The faith formation ministries at St. Mary of the Assumption work in conjunction with each other to form a School of Discipleship. Visit the individual ministry pages linked below to learn of current opportunities.

Christian Initiation ><> Adult ><> Young Adult ><> Youth (Teen) ><> Children & Families

Now great multitudes accompanied him; and he turned and said to them, "If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:25-27

What is Discipleship?

Have you ever tried out for a team?* In high school or college? For football, baseball, or volleyball?

If you've ever made the team, you know how thrilling that can be. On the other hand, if you were cut, you know how crushing that can be. What the coach wants to know is:

"Do you have what it takes?"

* © Fr. Hank Albietz

"Do you have what it takes?"

That was the question Jesus was asking the crowds in Luke's gospel. 

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus. This itinerant rabbi had become popular, and --- like a rock star --- his fans had begun to gather.

➠ They had heard about his teaching and preaching.

➠ They had heard about his miracles.

➠ They wanted to get close to this incredible character and experience the unusual energy that seemed to surround him.

In one way or another, the crowds wanted to be Jesus' disciples.

However, Jesus was less than encouraging, for he told the people there was more to this disciple business than meets the eye.

He suggested they go home and do some serious thinking.

They needed to look at their priorities, because if the Romans found one Christian in a family, they arrested the entire family.

Turning toward Jesus literally meant turning away from your family. Once you made following Jesus your first priority, everything else fell to the side.

The true disciple had to make that choice.

So, why are you here today?

Hopefully it's because you know that your priorities are right, and if they're not, you know that you want them to be --- because that knowledge makes you a disciple.

However, the danger of discipleship is this: it changes you!

You suddenly see the world through new eyes --- the eyes of Jesus.

You see needs and you want to fill them.

You see hurts and you want to heal them.

Discipleship changes you and keeps on changing you --- now and always.

So, do you have what it takes?

Christian Initiation ><> Adult ><> Young Adult ><> Youth (Teen) ><> Children & Families