WelCom July 2019:
At the 2017 Archdiocesan Synod the need for a ‘spirituality of service’ to address some of the issues raised was expressed strongly. Elizabeth Julian rsm has developed a short course of sessions to help people understand how their call to holiness, their mission – as explained by Pope Francis in Gaudete et Exsultate – is answered in their ordinary, everyday lives and activities as, ‘parents, spouses, grandparents, care-givers, employers, employees, coaches, team members, environmentalists, professionals, walkers, joggers, volunteers, parishioners, retirees, and so on. God comes disguised as our life!’, says Elizabeth.
Elizabeth says, ‘parishes will elect when to run the course and it will also be available on the Archdiocesan website at the beginning of October for anyone who wants to do it individually. You are invited to join others in your parish and embark on the journey.’
The six sessions, which will be available for groups and individuals throughout the Archdiocese in October, address the following topics.
Session 1 Spirituality: Before God, others and all creation
- Identifying elements of our own spirituality.
- Exploring what makes a spirituality Christian.
Session 2 Raising our hearts and minds to God: Prayer
- Exploring simple practices to nourish our prayer and spirituality.
Session 3 Called to holiness: Rejoice and be excited!
- Exploring the call to holiness in Gaudete et Exsultate.
Session 4 Sent to announce the gospel of the Lord: The Eucharist
- What does Sunday Eucharist mean for our lives?
- What do we bring to it and or take from it?
Session 5 Sent to the Peripheries of Society
- Identifying the peripheries of society in our local area.
- Identifying own/parish involvement.
- Suggesting further involvement.
Session 6 Sent to our own peripheries
- Identifying our own peripheries.
- Exploring the law of gradualness.
- Considering the implications.
The Archdiocese is planning a series of events next year about Mission, to highlight everyone’s personal calling to be missionaries. There is resounding call to go deeper into our mission as individuals and as Church, and in the spirit of prayer and celebration.