Planning Prepared the Way: What’s Next?

Something new is coming to the Plainville-Wrentham Catholic Collaborative early in 2018... One of the first tangible fruits of our pastoral planning process (in addition to the plan itself) will be a new experience starting in February as part of the Faith Formation of Adults and Families priority. Building on the past successful adult faith experiences in each of our parishes, we will begin a new Thursday evening adult program starting on February 8, 2018 - one which will nicely complement the ongoing Cursillo retreats, Faith Matters nights, and other adult faith experiences.

A key finding of our parishes’ survey results and our committees’ observations of what piqued the interest of our parishioners is this: we need more opportunities for adults of all ages to come together for experiences that help us to grow spiritually. One of the most important things the councils and staff learned in our training over the past two years is the importance of building our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The principal way we need to help one another come to a deeper experience of faith is through personal encounters with other people of faith.

So what is this new opportunity we are planning? After considering several different programs, we have decided to begin with Discovering Christ, a seven-week experience designed by ChristLife. ChristLife is a Catholic organization founded to help make these kinds of interactions with people of faith happen easily, especially in parishes. Discovering Christ is an invitation to share a meal, enjoy a short video presentation and have small group discussions about key questions of life and faith. It is designed for any adult to participate, from the most seasoned Catholic to someone who is really unsure of their beliefs. Several parishioners (men and women) recently participated in the Discovering Christ program and found it an amazingly powerful, uplifting experience!

Please save the dates in your calendar - each Thursday starting February 8 through Lent - and watch for more information on our website and bulletin in the coming weeks. Again, this new program is only one example of the fruit of our local Pastoral Plan for our collaborative parishes. We are launching this early in the implementation of our plan because I believe that Discovering Christ, together with our other adult faith formation experiences, comprise a critically important part of the process of our strengthening and growing process as individuals and as parishes.

As we prepare to welcome visitors and neighbors at Christmas that may have been away from church for a while, may they find in us warm, welcoming, gracious hosts, and feeling like they want to return.

Perhaps they will come to Mass the following weekend, or at least to an event or program in one of our parishes, so that we may grow spiritually together in the coming months. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide our plans and efforts as we strive to “Prepare the way of the Lord” this Advent and into the coming year!