Are you curious or intrigued about the Catholic Church or God? Perhaps you have lots of questions. Do you want to pray but don’t know how? Maybe you have decided to follow God but are not sure where to begin. Are you considering coming along to our Church? Then Encounter may be the stage you’re at.
Have a look through the topics to see what strikes you.
Do you already know God? Do you want to go deeper in your relationship with God? Jesus calls us to share in our journey of faith with other members of his family, here you can find other Christian followers of God. This stage is where you are ready to commit to a deeper transformation as a follower of Jesus inside His Church.
Have a look through the different topics below.
Jesus calls His followers to serve Him and others. This can be done through many different ways and call be unique to you. This stage is normally for those who are committed to Jesus and want to find a way to share the Good News through serving others.
If you’re interested in Catholicism or Faith then these resources are a great place to begin. They are videos or blog posts that are short so you’ll have them watched/read with a cuppa.
Video – Why Be Catholic and Not Just Christian
Videos – Sycamore – Introductory videos to Catholicism. Free until August 2020.
Video – The Resurrection of Jesus changes everything
Video – How Beauty Opens the Heart to God
Video – Joy, Humour and the Incarnation
Video – Religion is More Than Personal Taste
Video – Why What You Believe Matters
Video – The Danger of Toying with Religion
Book – David Scott – The Catholic Passion
Some resources which will introduce you to the Mass. These are short reads or short videos.
Video – The Real Presence Creates Communion
Video – The Closest Thing to Heaven
Video – Why Am I Catholic? The Eucharist
Video – Developing a Hunger for the Eucharist
Video – Learning to Experience God at Mass
Video – Coming to Belief in the Eucharist
Resources for introducing you to prayer. These are short videos or short reads.
Video – Everyone Prays
Video – How do we know we are encountering God?
Book – Peter Kreeft – Prayer for Beginners
These resources are on the Saints and other inspiring role models of faith. You’ll be encouraged after reading/watching.
Blog Post – What is a Saint?
Podcast – Benedictine Spirituality
Video – St Ambrose Baptises St Augustine
Introductory resources on the Bible. Watch or read one of these short resources.
Video – Why Catholics Need to Read the Bible
Video – Reading the Bible as a Catholic
Book – Scott Hahn – Scripture Matters
These resources are a good place to begin for understanding Catholicism from an Atheistic viewpoint.
Video – I Was an Atheist
Video – I was an Atheist, plain and simple
Video – An Atheist Goes to an Adoration Chapel
Blog Post – Catholic to Atheist to Catholic
Blog Post – Truth Led Me to Catholicism
These resources are accounts of conversions to Catholicism. Perhaps some of them will chime with your story.
Video – Searching for Authority
Video – The Impact of Conversion
Resources that are a good starting point for exploring the different Sacraments.
Video – God works through the Sacraments
Eucharist: Pope Francis – The Eucharist satisfies our every hunger
Marriage: Video – Discerning Marriage
Video – The Sacrament of Marriage
Confession: Video – Confession
Video – A Simple Explanation of how it works – Confession
Video – The Healing Power of Confession
Video – The Beauty of Confession
Holy Orders: Video – I will Follow
These classics will give you a good understanding of the Catholic worldview:
Film – I Confess
Film – Scarlet and the Black
Film – The Mission
Film – A Man for All Seasons
Here are some resources for helping to delve into the Catholic Teaching on Mary. They are short videos or blog posts.
Video – The World’s First Love
Video – Marys Yes Changed the World
Video – Mary, Christ’s Greatest Masterpiece
Video – Mary, the Mother of God
Video – Overcoming Fears About Mary
Video – Mary as Queen of Heaven
The resources you’ll find on these tabs are for those who want more answers and depth to a different aspect of faith.
Video – The Shocking Life of Jesus
Video – Your Life Matters
Blog Post – 3 Reasons Why You Should Be Catholic
Books – Bishop Robert Barron – Catholicism (also available in Video form); Vibrant Paradoxes; Seeds of the Word
Book – Scott Hahn – Signs of Life
Book – Trent Horn – Why We’re Catholic
Book – Peter Kreeft – The God Who Loves You
Book – C S Lewis – Mere Christianity
Book – Brandon Vogt – Why I Am Catholic
Here are some Resources to go deeper on the topic of the Mass.
Video – Where is The Mass in the Bible
Book – Christopher Carstens – A Devotional Journey into the Mass
Book – Scott Hahn – The Lamb’s Supper
Book – Edward Sri – A Biblical Walk through the Mass
Book – Martin Von Cochem – Incredible Catholic Mass
Resources for introducing you to prayer:
Video – Prayer
Blog Post – Prayer
Blog Post – Mental Prayer
Blog Post – Learning How to Pray
Podcast – Anthony Lilles – Beginning to Pray
Podcast – Fr Timothy Gallager – Discernment
Book – Fr Timothy Gallagher – An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer
Book – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – The Saints Show Us How to Pray
Book – Fr John Burns – Lift Up Your Heart
These books are on the Saints and other inspiring role models of faith:
Webpage – St Benedict
Blog Post – Saint of the gutters
Book – Dorothy Day – The Long Loneliness
Book – Thomas Merton – The Seven Storey Mountain
Book – Malcom Muggeridge – Something Beautiful for God
Book – Fulton Sheen – Treasure in Clay
Book – Sigrid Undset – Catherine of Siena
Introductory books on the Bible.
