about God, yourself, and the world you live in .

Scripture Study: Leadership is available to students interested in developing a scripture study circle. Contact us at julie.tracy@comcast.net

Pastoral Counseling:Fr. Dan and Julie are available to listen and empower you to find the divine presence of God in your life. Drop by or call to connect.

RCIA: Inquiry for adults desiring to receive any of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist and/or Confirmation) is open and available to all students of the UNH community. Information sessions are being held on Tuesday at 7 PM at St. Thomas More during the month of September. Please contact Ann Kimball with further inquiries and/or questions.