Parish Cell Group Facilitators

Home / Our Parish / Parish Cell Groups / Parish Cell Group Facilitators

Cell Leader Report Form

Cell Leaders can use the report form below and save it to their computer.

Cell Leader Report-fillable

Weekly Reflection Videos & Discussions

Week of May 26, 2025 (Sixth Sunday of Easter)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ofIxrPr1e8E
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mezvaluMOSc

Questions for discussion:

  1. What are ways in which we find it relatively easy to love Jesus?
  2. What are some good experiences of Jesus that lead us to say “Yes, I love Jesus!”
  3. What are some of the more difficult words or commands of Jesus that make our love for him to be more challenging?
  4. How do we deal with those difficult words?

Lectio Divina — Matthew 5:1-12

The Sermon on the Mount.

1   When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.

2   He began to teach them, saying:

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4   Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5   Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.

6   Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.

7   Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

8   Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.

9   Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Week of May 12, 2025 (Fourth Sunday of Easter)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/V1zkT_DJmTA
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ff9_arZ_8DY

Questions for discussion:

  1. Reflect on the voices that you hear in your life that conflict or make it difficult to hear or Lord Jesus Christ.
  2. Share with each other how we have found ways of hearing and listening to the voice of the Lord and following his call to us. That call is to nothing else other than eternal life; the fullness of life that our Lord is calling us to. That is good news—that is Gospel!

Lectio Divina – Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd;*

there is nothing I lack.

2In green pastures he makes me lie down;

to still waters he leads me;

3he restores my soul.

He guides me along right paths

for the sake of his name.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

5You set a table before me

in front of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6Indeed, goodness and mercy will pursue me

all the days of my life;

I will dwell in the house of the LORD

for endless days.

Week of April 21, 2025 (Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/j1zxu1GdyAw
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fM8-YfIRug

Questions for discussion:

  1. The Resurrection of Christ is central to our faith. Consider what the Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:14–19 about the significance of Christ’s resurrection: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
  2. Can you share a time in your life when you experienced a period of darkness which then eventually transitioned into a period of light?
    1. What were your feelings toward God during the darkness and then again coming into the light?
    2. Are there any similarities between your experience and what you believe the Apostles experienced on Good Friday and then again on Easter?
  3. In many ways Easter is stepping across boundaries. Jesus stepped across the barrier of death into life.  Our Elect stepped across the boundary of not belonging to belonging as they were baptized, confirmed and received first holy communion.
    1. What boundaries do we need to step across to continue a more meaningful relationship with the risen Christ? or…
    2. What boundaries have we imposed on ourselves that keeps us from having a deeper more meaningful relationship with Christ?

Lectio Divina – Colossians 3:1-4

1If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

2Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.

3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

4When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.

Week of April 7, 2025 (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/qevQT1h12po
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/POzYbAiRD6U

Questions for discussion:

  1. As we reflect on this week’s homily and readings, maybe we can reflect on the life that the Lord gives us. Maybe we can talk about some times where the Lord has called us to life. Where we might have helped in situations that could not ever get better or worse. We might be stuck in certain ways of living or certain patterns of sin and the Lord has called us forward. Talk about your experience of Christ giving you life.
  2. Also, think about some areas in your life, as you are comfortable, talk about those areas that you might have today where you need the life giving power of our Lord Jesus. Reflect on His ability to bring life even out of the darkness; the tomb of death. He can bring us all to eternal life. And that promise for eternal life can start for us today.

Lectio Divina – Romans 8:8-11

8and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also, through his Spirit that dwells in you.

Week of March 24, 2025 (Third Sunday of Lent)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/Q4BmAL0izvk
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/iijDa6MLg18

Questions for discussion:

  1. Reflect on your conversations with the Lord. What are they like? Are we having them? Are they Fruitful? Are they comfortable? Do they sometimes make us uncomfortable? Do they lead us away from places in our lives where we are just kind of comfortable into something challenging for us just like it was for the Samaritan woman? Talk about having that conversation with the Lord.
  2. If you’re not having that conversation, talk about that. Talk about the difficulties that you have in prayer and in reading scripture—whatever it is, however you encounter the Lord. Talk about the difficulties that you are having and see how the Lord can break down some walls for you, just like he did for the Samaritan woman.

Lectio Divina – John 4:1-42 (omitting verses 27-38)

The Samaritan Woman

1Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2(although Jesus himself was not baptizing, just his disciples), 3he left Judea and returned to Galilee.

4He had to pass through Samaria. 5So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon.

7A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11[The woman] said to him, Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the well is deep; where then can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” 13Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; 14but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”

16Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” 17The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ 18For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet.  20Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” 21Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. 24God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Anointed; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” 26Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”

39Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me everything I have done.” 40When the Samaritans came to him, they invited him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. 41Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 42and they said to the woman, “We no longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world.”

Week of March 10, 2025 (First Sunday of Lent)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/C4eXp8UvCXU
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/tklpPtsFz8g

Questions for discussion:

  1. Today I would like you to discuss some areas where you feel tempted, as you are comfortable discussing those things. Talk about ways that you are frequently tempted. Have you developed some strategies for dealing with temptation? Or maybe you could share your own thoughts and maybe come up with some new ways of avoiding or overcoming temptation.
  2. It would be helpful to do your Lectio Divina by reading the gospel that we read on Sunday. Jesus shows us a very specific way of avoiding temptation and that is to use the word of God, not to struggle, not to fight, but to simply rely on the strength of God when you are tempted.

