The WATCH Weekend

We Are The CHurch is a weekend program which begins on Friday evening and ends on Sunday afternoon.

The weekend is presented by a team consisting of 16 people. The team prepares for the weekend by meeting for six weeks prior to the weekend. Seven talks are given by lay people which include:

1. self
2. study
3. prayer
4. action
5. reconciliation
6. community sharing
6. trinity

Two talks are given by clergy which deal with God's Grace and Eucharist. All focus on the renewal and spirituality of the individual, the importance of the Sacraments, Community importance - especially parish involvement and a solid prayer life. In this stress free

atmosphere, there are also fulfilled activities, private time for meditation and reflection, Worship services (Mass, Rosary, morning prayer, Adoration & Bible enthronement) and time for making new friends. Participants sit with an assigned group for the weekend at a table and participate in group dynamics.

Friday - Find and Love Yourself
WATCH is based on the Cross talking about both the vertical and the horizontal part of the Cross and how each part is necessary and impacts our lives. Friday night begins talking about the vertical portion of the Cross - Our relationship to God. The first part deals with self. It challenges the participants to look at what they are, how they may need to change them, and what they need to let go in their lives in order to strengthen their relationship with God and others. After introductions, the first talk, Who Am I? is given by a lay person. It is followed by a paralitergy on "Letting Go" which is done in the Church.

Saturday - Finding Strengthening Your Relationship with God
Saturday morning begins with the celebration of Mass and a Bible enthronement. Saturday, the vertical aspect of the Cross is again stressed. The first talk Saturday is given by a clergy and deals with God's Grace. It is the cornerstone for the day. The next four talks: Study, Prayer, Action and Reconciliation are given by lay people. They help to give the participants the "tools" to help them strengthen their relationship with God. During the day, reflection time is provided through prayer, meditation, paraliturgies, and personal sharing with others at the participants' tables.

Sunday - Importance, Support and Sharing in Community
Sunday morning begins with morning prayer in the chapel. The horizontal aspect of the cross - Christ reaching out to us and us reaching out to others - is stressed on this day. The Trinity/Sharing talk and the Eucharist talk are given and the final talk is given by the leader which deals with community and sharing groups. Following the Eucharist talk, the participants attend Mass at one of the scheduled Masses. Sunday is meant to show the importance of sharing, loving, caring, community and the participants are challenged to an active member of the parish.

Small Sharing Groups

The concept and importance of sharing groups is introduced and the participants are encouraged to routinely meet in small sharing groups following the weekend to continue their WATCH experience. A sharing group card is given to each person and the talk groups spend time sharing the elements of the card with each other. One of the most important elements of the WATCH program is sharing group following the weekend. A closing ceremony is held in which the participants are presented a packet which includes support letters from people of the parish, a study book, "Coming Down the Mountain" and a WATCH cross. A follow-up meeting is held on the Tuesday following the weekend so that participants can share their experience of the weekend with each other and again the importance of the sharing groups is stressed.