To My Spiritual Family of Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony,
Being an “Amazing Parish:” The Parish Leadership Team – myself, Jenn Wortman, and John & Mary Beth Zdarko – had a powerful experience in Phoenix at the Amazing Parish Summit. Our three days there, spent praying and learning with other parish teams from around the nation (for example, our breakfast table companions were from the Diocese of Stockton in California), brought clarity regarding the things we’ve been working on, and more importantly, it stoked the fires of Christian zeal in our hearts. Remember, please, that our parish is the place where the most important work in the world happens. Apple sells phones . . . but our parish gives away the love of Christ. Progressive offers insurance . . . but our parish offers a refuge for the troubled. Toyota provides transportation . . . but our parish leads all of us down the road toward salvation.
Here are some notes from the Parish Leadership Team and from the Summit:
1. Our parish exists to turn people’s lives upside down through an encounter with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ! Seriously! This is why we do what we do! Our two campuses, Holy Redeemer and St. Anthony, are the places where we gather to worship and pray, the places at which we are formed in faith, and the places from which we go out to love and serve. Therefore, we must constantly be asking ourselves:
a. Are we providing opportunities for people to authentically encounter and fall in love with Christ? b. Are we cultivating and satisfying the sacramental longing of our parishioners? c. Is Holy Redeemer a true home for parishioners, for community members, and for anyone in need?
2. Our parish must be a place of excellence! We don’t accept mediocrity at other places and in other endeavors, so why should we accept it here? Mediocrity is a poison. Being “good enough” is not good enough! God deserves the best and we should give our best in his name and for his greater glory. a. Our liturgies – the environment, the hospitality, the proclaiming of God’s word, the music, the preaching – all should be top notch. We have much to improve upon, but together we can get there. Let’s hold each other accountable for making that progress. b. Our events should be top notch. No one wants to attend an ill-conceived, boring, or shoddily done parish affair. No one wants to be involved with a poorly organized or poorly executed faith formation class or study. I believe that we already provide excellent programming, but we can be even better yet. Each one of us should take responsibility for ensuring outstanding programs and events.
3. Jesus is everything! Without him, we are nothing and we have nothing. Our parish is a place where we regularly and intentionally encounter Jesus. Please, be with us each and every Sunday. Please, pray for each other and pray for me. Please, know that God loves you. And as your pastor, I strive to love you as well!
Independence Day Mass and CCY Sausage Stand: Our parish Mass for the July 4th holiday will be at Holy Redeemer (not at St. Anthony like it normally is on a Tuesday). 9:00 am is the time. Since the sausage stand begins operations at 10:00 am, and since the parade route goes right by the church this year, and since we all want to get a convenient parking spot – just saying – that coming for the Mass and then just staying for the parade is a pretty darned good plan. Hope to see you!
Mary, Mother of the Redeemer – Pray for us! Our Lady of Guadalupe – Pray for us! St. Anthony – Pray for us! St. Joseph – Pray for us!