CORE MISSION PRIORITIES – Be Missionary Disciples

Go and bear fruit
that will last.

JOHN 15

Discover what makes a parish a
center of evangelization.

Core Mission Priorities

Download the Core Mission
Priorities Workbook to get started.

Download the Workbook (English)

Download the Workbook (Spanish)

Every Christian is a missionary to the extent that he or she has encountered the love of God in Christ Jesus: we no longer say that we are ‘disciples’ and ‘missionaries’, but rather that we are always ‘missionary disciples’. … Here we find the source and inspiration of all our efforts at evangelization.

Pope Francis

The goal of Be Missionary Disciples is

missionary conversion

How can you encounter Jesus Christ? How can you live the gospel in your daily life? How can you and your parish make disciples?

Be Missionary Disciples helps you and your parish discern the answers to these questions. Along the way, the Holy Spirit will reveal God’s unique plan for you and your parish to become a center of evangelization. Prayerful reflection on the Core Mission Priorities is a great first step.

Download Workbook

Questions? Contact the Department of Evangelization at
(410) 547-4321 or evangelization@archbalt.org

Our Core Mission Priorities

1
LITURGY

“Liturgy” is like the sun in the sky. It is the source of light and life. In its presence, the vine takes root, grows, and bears fruit. Likewise, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life of missionary discipleship. Liturgy welcomes, forms, and sends forth disciples to bring Christ to the world.

2
WELCOME

God’s Word, the “vine”, must be planted in good soil to take root, grow, and bear fruit. We need to prepare the soil of peoples’ hearts and minds to receive God’s Word through radical hospitality, meaningful community, and reaching out to those on the peripheries. This creates trust, openness, fellowship, and a deep sense of belonging.

3
ENCOUNTER

“Encounter” is when the Word of God, the “seed” is planted in good soil and begins to take root. It is God’s Word taking flesh in someone’s heart through a personal encounter with Jesus Christ, an experience of grace, conversion, and the free decision to live as a missionary disciple.

4
ACCOMPANIMENT

Planted in good soil and nourished by the sun, the vine grows and flourishes. “Accompaniment” means missionary disciples walking together to grow spiritually and live the faith more fully through prayer, sacraments, and faith formation.

5
SENDING

A truly healthy vine always produces good and lasting fruit. As Jesus says, His disciples “bear lasting fruit” when they make new disciples. The goal of “Sending” is what missionary disciples produce as they evangelize through personal witness, friendship, and service.

6
MISSION SUPPORT

A vine cannot thrive and produce fruit without a strong and well-built “trellis” to support it. “Mission Support” refers to everything necessary to make the mission to make missionary disciples possible in the real world: finances, facilities, human resources, administration, development, communications, and more.