FORMING DISCIPLES WHO REACH OUT TO ALL
On Saturday October 3rd we welcomed all our volunteers to a MINISTRY SUMMIT & APPRECIATION LUNCHEON. The theme of the morning was GRATITUDE. It was a chance for me and the entire staff to thank the countless volunteers who consistently go above and beyond, embracing and embodying our pastoral plan in so many ways. It was also a chance for me to share how we are moving forward in our pastoral planning. Great things coming soon!!
This includes the work of our amazing Leads (Outreach, Family & School, Weekend Experience, Discipleship, and Communications) who are seeking out volunteer ministry leaders within the various ministries in their portfolio, delegating leadership and forming teams to support their work. We are seeking to expand the leadership base, share more responsibilities with our volunteers and build a structure of support and succession planning. All of this takes time but is slowly falling into place. I am thankful to the leads and the amazing volunteers who have stepped up to help us move forward together.
We are also working on a better, more informative, more efficient and hopefully exciting VOLUNTEER SYSTEM that will help attract new volunteer ministers and build up our current ministers. A small working group was formed this past summer. We journeyed through an 8-part equip course on volunteer ministers and are scheduled to have most things in place for spring 2027.
SMALL GROUPS ARE BACK!
As we continue to move forward implementing various components of our pastoral plan—Advent is on the horizon!! This means Christmas is not too far away!! I know that most people don’t like to hear that, but I am excited and always look forward to the hope-filled Advent season. This one will be very special!!
You may recall that we had a small group series during Lent 2026 and had 93 people participate. We had amazing facilitators guiding all of us along the way. I was part of a group in addition to many other staff who wanted their Lenten journey to be special. I was extremely thankful to the group I was part of and looked forward to that weekly gathering of prayer, reflection, support and community. It was my best Lent ever!!
Our hope is that Advent 2026 becomes the best Advent ever for the entire family of parishes. We are hoping that 200 people sign up for the many different days and times being offered.
BEHOLD – OUR ADVENT SMALL GROUP SERIES
Behold means “to see, look at, or observe something with intense attention or appreciation.”
Isn’t this what Advent is all about? To observe the grace of the Father coming to fulfillment through the Son seeking to save us? Our Advent Small Group series will help us behold the love and healing grace of God in our lives and how we can share that with others. Our facilitators along with Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT will guide us to behold Christmas in a new and powerful way.
Some people may find the weeks leading up to Christmas may be too busy for small groups, but I say that is the exact reason to join a small group---we need to make room and time for the Lord to enter in and place Him first in our Christmas preparations. Too often we can get lost and be too distracted not allowing ourselves the time and space to behold the grace God wants to give us. May we all choose to make room for Jesus this Advent!!
A FEW REASONS TO JOIN A SMALL GROUP
I am looking forward to another small group series not just for the sake of our family of parishes but also for my own spiritual growth. Despite the super busy season of Lent, my small group gathering of 90 minutes each week allowed me to stop, rest, listen and be open to the grace of God working with and through the other members of the group. It allowed me to gain new perspectives on faith in a safe, peaceful and supportive environment. It was exactly what I needed. Advent will be the same.
Here are a few other reasons to join a small group:
(1) FAITH FRIENDS – Joining a small group allows you to connect with new people and become friends rooted in our Catholic faith. This can really make a huge difference in our lives.
(2) MUTUAL CARE AND SUPPORT – Joining a small group that prays together, reflects and shares together and gets to know one another also supports each other. The conversations go beyond what is being studied to our own experiences. A small group journey helps us in the journey of life in a very practical and meaningful way as we minister and care for one another.
(3) A SHARED EXPERIENCE – One of the most amazing things I enjoyed was a follow up gathering that took place after our Lenten journey where all the participants came together to share the joy, peace and love everyone experienced, even though they were all in different small groups. It was a unifying moment that was powerful!!
