Dear Brothers and Sisters of Saint Patrick,
As we conclude Phase II of Building with Living Stones as Missionary Disciples, a number of helpful insights and comments have been offered by each of the small groups who met throughout the Easter Season. These summary comments reflect the rich conversations that occurred within each small group. I thank those who facilitated each of these groups as well as those who participated.
These individual reflections will be coordinated into a summary report and available to the parish community in August, capturing common threads and themes as we begin the next phase of reflection and strategic pastoral planning. This next phase of BWLS will invite general parishioner input through surveys and focus groups as we begin strategic planning into 2022.
More than merely another parish program, this year-long initiative hopes to engage parishioners as we reflect upon our fundamental call to be missionary disciples, that is, beloved daughters and sons who have encountered the risen Lord and who want to share this good news with others. As we are called to personally encounter Christ, so we accompany others along their sacred journey; as we find ourselves in this intentional community which is rooted in faith, so we are sent into the world.
Again, many thanks to those who have joined us in Lent as we thoughtfully listened to the invitation, to those in Easter who journeyed together in reflection, and to those who will be providing valuable input in this next phase.
May we continue to keep one another in prayer as we discern how the Lord renews in each of us that fundamental call to joyfully proclaim his Kingdom.
In the Joy of the Gospel,
Fr. Gurnick