Nuts and Bolts

St. Mary’s & St. William’s

PARISH ALIVE.

Our Bishop has written a letter to all Catholics announcing a two year project called, ‘Parish Alive’. He states: “This is the name of a two-year project we will undertake together, all the parishes of our diocese as one. A project devoted to renewing our faith communities….”.

PURPOSE:
[to rejuvenate - to enliven - more life]

In the opening words of his letter he refers to parishes as “active dynamic communities of faith….” And he asks:
1) “Don’t we all want the Gospel to take deeper root in our communities and in our lives?”
2) “Don’t we all desire our parishes to be more than religious stores where we simply consume spiritual goods?”
3) “Don’t we all dream of joyful-meaningful liturgies, of a faith deeply connected to our daily lives, and of communities that really care”?

HOW

During Lent and Advent for the next two years we are all invited to reflect and meditate on Spiritual Themes. This years’ Lenten theme: “Our Faith, Our Treasure”.

There will be four different levels at which we can participate:

1) Individual – booklets etc. will be available for reading-reflection-prayer.
2) Family – booklets….: for weekly celebrations of prayer for parents and children.
3) Sunday Mass – liturgies will focus on the theme through music, prayer, preaching, etc.
4) Discussion Groups of 6-8 adults – theme booklets will be available with biblical passages, etc.
NOTE :More information will be provided on the first three levels as we move closer to lent.

FOURTH LEVEL

1)Parishioners will be invited to form small or tiny faith communities (6-8 people) to reflect on and discuss the themes: This years’ Lenten theme: “Our Faith, Our Treasure”.
2) Booklets with a welcoming activity, a bible passage, a short quote from church writngs, etc. and some reflective questions to foster discussion, and a prayer will be provided.
3) Meetings will take place in homes, and one member of the group will coordinate the meeting. (a few parishioners have already attended a training session with the Bishop, and he is offering another session in a few weeks, if we need more coordinators).
4) Each group will meet once a week for six weeks during lent.
5) Sign-up sheets will be available this week for St. William’s, and next week for St. Mary’s

Quote from Bishop’s Letter: “A few years ago, we entered a new millennium….Pope John Paul II. invited us to enter into this time with great hope, our eyes fixed on the loving face of Christ, our hearts filled with faith. As Bishop of this diocese, my dream is that we will respond to this invitation….May ‘Parish Alive’ help us all to take another step….”

+Bishop Paul-Andre