St. Francis de Sales Parish in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, recently engaged with the Institute for Ministry Formation (IMF) for a parish mission aimed at “missionizing” the parish.
Rather than simply providing a speaker for inspiration, the IMF prepares a parish to go on mission. This process involves forming a mission team to support the parish mission and evangelization efforts, and it requires several months of preparation with the parish mission team.
Fr. John Frink, administrator at St. Francis de Sales parish, shared his experience of working with the IMF:
Last year during the Lenten Season, my diocese, the Diocese of Allentown, asked parishioners throughout the diocese to complete the Disciple Maker Index that was developed by the Catholic Leadership Institute. As the results of the survey for my parish came back, I realized that, as a parish, we need to do something more to promote an atmosphere of evangelization. It was at that time that I contacted Father Boniface to ask if he would consider leading a parish mission. He agreed with the stipulation that I accept what he and the Institute for Ministry Formation at St. Vincent Seminary offered. They had been developing a plan for just such a request. Of course, I agreed to his proposal.
What Kristin and Father Boniface have given to our parish community was, and is, far beyond anything that I expected or could have hoped for!
We formed a team of parishioners who helped with the details of the mission. During the preparation meetings, Kristin provided a wonder-day, in-person, formation. During two other meetings, she provided recorded presentations for the team. These presentations served to get everyone on the same page because, as so often happens, different people bring different agendas to these kinds of events. I firmly believe that if we stick to the program, we will have the greatest success.
As the “parish priest,” I was a bit anxious in the days leading up to the mission; my primary concern was how the presentations would be received. If the comments that I have heard, first-hand or second-hand, are any indication, then the blessings that God desires to pour out on the parish, then we have much for which we can be thankful. Here is a sampling of those comments:
“I experienced an energy during our fellowship meals that I had not had for many years.”
“I was moved to tears during the mercy night on Saturday, feeling a profound sense of the movement of the Holy Spirit in my soul.”
“Kristin’s story of her move halfway across the country reminded me of my own experience of how God led me into a deeper relationship with Him.”
“I really needed to hear the dialogue between Father and Kristin about the different levels of conversation. It helped me to see how much I remain on the surface and that I can go deeper in my relationship not only with others but with my Heavenly Father.”
So now that the mission is concluded we are in the process of planning our follow-up strategy. We will be spending the next few months preparing for and advertising the Alpha Course to begin in the fall. We will be schedule Mercy Nights to be held throughout the year (I am hoping we will be able to do one in conjunction with Divine Mercy Sunday). One more, and I think most important goal, is to have the prayer teams who were formed for the mission be available after weekend Masses on a regular basis.
For myself, giving the “Mission Prep Team” the permission to “go and make disciples” actually makes my life as a parish priest easier. As long as I am able and willing to share my heart with the people of the parish, they will have the courage to go and proclaim the good news that we are made for communion with God who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit and each other.