Parish
Reflection Day
May 31, 2003
Parish
Reflection Day
May 31, 2003
On Saturday May 31, 2003 our parish community held its second annual St. Isidore Parish Reflection Day in our brand new Parish Community Hall. How fitting it was to have an official first ministry meeting in the Hall to be one where parishioners focused on the application of the Gospels and the principles of our Catholic Faith to us and our greater community of citizens in Sutter County and in our Nation. All who attended were able to examine the three goals, which are a critical part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) National Plan for Evangelization in the U.S. After examination of these goals our participating parishioners evaluated and made recommendations on ways that our parish community can achieve these at St. Isidore and in the surrounding community of Sutter County. Along with hundreds of others at parishes across our nation, we participated as instruments of Christ, i.e., Disciples in Mission, for the greater good of our local community, our diocese and our alliance with other dioceses.
The following pictures are from our Parish Reflection Day
The above pictures note the animated participation in reviewing the 3 goals as provided by the USCCB and developing recommendations for our St. Isidore's Pastoral Council. These 3 goals,with their recommended objectives and tasks, which will be achieved over the next months and years, are our Church's way of bringing the Good News of Jesus into every human situation and seeking to convert individuals and society by the divine power of the Gospel itself. We all understand how much our nation and our world need to accept and internalize the power of the Gospel with the help of the Holy Spirit this will be achieved.
Below are the three goals followed by recommended objectives, with activities to implement these goals. These recommendations are being presented to our Pastoral Council and our Diocese, and they will be incorporated with the Disciples in Mission evaluations that were conducted in small groups in April, as well as with the diocesan-wide parish survey that was conducted last February.
Goal I: To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others. Recommended Objectives with Activities: Create small group experiences of prayer and study, fostering and bringing about a renewal in each other
o Encourage a sense of involvement and belonging, through parish social activities (e.g., pot lucks, inviting others to join in, hospitality activities after Mass and reception events for newly registered parishioners, etc.)
o Continue small prayer and faith study groupso Establish and maintain a St. Isidore Parish Library of faith materials, documents, and media
o Provide dynamic speakers and workshops on specific Catholic issuesGoal II: To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation of Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic Faith. Recommended Objectives with Activities: o Continue the small faith group experiences
o Take advantage of and become more exposed to Catholic media and materialso Institutionalize permanently the Catholics Returning Home program
o Construct in front of the church by the Clark Avenue a St. Isidore Church marquee, announcing and welcoming passersby to; current and upcoming events, celebrations, ministry activities, seasonal holy day services, etc.Recommended Objectives with Activities: o Promote and publicize through bulletins, parish ministries, homilies, etc., the specific needs of our community (e.g., homebound persons, distributing food, etc.) to enlist the participation of families in meeting these specific needs
o Make the decision and effort to identify and coordinate with other ministries in reaching out to others, e.g., returning Catholics, single Catholic adults, the divorced, etc.o Provide a more festive parish celebration day, involving all 47 parish ministries (a day of fun & food & games) and invite the community to participate - an opportunity to educate all as to needs and successes of others
o Post a current and ongoing Master Calendar in the vestibule of the church and on the parish website, of scheduled church, school, and CCD events and activities
