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Sunday, September 1, 2024
From the Pastor’s Desk
Revitalizing mission and ministry in a parish like Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish can be a deeply transformative process. Here are a few insights, supported by scripture, that could guide this renewal:
1. Renewed Focus on Discipleship- Insight: Central to any parish mission is the call to form intentional disciples of Christ. A renewed focus on discipleship means nurturing a community where each member grows in their personal relationship with Christ and actively participates in the life of the Church.
- Scripture: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
2. Strengthening Community and Solidarity- Insight: Building a strong sense of community is essential. This involves creating spaces for meaningful relationships and support networks within the parish, ensuring that everyone feels connected and valued.
- Scripture: "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42)
3. Embracing the Mission to Serve- Insight: A revitalized mission requires a commitment to serving others, particularly the poor, marginalized, and those on the peripheries of society. Mission-minded programs and acts of charity can be powerful expressions of the parish’s mission.
- Scripture: "For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me." (Matthew 25:35)
4. Incorporating Prayer and the Sacraments- Insight: Renewal begins with a deep spiritual life rooted in prayer and the sacraments. Encouraging regular participation in the Eucharist, Reconciliation- Confession, and personal prayer can lead to a deeper encounter with Christ, the Eisen Lord, which fuels the parish's mission.
- Scripture: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
5. Empowering Lay Leadership- Insight: Lay members of the parish can be powerful agents of renewal when they are encouraged and equipped to take on leadership roles. This involves providing formation opportunities and fostering a culture of collaboration between clergy and laity.
- Scripture: "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (1 Corinthians 12:7)
6. Fostering a Spirit of Evangelization- Insight: The parish must be outward-looking, constantly seeking ways to share the Gospel with those outside the Church. This can be through personal witness, community events, or social media outreach.
- Scripture: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8)
By integrating these principles into the life of Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish, we can foster a vibrant community that is truly alive with the spirit of Christ and committed to its mission. If these insights and scripture passages enthuse or engage you, please feel welcome to contact me for future hopes, possibilities and plans.
Fr. Skip, Pastor
HERE ARE THE RESULTS FROM THE MINISTRY KICK OFF BBQ
Council of Catholic Women- “BTCCW has 5 potential new members after the ministry fair and we have one more volunteer to work the thrift shoppe. Good results!”
BT Men’s Club- “BTMC had one sign-up and two interested men during the event. It was interesting to note that none of these folks was from the 5PM Mass, so they came to the Kick-off deliberately.”
Liturgical Ministry of Readers- “Readers signed up three new interested parishioners”
Quilters Ministry- “The Caring Quilters Team is very happy with our part in the Ministry Kick-off! We met 7 different parishioners who wanted one of our blessed quilts! We also gave away lots of our mini pocket prayer quilts that we had made previously for the La Sallette meeting held at Good Shepherd! And... another person signed up as interested in joining our ministry!”
Liturgical Ministry Music & Sound- “We had one sign up for each Ministry, music and sound/projection.”
Knight of Columbus, Council #11328- “The Knights had 2 actually complete paperwork to join and 2-3 who expressed mild interest. I consider the night a success.”
La Salette Laity- “we had three people signup for possible interest, and we had the names of 3 others who had emailed about the La Salette Laity.”
EMHC/Ministers of Care- “We had 4 people interested in becoming Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and of those 2 will go on to be Ministers of Care also.”
Other Ministries for Blessed Trinity Parish We always live in the grace and the hopes of the Holy Spirit alive and on fire in our parish community. The seeds of future ministries have been planted and are beginning to sprout because of parishioners and friends of Blessed Trinity Catholic Parish. Our history is not just in the past but continues to be written and to come to life in the present and for the future.
Archbishop Oscar Romero may have said it best: “A Step Along the Way”
The Romero Prayer
It helps, now and then, to step back and take the long view. The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts; it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness. No program accomplishes the church’s mission. No set of goals and objectives includes everything. This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow. We water the seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that. This enables us to do something and to do it well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers, not master builders; ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.
Amen.