Video – Praying with Scripture
Book – Jeff Cavins – Walking with God
Book – Scott Hahn – The Father Who Keeps His Promises
Book – Gary Michuta – Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger
Book – Mark Shea – Making Senses Out of Scripture
Book – Edward Sri – The Bible Compass
Here are some short videos of people who converted to Catholicism from Atheism
Book – Atheist to Catholic – Stories of Conversion
Book – Sr Theresa Aletheia Noble – The Prodigal You Love
Book – Holly Ordway – Not God’s Type
Book – Edward Sri – Who am I to Judge?
These Books are accounts of conversions to Catholicism. Perhaps some of them will chime with your story.
Study – Bishop Robert Barron – Conversion Study
Book – Don Calloway – No Turning Back
Book – Scott Hahn – Rome Sweet Rome
Book – Sally Read – Night’s Bright Darkness
Book – Supposed by Truth Series (editor: Patrick Madrid)
Books that are a good starting point for exploring the different Sacraments.
Baptism: Video – Baptism
Confession:
Marriage: Book – Fulton Sheen – Three to Get Married
Eucharist: Study – Bishop Robert Barron – Eucharist Study
Holy Orders: Video – Priesthood
Video – Discerning God’s call
Book – Scott Hahn – Many are Called
Book – Robert Hugh Benson – Come Rack! Come Rope!
These classics will give you a good understanding of the Catholic worldview:
Poems – Collection of Catholic Poems
Book – Evelyn Waugh – Brideshead Revisited
Website – Theology at Home
Books for helping to delve into the Catholic Teaching on Mary.
Video – Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant
Video – The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Blog Post – Why Catholics Believe in the Immaculate Conception
Books – Don Calloway – 10 Wonders of the Rosary; How to Pray the Rosary
Book – Scott Hahn – Hail Holy Queen
Book – Edward Sri – Walking with Mary; Rethinking Mary
If you would like to go deeper in your faith then these resources are for you:
Video – What Are We to Make of Jesus Christ?
Video – What’s so great about being Catholic?
Book – Fr Francis Ripley – This is the Faith
Book – Frank Sheed – Theology for Beginners; Theology and Sanity
Book – Fulton Sheen – Life of Christ
Book – Peter Kreeft – Catholic Christianity
Here are some resources to help you dive deep into the Mass.
Video – Jesus & the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist
Video – The Eucharist made me Catholic
Video – The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
Video – The Fourth Cup
Resources for introducing you to prayer:
Video – The Metaphysics of Prayer
Video – Understanding the Our Father
Video – Praying the Liturgy of the Hours
Video – The Gift of Imagination led
Book – Fr Timothy Gallagher – An Ignatian Introduction to Prayer
Book – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – The Saints Show Us How to Pray
Book – Fr John Burns – Lift Up Your Heart
These books are on the Saints and other inspiring role models of faith:
Video – Becoming a Saint
Video – All or Nothing
Article – John Paul 2nd
Book – Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – The Fathers
Book – G K Chesterton – St Francis of Assisi
Book – G K Chesterton – St Thomas Aquinas
Book – St Augustine – Confessions
Introductory books on the Bible.
Video – How to Read the Bible
Podcast – Scott Hahn – Biblical Study
Book – Jeff Cavins – Walking with God
Book – Scott Hahn – The Father Who Keeps His Promises
Book – Gary Michuta – Why Catholic Bibles are Bigger
Book – Mark Shea – Making Senses Out of Scripture
Book – Edward Sri – The Bible Compass
Website – St Paul Centre
Here are some short videos of people who converted to Catholicism from Atheism
Video – Atheism Roundtable
Video – Atheism and Catholicism
Video – An Atheist Academic Lays Down Her Arms
Book – Trent Horn – Answering Atheism
Book – Benjamin Wiker – Answering the New Atheism
Blog – Strange Notions – An website for Atheist and Christian Dialogue
These Books are accounts of conversions to Catholicism. Perhaps some of them will chime with your story.
Book – Sohrad Ahmari – From Fire By Water
Book – Virgitta & Ulf Ekman – The Great Discovery
Book – Jennifer Fulwiler – Something Other Than God
Book – Joseph Pearce – Literary Converts
Book – Mark Shea – By What Authority
Books that are a good starting point for exploring the different Sacraments.
Marriage: Book – Carl Anderson – Called to Love
Eucharist: Book – Book – Brant Pitre – Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist
Holy Orders: Video – Discerning God’s Will
Confession: Video – The Healing Power of Confession, Part One, Two, Three
These classics will give you a good understanding of the Catholic worldview:
Book – Dante Alighieri – The Divine Comedy
Book – Bruce Marshall – All Glorious Within
Book – Evelyn Waugh – Brideshead Revisited
Audio Books – Spiritual Classics
Books for helping to delve into the Catholic Teaching on Mary.
Video – Scripture and the Mystery of Mary
Video – Mary, the Amazing Work of God
Video – Mary, the Queen Mother
Book – Tim Staples – Behold Your Mother
Below are the times when the Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered in the Parish. If you have been away from the Sacrament for some time and you’re feeling anxious, just let the priest know and they will guide you. If you would prefer, because you’ve been away, you can arrange to meet with a priest outside of the Parish Confession times. Just fill in the form below and we will be in touch.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available in the Church at the following times:
Thursday
Saturday
Saturday
7:45 – 8:15 PM
10:00 – 11:00 AM
4:00 – 5:00 PM