Question 1

1. What is the A-Z of DiscipleSHIP?

Accepted Answer

It is a new Catholic formation program, presented by the Catholic Theology Network, which explores 26 essential topics in the life of discipleship, each starting with the letters A to Z. Listen to it or read it anytime, anywhere, individually or in a small group.

Question 2

2. What are the 26 essential topics?

Accepted Answer

The topics have been designed to cover a broad range of aspects of the faith that will create a well-rounded and deep formation. These are:
A - Awakening (a personal relationship with God)
B - Bible
C - Creed
D - Discipleship
E - Eucharist and the Mass
F - Finances
G - Gifts and Talents
H - History of Salvation
I - Imitating the Saints
J - Journeying with Others
K - Koinonia (Community)
L - Leadership
M - Moral Theology
N - New Evangelization
O - Opus (Workplace / Sanctification of Work)
P - Prayer
Q - Queen of Heaven, Mary
R - Reason and Faith (Engaging the secular world effectively)
S - Sacraments (Worship)
T – Theology of the Body / Catholic Social Teaching
U - Universal Call to Holiness / Vocation
V - Virtues (and Vices)
W - Will of God (Discernment)
X - Carrying our Crosses (Suffering, Wounds, Healing)
Y - Yesterday (History of the Church)
Z - Zion (4 Last Things)

Question 3

3. What is the level of formation, and what is the endgame?

Accepted Answer

Post-confirmation, or post-conversion experience, formation plan for those desiring to become maturing disciples who are also capable of nurturing disciples.

Question 4

4. For whom is this program suitable for?

Accepted Answer

This program is written by Singaporeans for those hungry for holistic, substantial and systematic formation to become maturing disciples, including:
Post-confirmation teenagers;
Young adults;
Working adults;
Married couples;
Parents;
Divorced, separated or single again;
Small groups.

Question 5

5. How is this different from other programs?

Accepted Answer

Our formation program is unique in two ways.
Our material is Accessible, Engaging and Deep. We believe that all three elements can and should be brought together for Christians who are keen to deepen their discipleship. Theology is often seen as “cheem” or complicated, not for the average Catholic. We hope to change this mindset.
Our material is written in the Singapore context. A lot of English language material comes from a Western context. While welcome, we also believe that just as Jesus was rooted in his specific Jewish context when he preached the kingdom of God, having materials rooted in the Singaporean context, better follows the method of Jesus. The materials is also suitable for Asia due to the similarity in culture.

Question 6

6. What is the format?

Accepted Answer

Drawing from the Bible, the Church and the Saints, each session is presented in a devotional-style blog post, accompanied by a recorded podcast of the session, together with the following additional elements:
Opening and closing prayer(s) drawn from the liturgy of the Church or written specifically for the topic.
Reflection / sharing questions for each life-stage of readers / listeners – to apply the principles of the topic to your life;
Recommended song(s) which are connected with the topic, for personal prayer time or group worship;
Recommended further reading, drawn from a spiritual classic, a Church document, or a modern masterpiece. Many have become Saints by regular spiritual reading.

Question 7

7. Why are the letters "SHIP" in "DiscipleSHIP" in capital?

Accepted Answer

They refer to the 4 key areas of formation interwoven into the 26 essential topics, namely, Spiritual, Human, Intellectual and Pastoral. See [43]-[59] of Pastores Dabo Vobis (principles for the formation of priests, which are adaptable for the formation of lay disciples).
 
The word “SHIP” also refers to the boat which carried Jesus and His disciples across the lake, during which Jesus calms the storm (Matt 8:23-27). A life of Christian discipleship is analogous to journeying with Jesus in a boat (which also represents the Catholic Church) to overcome the challenges and storms of life, and to arrive safely at the shores of eternal life. This is visually represented in the logo for the A-Z of DiscipleSHIP.

Question 8

8. How do I use this program by myself?

Accepted Answer

Listen to it or read it anytime, anywhere. It takes about 15-20 minutes to read it, and less than 30 minutes to listen to it. You can use it intently during prayer or Bible study time, or listen to it while travelling, exercising or doing your chores.
 
Reflect further using the reflection questions, go to prayer or worship using the opening and closing prayers and the recommended song(s), or dive deeper into the topic for the rest of the month using the recommended further reading (see also the answer to Qn. 6 above).

Question 9

9. How do I use this program with my small group?

Accepted Answer

Here are some suggestions, but you can be as creative or adaptive as you would like.
Small group leaders may wish to go through the session personally first (see the answer to Qn. 8 above), and may:
Use the opening and closing prayers together with the small group;
Use the recommended song(s) as the opening or closing song (either having the worship leader / musician to play the song, or to play the weblink provided if there is no worship leader or musician);
Re-present in their own way, the relevant or applicable principles to their small group, or read or listen, together with the small group, a selected section from the session;
Use the sharing questions which pertain to the life-stage of the small group, for group sharing;
Form a book club with interested small group members to read and discuss the recommended further reading for the rest of the month; and/or
Invite small group members to read or listen to the session themselves in their own time after the small group meeting.

Question 10

10. How often will each topic be released?

Accepted Answer

Around once a month over 2 plus years, and repeated in cycles (but with a different focus for each topic in subsequent cycle(s))

Question 11

11. How or where can I listen to the A-Z of DiscipleSHIP?

Accepted Answer

You can listen to our program on Spotify here.

Frequently asked questions