Expert: Griff Ruby - 11/21/2007

Question
QUESTION: I have two topics to be discussed during a young adult group retreat.

1) Jesus really matters! Personal relationship with Jesus and stories of various saints including Mother Theresa

2) The Catholic Church needs you! Understanding of the church as people of God; vibrant, energetic and dynamic church for young people

I’d like to have 5 or 6 profound discussion questions per each topic.    Through the questions, I want them to learn and think more about the topics.

I appreciate your help in advance.


ANSWER: 1A)  If following God cost everything you had and if there was no support or vindication in this life to indicate that God was with you, would you remain with God, and if so, why?

1B)  What is it that makes a saint truly a saint?

1C)  Why are so many who think they are praying so casual and familiar with God in a way that the great saints never were?

1D)  What can we learn from how all the great saints prayed?

1E)  Many of the great saints lived lives of penance and suffering and sacrifice, giving up fortunes, fame, prominence, and so many other basic things in their dedication to God.  What sort of sacrifices can you make?

2A)  All the great saints were trained and formed by the Church in the days of Latin Masses, strict discipline, a clear chain of command, and very old fashioned values not popular in the world today.  How might such an environment have contributed to their saintly formation?

2B)  In the Great Chastisement, long prophesied by various saints, mystics, and seers, nearly all of the members of the Church lose their way including hierarchical members, leaving only a very small remnant who are faithful.  How ought someone who truly loves the Church respond in such a time, join the remnant or go with the flow, and why?

2C)  If people really believed in something, they would truly act as if it were so; when they do not so act, how is anyone supposed to take the Faith seriously when its proponents act as if it weren't true?

2D)  What would happen if believers all each simply did what they each believed God was leading them to do, as instead of following at least some degree of order and command and obedience to authority?

2E)  What would happen to Christianity if there were no Church?

Hope this helps, God bless!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I really appreciate your great input.  I just developed another and last topic for YAG retreat, and would like to ask you 4~6 of profound discussion questions.

The ideal topic is “Christian life of young adults as 1.5 or second generations of immigrants to US”.     Sometimes, young adults get lost due to the confusions with their identity in the US.   We often find that some of them don't belong anywhere (neither their motherland society nor American society).   I think it is crucial to cover who they are and where they belong as Christians.   It might be a tough topic, but will give a great time to think about.

If you give me 4~6 of profound discussion questions, it will be greatly appreciated.


Answer
3A)  What is that language of Faith that all true Christians speak, regardless of their different languages and cultures from which they come?

3B)  What is it about the prosperity (and other influences) of America that make it difficult for persons (young or otherwise) from other countries to hang on to a serious practice of their Faith?

3C)  What would be the advantages and disadvantages of choosing to live in a part of town where there are many from your same country?

3D)  If someone coming to this country chooses to immerse themselves in the American culture, practically disowning their own former culture, is there any realistic way to do this without also disowning the Faith one might have held in their native culture?

3E)  Might there be any hindrances to the Faith of those who choose to adhere to their native culture and live around like nationality/culture, and if so how might these challenges be overcome without having to distance oneself from their native culture?