1. P A R I S H O F S T . L A U R E N C E
S T A F F R E T R E A T
J U L Y 5 , 2 0 1 4
Changing Water Into Wine
Becoming the Person God Created You To Be

2. Lord Jesus Christ,
We thank you for having called us together here.
We offer you what we are about to undertake,
everything we think, do and experience
during these coming days in your honor.
We also offer you the fatigue of the past week,
and from the various events of this day,
because this – too - is our “daily bread.”
Grant that we may begin this retreat
with a spirit of hope and anticipation
That you will feed our hearts and souls in the time ahead...
in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

3. Pathway – Tuesday
 BIG PICTURE - Us, The Church
& the New Evangelization:
 New paradigms !
 Sacred vs. Secular
 Office vs. Talent vs. Charism
 Call & Mission & The “Affirmative Way”

4. Pathway – Wednesday
 From “Feast of Corpus Christi”
 Genesis 14:18 – 20
 Identity of the issue
 Source of the problem
 Antidote to the dilemma
 Examples of hope

5. Current View of the Catholic Church
Interaction
with Current
Culture
Separatist Restorers Cultural

6. Current View of the Catholic Church
Interaction
with Current
Culture
SEPARATIST
Insiders
Cultural
Warriors
Evangelizers

7. Current View of the Catholic Church
Interaction with
Current Culture
CULTURAL
Blenders
Philanthropists

8. Current View of the Catholic Church
Interaction
with Current
Culture
RESTORERS

9. Current View of the Catholic Church
CHANNELS
OF
CULTURAL
INFULENCE
Media
Education
Arts &
Environment
Business
Government
Social
Outreach
Church

10. The Catholic Church and
The New Evangelization
CHURCHMedia
Education
Arts &
Environment
Business
Government
Social
Outreach
Culture

11. New Evangelization Challenges Us..
 To see the world in a new light
 To see the Church in a new light
 To see ourselves in a new light

12. CHALLENGES OF THE
NEW EVANGELIZATION
Pope John Paul II, 1988 US Bishops, 1980 & 1995

13. VATICAN II
 Changed view of the laity:
 From being simply disciples …
 Merely receive the spiritual gifts of the Church
 “Pray, Pay and Obey”
 “Meet my friend Sherri. She’s not ordained.”
 (…with no context i.t.o. her as disciple/apostle)
 …To disciples AND apostles (people who are sent)

14. SACRED VS. SECULAR
 Church was place we went to:
 Hide from the world
 Rest from the world
 Problem is when “secular” (area of the laity)
is seen in opposition to the world.

15. SACRED VS. SECULAR
 John Paul II:
 “Secular” is theological term
 The place to where we are sent
 Locus where we achieve holiness
 Laity possess “secular character” (cf charism)

16. NEW EVANGELIZATION
 Paradigms are shifting:
 In terms of Church Paradigm:
 Not just the parish area…
 From model where campus, rectory, convent, etc…
support the church building and the school..
 Moving into the home, workplace, university, entertainment
centers …

17. NEW EVANGELIZATION
 In terms of Personal Paradigm:
 From street corner, testimonial, Bible thumping
 To Pope John Paul II’s “New Humanism.”
 Exactly what you are, who you are, what you do naturally ,
what you do well, where you are.
 Bringing Christ to others in a redemptive way.
 Confer Gabe Lyons, “Next Christians.”

18. NEW EVANGELIZATION
 Grace flows through us in exactly the way
God has made you.
 Sharing your “faith experiences” with others by:
 Simply being who you are, and….
 Using your gifts in a natural way.

19. VATICAN II
 If sent, you need to know:
Where you are sent.
To whom you are sent
What to do once you get there.

20. Pathway – Wednesday
 Charisms, Personalities and
Discernment
 Signs of Charisms
 Evaluation
 Additional Resources
 Next Steps

21. The “Affirmative Way”
 ALL Catholics have been given
a mandate:
 Authority
 Power
 Jurisdiction
 ALL Catholics are consecrated
for mission:
 Catholics find themselves in the world,
 Directed towards and for the world,
 And achieve holiness within the world.

