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

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

4. 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”

5. 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?

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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?

9. 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

10. 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.”

11. 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

12. 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

13. Ministries
Age and care for the priests
Development of lay ministries

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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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”.

26. 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.

27. 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.