Coming Soon: Parish Alive

Coming Soon to Our Parish

'ParishAlive'

What is 'Parish Alive'?

SmallChristian Communities: A Journey of Faith

A'Parish Alive' Small Christian Community is a group of 6 to 8 people who come together in the most basicand personal unit of the parish. The community gathers in the homes of itsmembers, who discuss their lives in the light of the gospel and share theirChristian faith. Faith sharing is done through reflection on Scripture, Churchtradition, Church teaching and pastoral documents. Through such gatheringsthere naturally arises a connection of acceptance and support through which themembers learn, in a personal manner, the meaning of being Church.

A Journey from Our Past

The earlyChristians met in homes to share the Gospel and “the breaking of the bread.”They were inclusive communities whose members, after the example of Christ,shared their resources and reached out to others in service. They were peopleof faith who welcomed others seeking to find a spiritual home.

As theseCommunities grew in acceptance and in the number of believers, largergatherings became the norm. The Church as we know it today emerged from theseearly home-based communities.

Workingwithin the contemporary relationship of parish, diocese, and universal Church,the Small Christian Community enables its members to participate in theChristian Faith Community in the very manner which the earliest Christiansexperienced; on a personal level.

Make yourselves builders of communities in which, after the example ofthe first community, the word of God lives and acts. (Pope John Paul II)

A Journey of the Present

SmallChristian Communities today are widely recognized as significant expressions ofChristian life emerging in a variety of cultures and contexts throughout theworld. They go by many names: Base Ecclesial Communities, Small ChristianCommunities, and House Churches.

With theguidance and support of our Bishop parishes throughout our diocese have chosento foster the involvement of its members in Small Christian Communities,reminiscent of the early Church. The larger parish church then experiencesitself as a community of communities. This image is expressed most concretelyas the communities come together in service of others, care and concern for oneanother, and in the celebration of the Sunday Eucharist.

YourOwn Journey Of Faith

You don’thave to be a church leader, serve on numerous committees, have a degree intheology or have a large home designed for entertainment to join a SmallChristian Community. Being on a faith journey—or even beginning a faithjourney—is enough. The most valuable resource you can bring to a community,which no one else can bring is yourself, with your own unique wisdom andexperiences.

A SmallChristian Community can encourage and enable you to ground your life in theChristian story and to integrate faith with your everyday life.