While the materials that can be studied by a small group are as numerous and varied as the groups and individuals that comprise them, some materials simply “work better” for the average group of Catholic adults. Study groups should select materials which are:
· Faithful to the teaching of the Catholic Church
Because many groups are facilitated by a person who is not an expert in the materials, and group members may not be already solidly grounded in the essential teachings laid out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (a situation faced by many of today’s Catholic adults), it is best to stay with materials that are solidly in line with official magisterial teaching.
· Interesting and accessible to the group members
While the truth of Christ is essentially simple and accessible to all, the depth, breadth and richness of potential study topics is infinite. Choose material that is of interest to the particular members of the group and accessible to their current level of background knowledge.
· Structured into manageable sessions
Today’s busy adults often avoid participating if the time commitment seems too great. Materials which are structured into a manageable number of sessions result in greater participation. Six sessions of 1-2 hours each are often considered ideal.
· Mostly self-contained
Because today’s adults are so busy, the best materials for small group studies contain sufficient background material and citations from source documents to allow the group to study a topic without extensive outside research. However footnotes and references into official Church documents are highly desirable, and the group facilitator is encouraged to explore them as much as possible before leading the group.
Some materials which have been successfully used and which are recommended by the OEC are listed to the left on this page. Call the OEC (608-821-3160) for help starting a small group or selecting materials for study.