sacrament saturday 2015

Parish of St. Monica

“Sacrament Saturday”

Topics Today• Opening Prayer

• Current View of the Catholic Church

• The “New Evangelization”

• Formation

• Suggestions

• Q&A, Summary & Evaluation

• Lord Jesus Christ, • We thank you for having called us together here.

We offer you what we are called to do as the People of God - of the Parish of St.

Monica for your greater glory and the coming of your Kingdom.

• Grant that we may begin this time with a spirit of hope and anticipation,

• and that you will guide and feed our minds, our hearts and souls in the day ahead...

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Current View of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church and the New Evangelization

Spiritual Growth Phases• A PERSON “EXPLORING

CHRIST” IS . . .

• On the spiritual fringe

• Investigating, but undecided about claims of Christianity

• Struggling mostly with belief in Christ, not God

• Attending, but not involved in church

• Possibly a long-tenured churchgoer

• A PERSON “GROWING IN CHRIST” IS . . .

• Increasing range & frequency of participation in church activities

• On board with core beliefs

• Becoming more comfortable with spiritual practices, yet ...

• Hesitant to take their faith beyond the walls of the church

• Poised for great spiritual advances and impact

“The New Evangelization”

Spiritual Growth Phases• A PERSON “CLOSE TO

CHRIST” IS . . .

• Making a relationship with Jesus part of everyday life

• Confident in God’s presence and power

• Connecting daily with God through personal spiritual practices

• Beginning to show signs of spiritual transformation

• The backbone of the church

• A PERSON CHRIST-CENTERED” IS . . .

• Christ’s greatest workforce

• Head over heels in love with God

• Tithing, serving and evangelizing more than anyone else

• Under-challenged by the church

• On the brink of spiritual greatness

The Catholic Church and the New Evangelization

The BIG questions are:

Where are you?

Where is your child?Where are your children?

“The New Evangelization”

• Directed at believers• Not non-Catholics, non-Christians, non-believers.

• Not about ...proselytizing, baptizing new converts, increasing numbers of new church members.

• Not about ... passing on doctrine. • Catechesis but from a different perspective and

for a different purpose.

“The New Evangelization”• IS about:

• Completing the mission of Christ,• Revitalizing the members,• Leading them to personal/intimate relationship

with Christ,• Having an impact on the parish, neighborhood,

region, world.

Goals:

• Focus on the laity.

• Know Christ and be his follower.

• Deeper individual conversion.

• Deepening religious experiences and commitment.

• = FORMATION

Parish VISIONCalled by Name

Gifted by God

Committed to Prayer

Driven to Serve

...Abiding in Hope

Parish MISSIONWe are a community on a pilgrimage to a

sacred place, inviting all to walk with us as we:

• Discover Jesus in our lives,• Understand our life's purpose,• Develop a personal relationship with

Christ,• Enrich our local community,• Impact the whole world.

Formation• Individual Prayer• Community Prayer (Family / Small

Groups)• Community Worship/Sacramental

Participation• Sacramental Preparation • Catechesis• “Spiritual” Mentoring/Guidance• “Personal” Mentoring/Guidance• Leisure and Social• Pastoral Outreach

Formation - WHO

• PARENTS

• Religious Education (Summer & Fall)

• Sacramental Prep• “Edge”• “LifeTeen”• Coaches, Catechists, Leaders &

Shepherds• Adult Faith Formation

It’s not just about having activities...It’s about becoming disciples !


Practical Formation

Practical Formation1. Teaching children to make the “Sign of the

Cross” whenever they see ambulance/fire truck or hear an ambulance.

2. Wednesday Rosary and family board game.3. Daily taking turns “rolling the prayer dice”

on which are 6 different “grace before meals” prayers.

4. Short “morning prayer” in the car on the way to school.


Questions & Answers


Summary and Evaluation