Parish
Reflection Day
May 15, 2004
Parish
Reflection Day
May 15, 2004
On Saturday May 15, 2004 our parish community held its third annual St. Isidore Parish Reflection Day (PRD) in our Parish Community Hall. As with past PRDs 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 the PRD 2004 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 during this last Lenten season.
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: · Instill renewed understanding of the faith among Catholics
o Education of parishioners through homilies and bulletin inserts
o Bring in outside speakers to educate and motivate parishioners in our faitho Continue scriptural small group experiences
o Provide on site retreats and/or days of recollectionGoal 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 Provide an adult series of educational events on specific areas of our faith, e.g., the sacraments, the sacramentals, and their meanings
o Promote participation in groups and service ministries, and identify a point of contact for those in need of these serviceso Invite people from throughout the larger community to a community open house, reintroducing them to our renewed and rededicated church, offer a guided tour about what we are about.
o Instill within parishioners a one-on-one responsibility to promote participation in the Faith; provide a living example of a CatholicRecommended Objectives with Activities: o Develop a campaign for parishioners, to encourage families and parents to counter secular influence upon their families, e.g., certain media influences.
o Provide a daytime Confession service in order to enable families to attend to the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a family unit.
o Provide events/efforts that foster the family practice of the sacraments as a family unit.o Encourage the display of Catholic symbols in the workplace.
o Demonstrate by actions/deeds that we in the Catholic Faith are Christians, modeling our faith in our behavior at work.
