Dear parishioners,
Hope you are staying cool and hydrated from the heat. I have been thinking of what to focus on for this week’s bulletin, and the idea of the grounding philosophy that shapes my and the staff’s thinking as we provide leadership to our parish came to mind. We call these the Four Clarity Questions. They are foundational to how we understand who we are as a parish, what we do and how we do them. They also help us determine what the best idea to prioritize in an ocean of great ideas. These questions are the fruit of prayer and discernment. And because it is the responsibility of a pastor to provide vision to the parish and call everyone into this vision, I will begin this conversation using this medium. In subsequent bulletins I will clarify these.
CLARITY QUESTIONS
1. Why do we exist?
We exist to rescue people from the poverty of an identity outside of Jesus
2. How do we behave?
- Authentic accompaniment
- Joyful receptivity
- Sacrificial generosity
3. What do we do?
We are a community that worships, builds and sends disciples, serves the poor, and extends the Kingdom of God.
4. How will we succeed?
- Reliance on the Holy Spirit
- Availability
- Real-time accompaniment (person-to-person)
My hope is that we become familiar with these clarity questions as they will help us keep our gaze focused on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!