gather, accompany, and send · 2018. 10. 30. · • they remained faithful to the breaking of the...

10/26/2018

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FormingSmall Christian Communities

in the Parish for Missionary Discipleship

Sr. Donna L. Ciangio, OP

Gather, Accompany, and Send

© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 2

Joy of the Gospel

The Church will have to initiate everyone

—priests, religious and laity—

into this

‘art of accompaniment’

which teaches us to

remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other.

© Evangelii Gaudium, 169

The momigami works of Sadao Watanabe 1969-1970


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Spiritual Accompanimentmust lead others ever closerto God…to accompany them would be counterproductive if it became a sort of therapy supporting their self-absorption and ceased to be a pilgrimage with Christ to the Father.

The Joy of the Gospel, 170

Jesus warmed the hearts of the disciples of Emmaus.

Didn’t our hearts BURN within us as he spoke to us on the road! © 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 5

They recognized him in the breaking

of the bread.

EmmausFr. John Giuliani

American, 1932–)


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We need a church capable of walking at people's side, of doing more than simply listening to them; a church that accompanies them on their

journey;

a church able to make sense of the "night" contained in the flight of so many of our brothers and sisters from Jerusalem;

a church that realizes that the reasons why

people leave also contain reasons why they

can eventually return.

But we need to know how to interpret, with courage,

the larger picture. © 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 7

Accompaniment

As Pope Francis intends it,

accompaniment

and a culture of encounter

presume that both parties

to the accompaniment

have something to learn,

from each other but also from God

who speaks to us in groups,

not just as individuals.NCR March 10, 2017

by Michael Sean Winters

Supper at Emmaus by Maximino Cerezo Barredo


For Francisbeing Catholic is first

and foremost about

membership in a

communion of persons

who have had an experience

of God active in their lives,

an encounter with the risen Lord.

Pastors need to start there, with the fact that the people they encounter already have an experience of God active in their lives.

Supper at Emmaus Maximino Cerezo Barredo (Spanish, 1932–), .


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The path ahead, then, is

dialogue among

yourselves,

dialogue in your presbyterates,

dialogue with lay persons,

dialogue with families,

dialogue with society.

I cannot ever tire of encouraging you

to dialogue fearlessly.© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 10

Pope Francis


It is essentially the parish which gives the Church concrete life,so that she may be

open to all.

Whatever its size,

it is not merely an association.

It must be a homewhere the members of the Body of Christ gather together, are open to meeting God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and accept their brothers and sisters with fraternal love, whatever their condition or origins.


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The parish institution is meant to provide the Church’s great services: Prayer in common The reading of God’s Word Celebrations, especially that

of the Eucharist Catechesis for children The Adult Catechumenate The ongoing formation of the faithful,

communication designed to make the Christian message known

Services of charity and solidarity© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 13

A community where God’s gifts are received and shared.Where the baptized generously make

their response of faith, hope and love to the call of the Gospel. John Paul II


Parish

All that we do must beINTENTIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT

for people on their journey

of LIFE and FAITH


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Parishes grow only when people are welcomed, heard, pope saysNCR May 15, 2018

Calling for a "revolution of tenderness"

in parishes and the diocese,

Francis said that while "guiding a Christian community is the specific task of the ordained minister — the pastor — pastoral care is based in baptism and blossoms from brotherhood and is not the task only of the pastor and priests, but of all the baptized."


Small Christian Communities

What do they offer

to accompany people?


What is your experience

with SCCs and/or RCIA

in your parish?



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The Power ofSmall Christian Communities

How was our church formed, sustained, nurtured

and grown?


Where two or three are gathered in my name,

I shall be there with them... Matthew 18:20

• The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul;

• No one claimed anything for his/her own use• None of the members was in want• They remained faithful to the breaking of the bread

and the prayers• The many miracles and signs made

a deep impression on them• They went to the temple everyday

Acts 2:42-47 & 4:32-35


The Primary Goal

for why we come together

to strive for a deepened relationship with God and a better understanding

of the mission we share asDisciples of Jesus

through the power of the Holy Spiritto bring the Good News

to all people.

Missionary Disciples


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Small Faith Communities

Generally:

Who: 8-12 People

What: 1 to 1 ½ hour session

Read and discuss Scripture

Apply it to life and serve others

Pray together

When: Weekly for 6 weeks

Weekly for the year

Bi-weekly

Monthly© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 22

Types of Small Communities


Small Community: A Hybrid

Primary Family, Friends

Secondary Group with a purpose

Small Community

Support of Family & Friends

Commitment

Mission/Action


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Types of Small Communities

Seasonal Groups

Ministry Communities


Family Communities

“Designer Communities”

© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio

Drawing by Pam Keating

25

Seasonal Groups

Purpose: Spiritual Growth

Challenge:

To deepen faiththrough prayer, support, reflection,learning, participation, mission

To grow beyond the comfort levelto deeper spirituality, connected to daily life


1. Timing: Lent October – November Or Advent

3. Invitation: Sign Up Weekend Telephone/email/

website/other Home Visit

4. Publicity: Small Groups Pastor & Staff At Mass

• Website/email/• Invitation• Speakers at Mass

In the parish:

2. Parish Organization: Core Team

with support from Parish Pastoral Council Other ministries &

organizations


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Highland Park United Methodist Church

http://www.hpumc.org/small-groups/


Ice BreakerPrayer(Action from last meeting)Reflection Life Experience Scripture/other Commentary

Questions: Observe, Judge, ActActionPrayer


SCC Meeting Format

Prayerful and Powerful Reflection Method

Observe/See

Uncover facts

Focus on the reality of the situation

Observe what is going on around you


http://www.hpumc.org/small-groups/

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Judge (Discernment)

Reflection and sharing

Based on Gospel wisdom

What would Jesus think/do?