22. The “Affirmative Way”
 All Catholics are called to spiritual transformation..
 In the midst of loving the world,
 ..and being in the midst of the world.
 The world is the “agent” of your holiness.
 Bishops and priests provide the tradition
 Narrow focus
 The laity take it, and apply it in the world
 Broad focus
 From Catherine of Siena to Palestrina.

23. The “Affirmative Way”
 The world is the “agent” of your holiness.
 Bishops and priests provide the tradition
 Narrow focus
 The laity take it, and apply it in the world
 Broad focus
 From Catherine of Siena to Palestrina.

24. WE WILL NOT CHANGE THE
STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY ACCORDING
TO SOME PRESCRIBED BLUEPRINT.
The “Affirmative Way”

25. HOWEVER….
The “Affirmative Way”

26. THIS IS NOT A USER FRIENDLY WORLD VIEW
The “Affirmative Way”

27. BUT IT IS A SCRIPTURAL WORLD VIEW
The “Affirmative Way”

28. Charisms in Scripture
 Examples:
 Romans 12
 I Corinthians 12
 Ephesians 4
 Elsewhere ..

29. Signs of Charisms
 Christians are to expect that charisms are to be present.
 Scriptural basis of what it means to be “Catholic.”
 (Yet, prudence and wisdom in dispensing the gift/charism.)
 This has not been the case/experience of most Catholics.
 Exceptions – Charismatic Renewal, Cursillo, Marriage Encounter
 Beginning to manifest itself as fewer priests/sisters available.

30. END OF PART I
Changing Water Into Wine
Becoming the Person God Created You To Be
P A R I S H O F S T . L A U R E N C E
S T A F F R E T R E A T
J U L Y 5 , 2 0 1 4

31. Changing Water Into Wine
P A R I S H O F S T . L A U R E N C E
S T A F F R E T R E A T
J U L Y 5 , 2 0 1 5

32. Members of the Parish Staff ...
• Are called to holiness.
• Are characterized by a love for God.
• Live a life of faith, hope and love.
• Manifests Christ by daily piety and life.
• Possess an apostolic spirit and missionary zeal.
• Love their brothers and sisters.
• Are willing to give generous service.
• Engage in personal prayer.
• Participate in parish life.
• Have a devotion to the Eucharist and Mary

33. Members of the Parish Staff need...
• Level 1:
▫ To grow as a person of faith.
▫ Development of their a spiritual life.
▫ Development of professional skill set.
• Level 2:
▫ To model church teaching.
▫ To be effective at facilitating parish change.
▫ To be effective at facilitating parish growth.
▫ To integrate essential theological ideas into parish
mission (Scripture, Creed & Morality).

34. Faith in Action
Mary as the Model

35. Faith Applied in Action:
• Discern for yourself what the Lord is telling you
during your retreat this year.
• Discuss this three times with at least one person
over the course of the next year.

36. Faith Applied in Action:
• There are 18 Marian celebrations and feast
days…
• Celebrate just one of these days that honor Mary
this year.

37. Faith Applied in Action:
• Commit to saying the Rosary (or Divine Chaplet)
daily during October, the month dedicated to
Our Lady of the Rosary.

38. Faith Applied in Action:
• Mary is mentioned close to 50 times in the New
Testament. …
• Over the next year, chose and read just one
Marian story or passage. Sit with and pray with
this passage for one week from one Saturday to
the next.

39. Mary as the Model
What you might experience:When you do this:
• Joy
• Trepidation
• Trust
• Confusion
• Wonder
• Treasuring Memories
▫ “Pondering”
• Meditation
▫ “Reflecting”
• Tasting
▫ The fruits

40. END OF
PRESENTATION
Changing Water Into Wine
Becoming the Person God Created You To Be
P A R I S H O F S T . L A U R E N C E
S T A F F R E T R E A T
J U L Y 5 , 2 0 1 4