Programme Opening Prayer Bishop Paul - Vision Tony Sewell - Property and the Local Context Questions and Answers Closing Prayer – Bishop Paul

Regional Meetings July 2019 Bishop Paul Martin SM Our Faith, Our Future Regional Meetings July 2019 Bishop Paul Martin SM

Pope Francis Joy of the Gospel The Bishop “must always foster.. Missionary communion in his diocesan Church… “To do so, he will sometimes go before his people, pointing the way and keeping their hope vibrant”

Mission and Vision At the heart of the plan is the proclamation of the Gospel The church exists to share this Good News If it is not evangelising then what does it exist for?

Why do we share the Good News? Because we have first encountered Jesus Christ and it has transformed our life and we want it for others

Pope Francis states: This is why we evangelise. A true missionary disciples knows that Jesus walks with him, speaks to him, breathes with him, works with him, in essence that life with Jesus Christ is different, new. A person who is not convinced of this or enthusiastic, and in love, will convince nobody.

Current reality of parish life It cannot be business as usual any longer Are our parishes evangelising in everything they do? Are we making disciples and bringing new people into the church every year? Are we training our people to share the Good News?

Current reality of parish life continued We are in a maintenance model We are not called to maintain, we are called to mission Carrying on as we are is not an option A cultural change is required

James Mallon Could it be that what stops us from getting to where God wants us to be is our unwillingness to endure pain? God moves better through those who are moving…An aggressive wrong mistake can be better than a passive stalled mistake. Romans: ‘Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Let’s be clear There are no winners and losers in this This is new for all of us Think bigger than your own parish – 85% of Catholics who don’t come to Mass regularly Those in our Catholic schools and beyond – this is our mission field

Maintenance to Mission Care of the priests enabling them to focus on mission Creating critical mass – more people together Shake up – change – what we do and why we do it Less duplication of resources – more for mission Targeted support from diocesan office

Ministries Age and care for the priests Development of lay ministries

Questions that have arisen Lay led communities Breaking up of communities Access to Mass in terms of transport

What might a renewed parish look like? Encounter with Christ and experience God’s love Each parish has a vision and mission at the heart of all it does Celebrations of the liturgy lively, enthusiastic worshippers Powerful preaching Ministries of evangelisation

What might a renewed parish look like… Teaching ministries Outreach to the poor, sick, unemployed, desperate, lonely, imprisoned Building relationships within the community Pastors focusing on pastoring

Key features: Sunday Mass is foundational for our faith life Parish is alive from Monday to Sunday, supporting the faith lives of people and helping to support those with the struggles and joys of their lives.

Pope Francis – Evangelising community Called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open Community of missionary disciples who take the first step Get involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives Knows that the Lord has taken the initiative Concerned with bearing fruit Filled with joy

Pope Francis … “all parishes will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are, to be in a “permanent in a state of mission, to be bold and creative in rethinking goals, structures, style and methods of evangelisation … to abandon the complacent attitude that says: “We have always done it this way”.

Closing Prayer Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. V. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.