Grapevine the St. Francis
June 2019
A CLEAR PATH HERE AT ST. FRANCIS As we continue to build missionary disciples and develop a Clear Path of Discipleship at St. Francis of Assisi, it’s important to remember why we are approaching evangelization with this strategy at our parish. The General Directory of Catechesis says the following about evangelization in paragraphs 47-49: 47. The Church, while ever containing in herself the fullness of the means of salvation, always operates 'by slow stages.' The conciliar decree Ad Gentes clarifies well the dynamic of the process of evangelization: Christian witness, dialogue and presence in charity, the proclamation of the Gospel and the call to conversion, the catechumenate and Christian Initiation, the formation of the Christian communities through and by means of the sacraments and their ministers. This is the dynamic for establishing and building up the Church. 48. Accordingly, in conformity with this, evangelization must be viewed as the process by which the Church, moved by the Spirit, proclaims and spreads the Gospel throughout the entire world.
Currently, our main focus along the Clear Path of Discipleship is three initiatives:
ENCOUNTER First, Discover Christ is directed towards nonbelievers and even all cradle Catholics who need to hear and respond to the personal call of the Gospel and into friendship with Jesus Christ.
GROW Second, Connect Groups (see the back cover for more info!) are meant for that growth as a disciple and initial catechetical activity.
SERVE Finally, the Called & Gifted Workshop is a forum for each parishioner to discern their unique gifts and talents to serve the community on mission.
49. The process of evangelization, consequently, is structured in stages or 'essential moments:' missionary activity directed toward non-believers Imagine how different our parish would be if every and those who live in religious indifference; initial single parishioner had a moment of igniting or recatechetical activity for those who choose the igniting their friendship with Jesus, grew in a small Gospel and for those who need to complete or community of disciples who loved and cared for them, modify their initiation; pastoral activity directed and each discerned their charisms to serve both inside toward the Christian faithful of mature faith in and outside the church! the bosom of the Christian community. These What impact would a church like that have on moments, however, are not unique: they may be Grapevine?!? Join us in our mission, and let's find out! repeated, if necessary, as they give evangelical nourishment in proportion to the spiritual growth START YOUR JOURNEY: sfatx.org/path of each person or of the entire community. A NEWSLETTER OF ST FRANCIS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 861 WILDWOOD LN, GRAPEVINE TX • SFATX.ORG