My story - the larger story

Why?

May initiate research

What can we do: to change

situation or attitudes, etc.


Act Specific actions flowing from

prayer, reflection,

and life experience

Individual or group

Practical, concrete, within reason

Discuss actions at the next meetingbased on Cardinal Joseph Cardijn’s method


Ministry Communities

Purpose: To foster a deeper understanding

of the call of each person to

minister as a disciple of Jesus To do effective ministry in the parish To keep aware of the ministry needs in the parish

I was made a servant of the Gospel

by God’s special gift.

Ephesians 3:7© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 33

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Purpose:

Community that desires the Gospel to

transform all areas of their lives

Term:

No time limit but a commitment to regularmeetings, often weekly



Challenge:• To be wholehearted in commitments• To continually grow as community• To be faithful to the elements of prayer,

support reflection, learning, participation, mission

• To be open to new members or ministry to other groups; e.g., those in the

Catechumenate, facilitating another group, etc.


Family Communities Dinner table sharing & prayer

Read scripture and discuss –Seasonal and Ordinary Time

Each family member can create his/her own special prayers for allto pray together

Go to church together – share about it

Get involved in a ministry or aschool or parish project as a family

Be Creative! make it fun, special,reverential


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“Designer Communities”

• Book Clubs

• Young Adult Groups

• Other


Essential Elements

Prayer

Support

ReflectionParticipation/Engagement

Learning

Mission


Adult Faith Formation Goals1. Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus

and holiness of life• The whole group of believers was united, heart and soul;• They remained faithful to the breaking of the bread and the

prayers

2. Promote and support active membership in the Christian Community

• The many miracles and signs made a deep impression on them• They went to the temple everyday

3. Prepare adults to act as disciples in mission to the world

• No one claimed anything for his/her own use• None of the members was in want


Forming A Community of Faith by Jane Reagan

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Adult Faith Formation Goals

1. Invite and enable ongoing conversion to Jesus and holiness of life

Conversion Gather and Accompany

2. Promote and support active membership

in the Christian Community

Accompany Membership

3. Prepare adults to act as disciples in mission

to the world

Send Discipleship© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 40

Forming A Community of Faith by Jane Reagan

The General Directory for Catechesis

Adults must have the pre-eminent place in the catechetical mission of parishes.

One way to meet the needs of adults that has been effective in parishes around the world is Small Christian Communities.

As a way for people to be Church for one another.


What does a small group do to ACCOMPANY?

God leads us on a journey of faithWe need others to support us along the wayThe Mission of Christ and the Church is furthered through

the community of disciplesA church doesn’t have a mission, a mission has a church!

Faith sharing is reflection on Scripture, Church tradition, Church teaching, pastoral documents, current concerns, issues and situations - both in the religious and civil arenas.• What and how we believe• How we live out our faith• Concrete action to help,

improve or change a situation© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 42

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Faith reflection should lead to action:

Observe/See, Judge, Act• Private

• Communal

• Public

Faith sharing is a form of prayer

Groups and members are connected to the parish and the whole Church

Forming the Parish

as a School of Discipleship


All Parish Groups,

Organizations, Societies,

and Meetings

Can use the small

community style


Developing a STYLE of Parish Life

Connecting faith reflection and community building

to all areas:

Staff PPC and Finance Council Meetings Ministerial Gatherings Formation Organizations Families Youth Work Community involvement

© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio

Drawing by Pam Keating

45

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Moving from Faith ReflectionGROUP to COMMUNITY

Making Faith Life connections

Experience of God

Personally

Through the insights of others

Learning

Acting on belief

“This

group

makes a

difference

in my life”

Parish Life

Studies show that Small Christian Communities yield long-term benefits.


Parishioners are:

• more interested in on-going catechesis; pursue Scripture study and take seriously the call to discipleship.

• more likely to assume parish responsibilities, leadership, and be involved in a ministry.

• more involved in evangelization

and

outreach.


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Small Communities

are not “another Parish Activity”but a way of strengthening and accompanying people to be committed as

Disciples of

Jesus Christ


Pope Francis

"Our parishes, must be capable

of generating a people, that is,

of offering and creating relationships

where people feel that they are known, recognized, welcomed, listened to, loved —

in other words,

not anonymous parts of a whole.”

SCCs and SCC Style of Parish life offer this


Gat

here

d an

d Se

nt


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Disciples Accompany

“We become missionary disciples when we make a decision to put others first, to share our experience of the mercy and love of God with others.

We do this in simple ways, over time.

We share our stories. We share ourselves.”

Matthew W. Halbach, PhD© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 52

What are the

ways that you

accompany

others?

How can SCCshelp?

The Road to Emmaus by Sr. Marie-Paul Farran© 2018 Donna L. Ciangio 53

gather, accompany, and send · 2018. 10. 30. · • they remained faithful to the breaking of the...

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