2025-2027 IMPACT Content Overview

Sessions will be held at St. Mary Catholic Church in Vinton. Retreats will be held at the Shalom Spirituality Center in Dubuque.

Year One (2025-2026)

September 6-7, 2025 (Retreat)
Topic: The Message of the Gospel
Location: Shalom Spirituality Center, Dubuque
IMPACT begins with a two-day retreat to reflect on the Gospel message at the center of our faith. Prayer, reflection, conversation, food and fun are a part of this weekend experience.

October 4, 2025
Topic: The Story of Salvation in Scripture
Critical to Christian discipleship is a well-grounded understanding of the story of salvation history as presented in the Bible and transmitted through the Catholic Church. This session explores the covenants between God and God’s people as told through the Old Testament and fulfilled in the New Testament in Jesus Christ.

November 8, 2025
Topic: The Life of Christ
As disciples, we are to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ. Our primary way of knowing Jesus is through the four Gospels, with each giving a different image of Christ. This session will focus on who Jesus is, addressing questions such as: What is the message of Jesus Christ? Why did Jesus live, die, and rise? How and why do we proclaim Him through our ministry?

December 6, 2025
Topic: The Holy Spirit
After Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to dwell within us and guide each of us and the Church "to all truth" (John 16:13). This session will help participants to get to know the Third Person of the Trinity and how he works in our lives as followers of Jesus.

January 10, 2026
Topic: The Church
Jesus founded the Church, his Body, to guide us in coming to know, love, and serve him on this earth, so that we can enter into eternal happiness with him in heaven. This session will look at the characteristics of the Church, especially what we proclaim in the Nicene Creed: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

February 7, 2026
Topic: Mary and the Saints
In this session, we'll explore the saints, especially the Blessed Virgin Mary, and how they are witnesses to us of our call to holiness and heaven. In particular, we will look at Catholic teachings and practices about Jesus' mother, why they are important to our understanding of Jesus, and how we can embrace Mary as our spiritual mother.

March 7, 2024
Topic: The Last Things
This session covers what have been traditionally called the Four Last Things, namely: Heaven, Hell, Death, and Judgment. We will unpack Catholic teachings on our eternal destiny, including seeking understanding of the often misunderstood doctrine of Purgatory. We will also talk about angels and demons.

April 11, 2026
Topic: The Sacraments of Initiation
At this session, we explore the sacraments through which God’s presence permeates and graces the world and our lives with love, compassion, forgiveness, beauty, truth, and order. In particular, we will focus on the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, the Eucharist, and Confirmation.

May 9, 2026
Topic: The Sacraments of Healing and Service
As we continue to delve into the sacraments, this session will focus on the Sacraments of Healing (Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation) and the Sacraments of Service (Marriage and Holy Orders). Having a sacramental worldview impacts our lives as Christian disciples in our homes, workplaces, parishes, and communities.

Year Two (2026-2027)

September 12-13, 2026 (Retreat)
Topic: Prayer and Discernment
The goal of the Christian life is union with God through Jesus Christ, which is also the longing of every human heart. This two-day retreat will explore God’s call for us to be in relationship with him and our response as disciples to develop a life of prayer that leads to closer union with God. This journey involves learning to listen to God, discern his will for our lives, and faithfully follow him. The retreat will include talks, time for prayer, discussion, and liturgies.

October 3, 2026
Topic: Principles of Catholic Morality
Jesus teaches us that the two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor. Through God's grace, we are called to live virtuous lives that radiate faith, hope, and love to the world. This session will provide an opportunity to reflect on the moral teachings of the Catholic Church, especially in light of our relationship with God.

November 7, 2026
Topic: Catholic Social Teaching 
This session will provide an overview of the basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching (often described as “the best kept secret of the Catholic faith”). How does the tradition of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) provide us with a vision of the human person, and help us to seek justice within society today? How can our values and commitments as Catholics be formed through the biblical themes and theological principles at work within CST?

December 5, 2026
Topic: Sexual Ethics
This session will build on the foundation set in the previous session, and will provide an opportunity to reflect on the Church's moral teachings, especially in light of our relationship with others (our neighbors). In particular, participants will have the opportunity to wrestle with some of the pressing moral issues in our society today regarding sexual ethics. The Theology of the Body, taught by Pope John Paul II will be the lens used to discuss issues related to marriage, the family, and sexuality.

January 9, 2027
Topic: Catholic Apologetics
1 Peter 3:15 says, "Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope." Apologetics refers to how we defend the teachings and practices of our Catholic faith. Having learned and experienced the teachings of our faith, this session will pivot towards application by helping participants clearly and charitably articulate and defend the teachings of the Church. 

February 6, 2027
Topic: Spiritual Gifts Discernment
Our gifts, talents, and charisms will be explored within the context of the mission of the Church. When we know and understand our charisms, we can participate more fully and joyfully to build up the kingdom of God.

March 6, 2027
Topic: Servant Leadership
How do we lead like Jesus? This session will help participants embrace servant leadership, especially through the lens of the Beatitudes, found at the beginning of Jesus' teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. It will provide the opportunity to reflect on putting the formation received in IMPACT into action by leading with the heart of a servant.

April 3, 2027
Topic: Living the Mission
We are all called to live as missionary disciples. During this final session, participants will reflect on the formation they have received, and will discern how God is calling them to go forth on mission to IMPACT their parishes, families, and communities for Christ. The session will also include a longer time for Q&A to address lingering questions.

May 8, 2027
Commissioning Day
Participants of IMPACT will celebrate the conclusion of the two-year program with Mass, commissioning, and lunch!