CORE MISSION PRIORITIES
“Go therefore and make disciples.”
The goal of the Be Missionary Disciples Pastoral Planning process is missionary conversion.
“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
How do you have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ? How do you live out “missionary discipleship” in your own daily life and in your own parish? What steps can you take in your parish to evangelize “today’s world?”
Answering these questions and discovering for yourself the “source and inspiration” for missionary conversion comes through prayer, practice, and the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Prayerful reflection and discussion about the Core Mission Priorities is a great first step. Download the Core Mission Priorities Workbook to get started.
If you have any questions or would like to request printed copies, please contact the Department of Evangelization at (410) 547-5321
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.