Religious Education for Adults

For detailed information on ministry schedules, religious education and other parish events please visit the Parish Office on the Web.

Adult Catechesis Educational opportunities are offered that address Church teachings, the sacraments, and Christian morality. Join us at the Catholic Faith Series on Tuesdays from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. English Contact: Margaret McDermott 713-789-1250 ext 232. Spanish Contact: Blanca Dolpher 713-789-1250 ext 231.

Christian Formation Commission The Christian Formation Commission fosters our parish commitment to "ongoing personal conversion through lifelong education, formation, and outreach." The commission is a consultative body that assists with visioning and planning for education ministries for all members of the parish.

Spirituality

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Offers individuals the opportunity for quiet prayer and reflection before the Blessed Sacrament.

Eucharistic Adoration Weekdays, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Asociacion de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Spanish) An association of men and women of the parish who encourage devotion to the Virgin Mary and promote help for the poor. Contact: Guadalupe and Sally Oveido.

Christus A weekly, citywide event for all 20- and 30-something young adults. Dynamic teaching, passionate praise and genuine fellowship. Wednesday night at 7:30 pm in the church. For more information call 832-723-1747 or visit www.christusonline.org

Doorway to Silence A centering prayer/meditation group which meets regularly at 10 AM-11:15, in room 202 every Wednesday. The purpose is to educate and support those interested in meditation. Our time consists of reading the next Sunday's scripture, silent prayer for 20 min. and then sharing our experience. We close with a spiritual reading. Contact: Elise Campana, 713 781 8764.

Groupo de Oracion (Spanish) The purpose of the group is to promote the prayer of praise to God, fortress to Christian life. The group meets every Saturday after 7:00 pm Mass from 8:30 to 10:00 pm in Room 121. Contact: Maria and Fernando Acevado.

Grupo Tuyo (Spanish) Men and women, ages 18 to 35, gather for ongoing activities including spiritual, social and sporting events. Contact: Paty Parada.

Little Rock Bible Study Small study/prayer groups gather weekly to share their growing understanding of the Word of God. Contact: Carlos and Diany Velez.

Rosary Ministry (Spanish) The Holy Rosary to the Virgin Mary is prayed in the Chapel every Saturday at 6:30 pm (before the Spanish mass) and every Tuesday at 6:30 pm (after the Spanish mass). We invite you to participate, and anyone who so desires, to lead a Mystery. Contact: Luisa Martinasso.

Small Groups & Steering Committee In a large parish, small faith communities provide an opportunity to meet other Catholics and develop supportive relationships as you grow together in faith. These groups meet on many varied schedules to provide multiple opportunities for involvement in the lives of busy adults. To see photos of the annual Pot Luck Dinner that is held for the small group members and leaders, visit the Photo Gallery page of this website, under Community Life.  For more information please contact the church office at 713-789-1250.

Spiritual Direction Spiritual Direction is the opportunity to reflect with a qualified spiritual director about your life, its events, and your relationship with God and others. Meetings are strictly confidential and are held on a regular basis.

While some spiritual directors may be trained pastoral or psychological counselors, problem solving or therapy is not the focus. Rather, the focus of a spiritual direction relationship is the directee's experience of God. The director helps the person to notice God's movement in prayer and in the circumstances and events of one's life.

Contemporary direction presumes that God communicates through ordinary human experience, and in that experience is found God's invitations, urgings and confirmations. A spiritual director is a companion on life's journey—listening, encouraging, challenging, praying with the directee, asking reflective questions and pointing out resources. They assist with resistances and roadblocks, helping the directee to come to breakthroughs in his or her relationship with God and its lived consequences.

A spiritual director may be especially helpful to someone seeking to develop a deeper relationship with God:

• when the search for God seems to be at a crossroads
• when one wants to explore new methods of prayer
• when prayer becomes difficult
• when one feels the need for help in discerning the call of the Spirit, or
• when one feels the need for a companion on the spiritual journey to walk with her or him and to listen.

“Spiritual direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director — the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul.” (Thomas Merton, Trappist monk)

Spiritual direction at St. Cyril's is provided as a ministry, at no charge. Current spiritual directors include Fr. Mario Arroyo, Diane Trees-Clay and Elise Campaña. Ray Viernes, who is currently training in the three-year Spiritual Direction Institute program of the Cenacle Retreat House, is also available to provide spiritual direction. Referrals can also be made to spiritual directors outside of the parish. Opportunities exist to meet one-on-one with trained spiritual directors on a schedule that you and the director determine together. Contact: Fred Clay 713.789.1250, ext. 226.

Summa For Spanish-speaking young adults. SUMMA will provide Christian formation as well as an environment of friendship and community building. The group meets in the church every Tuesday from 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm. For more information please join us in the church.

Women’s and Men’s Retreats Annual weekend retreats are offered at area centers, and in the parish. Watch for information in the Sunday bulletin.