Mission Matters: June 6, 2017

This week’s “Parish Table Talk”: Resource for teaching young people to pray; Article on the future of parish life; Making a splash; plus this Thursday’s blog post.

Watch for this Thursday’s post:

Seven Ways NOT to Invite People into Ministry, by Ruth Puls, Director of the Division of Catechetical and Pastoral Formation

Parish Table Talk

•  Resource for teaching teens to pray: “The Church desires that in the ministry of the word, Sacred Scripture should have a pre-eminent position. In concrete terms, catechesis should be ‘an authentic introduction to lectio divina, that is, to a reading of the Sacred Scriptures done in accordance to the Spirit who dwells in the Church’.” ( General Directory for Catechesis, 71)  Looking for a way to help you teach young people how to pray?  Check out these handouts by Jared Dees.  If you have used these already, share your feedback in the comments below.  Let us know how you used them and what suggestions you would offer.

•  Reflection on the future of parish life: Theology professor Fr. Sanks takes a look at research and insight on the changing reality of Catholic parish composition in America to raise some questions about our approaches to revitalizing parish communities.  He references several books including Great Catholic Parishes, Parish Leadership, and Catholic Parishes of the 21st Century. What are your thoughts on the questions he raises? What applications might apply to our future steps in our pastorates?

•  Making a splash:  A priest decided to take advantage of a music festival as an opportunity for evangelization.  Read about his experience and some of the reactions he received.  What opportunities are there in our local community to find new avenues for inviting people to encounter God?

Questions? Feedback? Please leave a comment below.