IGNITE THE MISSION is the Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes response to Christ’s call to proclaim the Gospel. This must be done in a relevant, meaningful and joyful way so that the world can truly hear and see the Risen Lord through what we say and do. The world has dramatically changed---faith and Christian values have been pushed to the sidelines. In order for us to be apostles in our world today, we as a Church need to change.
For us to do this most effectively, we need to pray, seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit---who will lead us to embrace once again the mission of evangelization. This will require a change in how we as a family of parishes are structured and function so that we can have the adequate staffing, volunteers and resources to proclaim the Good News. Remaining the same is no longer an option.
We seek to ignite the mission of the Gospel in Chatham that transforms everything for the sake of being salt and light for the world. Together as one family in faith, we seek to be of one mind and one purpose to be Jesus to the world. Please take a look at the information below and join us in the journey of transformation and renewal.
The deadline for Feedback Forms was April 16, 2023.
Prayer Introduction & General Summary
Full Document
Ignite the Mission-Apostles for a New Era
DATES AND TIMES FOR OUR SHARING SESSIONS
Parishioners from any site can attend any of the sessions.
Monday, March 6, 2023 - 7:00pm - Blessed Sacrament Parish Hall
Thursday, March 9, 2023 - 7:00pm - St. Ursula Parish Hall
Sunday, March 12, 2023 - 2:00pm - Spirit & Life Centre (St. Joseph Parish Hall)
Monday, March 13, 2023 - 7:00pm - St. Agnes Parish Hall
Thursday, March 16, 2023 - 7:00pm - Our Lady of Victory Parish Hall
Saturday, March 25, 2023 - 10:00am - Spirit & Life Centre (St. Joseph Parish Hall)
Tuesday, March 28, 2023 - 7:00pm - Online - Meeting Link
The online session can be accessed via Microsoft Teams (like ZOOM) and by calling in. The phone-in information is found in the bulletin. If you are joining us via computer, tablet or smart phone, follow these instructions:
1. Download Microsoft Teams for your computer, tablet or smart phone (Google Play Store, App Store, Microsoft website) for free.
2. Find the link for the sharing session (above) and click on it.
3. Follow the MS TEAMS prompts and JOIN THE MEETING. You will arrive at a waiting room. The meeting will be open at 6:55 pm.
What is the real purpose of our family of parishes and the Church in our world today? This is a very important question as we discern the future of the Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes.
Ignite the Mission Article #1
The era of Christendom is over but our Catholic Christian faith is not. It is a matter of changing strategies that are effective and engaging in a very different post-Christian world. The mission is still the same but the methods we use have to be different since the circumstances have dramatically changed.
Ignite the Mission Article #2
Together, we need to prayerfully discover how we can most effectively adapt everything we do so that our world today can encounter Christ through us. This will require various sacrifices from all of us for the sake of proclaiming the Good News and future generations of Catholics in Chatham. Despite the challenges of the task ahead, I am excited at the opportunities that are before us.
Last weekend we officially began our “IGNITE THE MISSION” time of prayerful discernment for the future of our family of parishes. We can no longer remain the way we are with declining attendance, revenues, volunteers and influence in our world today. We are managing decline while trying to maintain five church buildings that are aging and in need of repair and maintenance. Change must happen today.
Ignite the Mission Article #4
Next steps - how do we move forward?
Ignite the Mission Article #5
When we share from our hearts, with honesty and love, the Holy Spirit guides, strengthens and anoints us to be missionaries of mercy beyond our dreams!
Ignite the Mission Article #6