A Vision to Share

A Vision to Share was published in the June 19, 2016 Parish Bulletin.  It is copied below.  If you would like to see the bulletin in its entirety, please click HERE.

A Vision to Share

The faithfulness of any parish is revealed through sharing and serving with those in need. We are all called to pray in order to listen to God’s will, to grow in order to discern where the Holy Spirit is refining our lives, and to serve in order to follow the example of Jesus Christ. 

 

Missionary disciples in today’s Church share the Gospel in new and challenging ways that require us to first listen to God and to one another. This is different than following an individual desire, since the focus on a shared communal call values responding together to the particular needs that surround all of us.

 

St. Rose of Lima Pastoral Council has been very diligent and prayerful in the task of proposing a new parish vision. That vision is ready now to be shared with all the members of our church family:

 

Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church responds to God’s mercy

by growing disciples through encounter and evangelization.

Our inclusive, intercultural community is called to holiness,

formed by scripture, nourished by the Sacraments,

and guided by the Holy Spirit to pray together and serve one another.

 

Orar     Crecer     Servir

Pray     Grow     Serve

 

Over the past three years, our Pastoral Council has engaged in discerning God’s call. It began with the Archdiocesan Synod, inspiring a renewed vision for the parish through prayer, sharing and evaluation. A parish survey was then conducted and the results were compiled and explored. Pastoral Council membership changed as terms ended and began, fostering a rich diversity of ideas. Council members spent a great deal of time developing an initial vision statement draft. This past year, that draft met with a surfaced desire to develop focus areas or lenses through which to look (Intercultural, Sacraments, Growing Disciples, Service and Stewardship) that would instill a community-wide, comprehensive approach focused upon responding to God’s mercy.

 

A community of faith has the capacity to call forth the gifts of each person. In order to do so in the light of Christ, we must be engaged with one another. Although it may be tempting to consider Church as one of the many tasks in our already full schedules, our baptismal call compels us to respond to needs with the gifts we have been given. We cannot expect others to serve exactly as the Holy Spirit inspires us to share. 

 

Please keep this vision in your prayers over the summer months. Prayerfully listen to where God is calling you to share your life, gifts and time with others. The full pastoral vision will be shared at Fiesta in September. A month later, a community-wide, one day retreat will be offered to articulate the particular lenses or focus areas that will bring clarity to the vision. May the love of God through the intercession of our Blessed Mother open all of our hearts and understanding to receive this gift with joy. Saint Rose of Lima, pray for us!

 

Rev. Agustin Mateo Ayala                                                    Mark Moitoza 

Pastor                                                                                        Pastoral Council Liaison