Welcome to a New Beginning
Dear Good People of St. Mary,
Over the holidays I was looking at our Christmas bulletin from 2006 in which we included a possible vision for the future and listed our goals for 2007. I thought I might be interesting in the next couple of bulletins to look at these again, and invite parish leadership and members to enter into the discussion.
When you think of a parish vision, what comes to your mind? Maybe people don’t even consider the possibility that they might contribute to the vision of a parish, although everyone would agree that a vision is necessary. The vision which I printed last year was one of the Church in general, I think, but I tried to personalize it as much as I could. I’m just going to reprint it this week to refresh everyone’s memory and maybe spark a little conversation.
- “The Catholic community of St. Mary is called to be a people of God, alive in faith, hope and love.
- We are a people called to a deeper life with God. This life, freely given, is received in humility and gratitude and our response is to seek the Truth of God as received through his Holy Spirit active in his Church, and order our lives according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Church. We seek to set ourselves aside, and live for Christ, growing among us
- This faith calls us to find Christ in the midst of our community life and desire to become like him through the life of the Sacraments which he has left as our heritage and our hope. Our common faith calls us to grow in love, grace and wisdom. Although the demands of our life are many, we seek to make the Church a center of our life to restore us in holiness and faithfulness
- This faith makes us a people of prayer, actively involved in the heart of the Church’s life, the Mass, the prayer of Christ. We actively participate in the work of salvation which Christ has given to his Church
- This faith compels us to be a people who seeks a greater knowledge of God in the face of ignorance and unwilling to accept the empty option of indifference. For this reason, we must speak what we believe and share the gift of faith we have received. The ministry of religious education to our children and, especially, our youth, is primary to the life of the Church.
- This faith requires that we no longer be a people of judgment, but a people of reconciliation after the example of Jesus our Lord. While defending and preserving Tradition in the Christian life, we seek ever new ways to reach out in love to those who find themselves in contradiction to the teachings of the Church.
- This faith forms us as people of charity and justice, active in the life of our Fredericksburg community as servants of all God’s people in need of our support and prayers, particularly the poor and those who have been forgotten.
- This faith, which we have done nothing to deserve, inspires us to welcome all those who share our faith in Jesus Christ to seek unity and join us in prayer and service, regardless of their present ability to join us in Holy Communion.
It’s too long for a mission statement, perhaps together we can boil it down for 2008.God bless you.
Tags: Announcements