Lectio Divina – Luke 4:1-13

The Temptation of Jesus.

1 Filled with the holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” 5Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. 7All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.’” 9Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ 11and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’” 12Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’” 13When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

Week of February 24, 2025 (Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u66nJBYD7E
  2. Watch Deacon Jim’s video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4Cry9e7pbA

Questions for discussion:

  1. In this past Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus tells his followers many things which I’m sure were difficult for them to hear. Of all the things Jesus says in this past Sunday’s Gospel, which do you feel is the most difficult to hear and why?
    • Love your enemies
    • Do good to those who hate you
    • Bless those who curse you
    • Pray for those who mistreat you
    • To the person who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other one as well
    • From the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic
    • Stop judging and you will not be judged
    • Stop condemning and you will not be condemned
    • Forgive and you will be forgiven
  2. Identify one practice that will help you become more merciful and forgiving. How can you incorporate that practice into your upcoming Lenten journey?
  3. Can you share an example of a time when someone treated you unfairly, mistreated you, took something from you or took advantage of you. How did you respond, how would you respond today or how could you have responded  to reflect the words of the Gospel.

Lectio Divina – Luke 6:27-38

Love of Enemies.

27“But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. 34If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit [is] that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. 35But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful.

Judging Others.

37“Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. 38Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”

Week of February 10, 2025 (Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/FAQXSb4ASyg
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/xbjXO95kd-E

Questions for discussion:

Encounter — Identity — Mission

  1. For this week’s reflection, it might be helpful to look at how encounter has functioned in your spiritual life. How have you encountered the Lord Jesus? What are some of the various ways that you have had profound encounters with the Lord?
  2. Did that encounter shape your identity? If so, how do you say that it does shape your identity?
  3. Do you have a mission? Are you on your mission? What might your mission be? The Lord has sent each of us to proclaim Him to others. Is that something that we are doing actively in our life now?
  4. Take some time and think about that. Maybe talk about if there were any extraordinary encounters or experiences of the Lord that you have had. Maybe go into some detail about that. It might be helpful for you and for others in your cell group. Think about these three things — Encounter, Identity and Mission.

Lectio Divina – Luke 5:1-11

For your Lectio Divina, read again this Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 5:1-11) where Peter has an amazing encounter with the Lord in the midst of his work as a fisherman, a simple fisherman who has a life-changing encounter with the Lord Jesus. 

1While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. 2He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. 3Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5Simon said in reply, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing. 7They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them. They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking. 8When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” 9For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him and all those with him, 10and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners of Simon. Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him.

Week of January 26, 2025 (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/HP8N4ETCa0U
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/evFS4cb457o

Questions for discussion:

  1. How is the Word alive in your life? How do you receive the Word when you hear it, see it, or reflect on it? Does it have an effect on your life?

Lectio Divina – Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

Try to imagine that you are in the presence of Jesus for the very first time and you are hearing these words for the very first time. How do you experience this, how does it affect you? What does it do to your mind, your heart, how you see the world?

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread throughout the whole region. He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.

He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Week of January 13, 2025 (Baptism of the Lord)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/fkK2-A9sKjY
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Vhksus8NskI

Questions for discussion:

Think about the words that God said about Jesus, “This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased.”

  1. First, think about what it means to have God as our Father. What does this mean?
  2. What does it mean to be a son, daughter or child of God? What does this mean to you? What does it mean to be a child of God?
  3. What does it mean to be beloved in general, and what especially does it mean to be beloved of God? That is our true identity—to be a true beloved child of God, with whom God is well pleased.

Lectio Divina – Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one with whom I am pleased.

Upon him I have put my spirit;

he shall bring forth justice to the nations.

He will not cry out, nor shout,

nor make his voice heard in the street.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.

He will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow dim or be bruised

until he establishes justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for justice,

I have grasped you by the hand;

I formed you, and set you

as a covenant for the people,

a light for the nations,

To open the eyes of the blind,

to bring out prisoners from confinement,

and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Week of December 10, 2024 (Second Sunday of Advent)

  1. Watch the homily video: https://www.youtube.com/live/lfZixWw6S4c
  2. Watch Father George’s video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NuFeF0Rytx0

Questions for discussion:

  1. Describe some times when you have experienced—or do experience—obstacles, mountains, valleys, rough roads, in your spirituality.
  2. How has God prepared the way for you?
  3. How do you prepare the way for the Lord?

Lectio Divina – Baruch 5:1-9

Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and misery;

put on forever the splendor of glory from God:

Wrapped in the mantle of justice from God,

place on your head the diadem

of the glory of the Eternal One.

For God will show your splendor to all under the heavens;

you will be named by God forever:

the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.

Rise up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heights;

look to the east and see your children

Gathered from east to west

at the word of the Holy One,

rejoicing that they are remembered by God.

Led away on foot by their enemies they left you:

but God will bring them back to you

carried high in glory as on royal thrones.

For God has commanded

that every lofty mountain

and the age-old hills be made low,

That the valleys be filled to make level ground,

that Israel may advance securely in the glory of God.

The forests and every kind of fragrant tree

have overshadowed Israel at God’s command;

For God is leading Israel in joy

by the light of his glory,

with the mercy and justice that are his.

 

Cell Leader Report Form
Parish Cell Group Videos