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IGNITE THE MISSION is the prayerful discernment process for the Chatham Catholic Family of Parishes as they seek to discern Christ’s call to form disciples who reach out to all in our world today. It is a time of transition and change. We realize that we can no longer maintain the status quo from a pastoral, spiritual and financial perspective.
Choose the tabs below to follow the process from the beginning.
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We recently held two meetings regarding A Conversation in the Spirit and discussion around the closure of St. Agnes Church and how we will move forward as a family. Linda Staudt, our facilitator, compiled the reflections from both meetings and created the documents below.
A CONVERSATION IN THE SPIRIT SUMMARY #1 A CONVERSATION IN THE SPIRIT SUMMARY #2 IGNITE THE MISSION
NAVIGATING THE PATH AHEAD
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We recognize as a family of parishes and as a diocese that we can no longer maintain the status quo—in order for us to truly be a Church that witnesses the Good News, we must transmit the Gospel in different ways so that our culture and society may be disrupted with the love of Christ. In order for us to do this, we have embraced the mission to form disciples who reach out to all. This requires us to adapt our structures, ministries and approach. Our mission (goal) dictates the structure (how we get there).
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We are entering into our third year of our IGNITE THE MISSION pastoral plan of forming disciples who reach out to all. This necessary and exciting shift from maintenance to mission seeks to challenge each of us to grow as missionaries and not simply church attendees or spectators.
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It is never joyful to close a church, but the events of the St. Agnes closing weekend brought all of us closer together as a family of parishes united in the one mission of forming disciples who reach out to all.
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The Jubilee Year offers great wisdom and is a sign of hope for us.
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How will we celebrate the legacy of St. Agnes Parish?
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Christmas Brings a Change - read Fr. John's latest article about our ongoing change and the blessings it can bring.
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The Holy Spirit Alive in our Midst - read Fr. John's latest article with his thoughts on our recent sharing sessions
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Only as one family and one community can we most effectively share the Good News in a new and powerful way to transform the world. Read Fr. John's latest article on moving forward as one.
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Linda Staudt, facilitator of our upcoming meetings, shares her experience at the Synod and how the process will help her facilitate our meetings.
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Fr. John shares information on the upcoming meetings regarding the closure of St. Agnes and how will move forward as a family of parishes, along with an introduction to our facilitator.
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Fr. John shares a few more details regarding the closure of St. Agnes Parish along with details of the upcoming meetings.
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Read Fr. John's latest article in our Ignite the Mission process along with information about the closure of St. Agnes Church.
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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
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Next steps - how do we move forward?
Ignite the Mission Article #5
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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