Creating Missionary Parishes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35312/56zs0651Keywords:
Missionary, maintenance & mission, mission statement, kerygma, baptism in the Spirit, discipleship formation, parish groupsAbstract
Recent popes have developed the teaching of Vatican II on evangelization in general and the new evangelization in particular. This article focuses in a specific way on the teaching of Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium on the creation of missionary parishes. Following introductory comments, this article suggests that what the Pope has emphasised three main elements, namely, the need for a mission statement that prioritises the new evangelization; the experience of baptism in the Spirit as a result of attending kerygmatic courses such as Alpha and Life in the Spirit Seminars; and the provision of ongoing faith formation in order to develop groups of intentional disciples who would have both a desire and the ability to evangelize. Because the Congregation of the Mission has many parishes it needs to take account of what Francis has taught in order to be true to its charism.
References
American Bishops Conference. 2002. Go Make Disciples . Washington DC: USCCB.
Collins CM, Pat. 2022a. Life in the Spirit Seminars Revised . Dublin: New Springtime.
———. 2022b. Providence and Blessing: Living a Purpose Filled Life . Maynooth: St. Paul.
———. 2022c. Reflection on the Life and Spirituality of St Vincent de Paul . Maynooth: St. Paul.
Corcoran, Tom, and Michael White. 2013. Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost and Making Church Matter . Notre Dame: Ave Maria Press.
General Curia of the Congregation of the Mission. 1989. Constitutions and Statutes of the Congregation of the Mission. Philadelphia.
International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Doctrinal Commission. 2012. Baptism in the Holy Spirit . Luton: New Life.
John Paul II, Pope. 1979. CAtechesi Tradendae. Vatican.
Mallon, James. 2014. Divine Renovation: Bringing Your Parish from Maintenance to Mission. Toronto: Novalis.
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