The Catechumenate is a year-long course in faith and spirituality for adults at Christ Church Cathedral, beginning on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, and we warmly invite you to take part! At the end of the Catechumenate, you'll have an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Baptism (for those who have never been baptized) or the Sacrament of Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church (for those coming to us from another tradition).

Catechumenate (pronounced cate-eh-CUE-men-it) is an ancient Christian tradition of preparation and teaching and welcome for newcomers. The word comes from Greek words meaning "teach by telling" and "learn by hearing," and ultimately from the word "echo." We have intentionally kept the ancient name here at Christ Church Cathedral to connect us with the pilgrimage and process that fellow Christians have followed for deeper spiritual inquiry from the earliest days of the Church.

Whether you're a newcomer to the Cathedral, or you've worshipped here all your life, the Catechumenate will guide you in developing or deepening your experience of God. The program is intended for:

• newcomers to the Church who have never been baptized,
• newcomers who have been members of another Christian community and are now considering calling Christ Church Cathedral and the Episcopal Church their home, and 
• longtime members of the Cathedral who would like a refresher in the basics of the faith as part of a reevaluation or renewal of their spiritual lives.

The Catechumenate is the foundation of our adult spiritual formation process for adults at Christ Church Cathedral and is an exploration of what it means to be a Christian in the Anglican and Episcopal traditions. If you've been seeking to deepen your faith, or to be better connected with others here at Christ Church Cathedral, or both, then the Catechumenate is right for you.

We'll spend two hours together each Tuesday evening (6:00-8:30 p.m.), beginning with dinner, and then asking some of life's deepest spiritual questions that matter the most. Dean Stephen Carlsen is looking forward to teaching many of our sessions (along with fellow members of our clergy team), and lay leaders from our congregation will serve as table hosts. You'll get to know your tablemates well, and develop connections in the Cathedral and make friends that will last you a lifetime.

Ready to learn more? Contact Ellen Shaughnessy at ellens@cccindy.org or 317-636-4577.