ACES Classes for Men and Women
Join Jack and Karen Henz, our parish’s husband-and-wife catechist team: Certified Catechist Trainers and graduates of the Kino Catechetical Institute of the Diocese of Phoenix. Learn the truth about your faith from an adult perspective, where your questions are discussed and answered. A mature adult Catholic faith is a blend of both “head” and “heart” knowledge.
The classes are focused, two-hour Bible and/or other Catholic studies, using a study guide, over 8 to 10 weekly sessions. Each session typically includes a video presentation from a Catholic-based organization such as Ascension Press, Word on Fire, the Augustine Institute, and others. All of the video and study guide content is reviewed and approved by Catholic bishops or their representatives.
Class time includes an overall group discussion of the video with prepared questions; individual questions and reflections are encouraged so everyone can learn from each other. The classes are open to both men and women.
Online registration is required for all attendees, even if they decide not to purchase a study guide. You may purchase the registration materials for yourself only or purchase one set and share with your spouse. No fee is required to join the class if you already have the book(s), or simply want to come and listen to the video and discussion.
A study guide, and sometimes other books, are included in the registration fee, which includes tax and shipping charges. The parish provides beverages, refreshments, and handout materials at no charge. Class registration and payment are completed entirely online. Please note: the class instructors may not accept payment for registration, and the parish staff are not able to register you in person at the parish office. If you do not wish to pay online, arrangements will be made after you register to pay by check or credit card through the Parish Office.
All classes meet on Thursdays in the St. Carlo Acutis Center (formerly rooms 7,8 and 9, next to the Evangelization and Family Ministry Office).
Starting in January 2026, two different classes will be offered on Thursdays - one in the morning and a different one in the evening.
The Thursday Morning Class
Video Series and Study Guide: Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John with Edward Sri, PhD, biblical scholar from Ascension Press.
Classes meet from September 10 through November 12, 2026, for nine Thursday morning class meetings from 9:15 to 11:30 AM in the St. Carlo Acutis Center (Rooms 7-9). There will be no class on October 1 because of Family Promise.
Registration Fee: $27 for the Follow Me workbook. Participants may also register without purchasing materials if they already own the workbook or simply want to attend. Online access to the videos is available separately from Ascension Press for $7.95.
Class content:
Jesus calls each of us to be his disciple. Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John is an eight-session video and Gospel discussion series that invites participants to encounter Jesus through the Gospel of John and discover what it means to follow him.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus presents himself as the Good Shepherd who leads us to abundant life. Guided by Dr. Edward Sri, participants will come to know Jesus more personally, grow as disciples, and renew their friendship with Christ through weekly video presentations, workbook study, fellowship, and group discussion.
The class begins with an introduction and continues through eight sessions: Jesus at the Center; Becoming Disciples; Our Deepest Thirst; Trust and Surrender; Encountering Mercy; The Law of Self-Giving; The New Commandment and Life in the Spirit; and A Dying and Rising Love.
The Thursday Evening Class
Video Series, Study Guide, and Book Discussion: Lectio: The Case for Jesus with Brant Pitre, PhD, biblical scholar from the Augustine Institute.
Classes meet from September 10 through November 19, 2026, for ten Thursday evening class meetings from 6:15 to 8:30 PM in the St. Carlo Acutis Center (Rooms 7-9). There will be no class on October 1 because of Family Promise.
Registration Fee: $22 for the Lectio study guide. The paperback book The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre is also available for $5. Participants may register without purchasing either item if they already own the materials or simply want to attend. The videos are available online at no charge.
Class content:
Can we trust the Gospels? Did Jesus really claim to be God? Is the Resurrection historical? Lectio: The Case for Jesus examines the biblical and historical evidence for Christ and the reliability of the Gospel accounts.
Drawing on ancient manuscripts, the early Church Fathers, and the Jewish context of Jesus' life, Dr. Brant Pitre explores who wrote the Gospels, whether the Gospels are biographies, when they were written, the Kingdom of God and the Messiah, Jesus' claim to divinity, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection.
The ten class meetings cover: Were the Gospels Anonymous?; The Early Church Fathers; Are the Gospels Biographies?; When Were the Gospels Written?; The Kingdom of God and the Messiah; Did Jesus Claim to Be God?; The Crucifixion of Jesus; The Resurrection of Jesus; a summary session; and a concluding discussion.
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