Church’s Mission

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Welcome them and Welcome them and incorporate the incorporate the positive aspects of positive aspects of their culture into the their culture into the Church’s life and Church’s life and mission” mission” EIO 44 EIO 44

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Transcript of Church’s Mission

Page 1: Church’s Mission

““Welcome them and Welcome them and incorporate the positive incorporate the positive aspects of their culture aspects of their culture

into the Church’s life and into the Church’s life and mission”mission” EIO 44EIO 44

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Church’s MissionChurch’s Mission

““The Church is not motivated The Church is not motivated by an earthly ambition but is by an earthly ambition but is interested in one thing only – interested in one thing only – to carry on the work of Christ to carry on the work of Christ under the guidance of the under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.”Holy Spirit.” (Gaudium et Spes 3)(Gaudium et Spes 3)

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How does How does ““carrying on the work of carrying on the work of Christ” fit into the emerging Christ” fit into the emerging culture of young people”?culture of young people”?

FromFrom Passivity to ParticipationPassivity to Participation Certainty to ChangeCertainty to Change Formal to less structured experiencesFormal to less structured experiences

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Church’s MissionChurch’s Mission

“ “The Lord has called the Church in The Lord has called the Church in Oceania to himself: as always the call Oceania to himself: as always the call involves a sending forth on a mission. involves a sending forth on a mission. The purpose of being with Jesus is to The purpose of being with Jesus is to go forth from Jesus, in his power and go forth from Jesus, in his power and with his grace.with his grace. Christ is now calling Christ is now calling the Church to share in his mission the Church to share in his mission with new energy and creativity.” with new energy and creativity.” EIO 3EIO 3

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The purpose of being with The purpose of being with Jesus is to go forth from Jesus, Jesus is to go forth from Jesus,

in his power and with his in his power and with his grace.grace.

I have found the above line speaks to I have found the above line speaks to young people in particular………young people in particular………maybe it is part of the culture of maybe it is part of the culture of PARTICIPATIONPARTICIPATION and and RELATIONSHIPS…..RELATIONSHIPS…..

With Jesus out to others.With Jesus out to others.

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Christ is now calling the Church to Christ is now calling the Church to share in his mission with new energy share in his mission with new energy

and creativity.and creativity.

How do we harness the energy and creativity How do we harness the energy and creativity of the young?of the young?

Remember…. “It’s about recognizing that Remember…. “It’s about recognizing that young people have gifts and about challenging young people have gifts and about challenging the current practices we use in involving young the current practices we use in involving young people.”people.”

Young people are not a problem to be solved Young people are not a problem to be solved but a gift to be cherished.but a gift to be cherished.

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Church’s MissionChurch’s Mission

““Faith in Jesus’ presence Faith in Jesus’ presence among his people in Oceania among his people in Oceania will always make possible new will always make possible new and wonderful encounters with and wonderful encounters with him, and these encounters will him, and these encounters will become the seeds of new become the seeds of new mission.”mission.” EIO 3EIO 3

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Do we believe in Jesus presence Do we believe in Jesus presence among the young people of our among the young people of our Church? do we treat them as such?Church? do we treat them as such?

oror

do we see them as Catholics-in-do we see them as Catholics-in-training? the Church of the future?training? the Church of the future?

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Church’s MissionChurch’s Mission

““The central concern of the The central concern of the Synod Assembly was to find Synod Assembly was to find appropriate ways of presenting appropriate ways of presenting to the peoples of Oceania today to the peoples of Oceania today Jesus Christ as Lord and Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.”Saviour.” EIO 4EIO 4

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This must still be our central concern This must still be our central concern today, are we prepared to adapt and today, are we prepared to adapt and make changes in order to find make changes in order to find “appropriate ways” to present Jesus “appropriate ways” to present Jesus to young people today?to young people today?

e.g. Easter Tri Series.e.g. Easter Tri Series.

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Church’s LifeChurch’s Life

SpiritualSpiritual Liturgical/SacramentalLiturgical/Sacramental PastoralPastoral JusticeJustice EducationEducation LeadershipLeadership CommunityCommunity

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Dave made the suggestion that young Dave made the suggestion that young people are mostly responding to a culture people are mostly responding to a culture that is marketed to them, rather than that is marketed to them, rather than ‘creating’ a specific culture……..‘creating’ a specific culture……..

Are we looking for opportunities to “market” Are we looking for opportunities to “market” those aspects of the Church’s life which those aspects of the Church’s life which speak to the depths of the soul…being speak to the depths of the soul…being prepared to change our language…..be seen prepared to change our language…..be seen in the “market place”, e.g. Marriage Show?in the “market place”, e.g. Marriage Show?

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Young People in the ChurchYoung People in the Church

““The Bishops wanted them to know The Bishops wanted them to know that they are a vital apart of the Church that they are a vital apart of the Church today, and that Church leaders are today, and that Church leaders are keen to find ways to involve young keen to find ways to involve young people more fully in the Church’s life people more fully in the Church’s life and mission. Young Catholics are called and mission. Young Catholics are called to follow Jesus: not just in the future as to follow Jesus: not just in the future as adults, but now as maturing disciples.” adults, but now as maturing disciples.” EIO 44EIO 44

““The Bishops wanted them to know The Bishops wanted them to know that they are a vital apart of the Church that they are a vital apart of the Church today, and that Church leaders are today, and that Church leaders are keen to find ways to involve young keen to find ways to involve young people more fully in the Church’s life people more fully in the Church’s life and mission. Young Catholics are called and mission. Young Catholics are called to follow Jesus: not just in the future as to follow Jesus: not just in the future as adults, but now as maturing disciples.” adults, but now as maturing disciples.” EIO 44EIO 44

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““May they always be drawn to the May they always be drawn to the overwhelmingly attractive figure of overwhelmingly attractive figure of Jesus, and stirred by the challenge of Jesus, and stirred by the challenge of the Gospel’s sublime ideals. Then they the Gospel’s sublime ideals. Then they will empowered to take up the active will empowered to take up the active apostolate to which the Church is now apostolate to which the Church is now calling them, and play their part calling them, and play their part joyfully and energetically in the life of joyfully and energetically in the life of the Church at every level: Universal, the Church at every level: Universal, national, diocesan and local.” national, diocesan and local.” EIO 44EIO 44

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Are we prepared to do the hard yards? Are we prepared to do the hard yards? Are we ready to sit and spend time in order Are we ready to sit and spend time in order

to discover what is positive in their culture?to discover what is positive in their culture? What in us has to die (be given up – over) so What in us has to die (be given up – over) so

that new life will spring up in the young?that new life will spring up in the young? The current attitude is you need to be here The current attitude is you need to be here

with us and know us –otherwise don’t with us and know us –otherwise don’t bother, it’s a conscious choice to stand bother, it’s a conscious choice to stand alongside them, be with them, sharing life, alongside them, be with them, sharing life, sharing struggles.sharing struggles.

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The Voice of the YoungThe Voice of the Young

How do we welcome them How do we welcome them and incorporate the positive and incorporate the positive aspects of their culture into aspects of their culture into the Church’s life and mission?the Church’s life and mission?

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I suggest a model is The Road to I suggest a model is The Road to EmmausEmmaus (Luke 24: 13-35)(Luke 24: 13-35)

They were talking together about They were talking together about all that had happened…all that had happened…

Now as they talked this over, Now as they talked this over, Jesus himself came up and Jesus himself came up and walked by their side….walked by their side….

What matters are you discussing What matters are you discussing as you walk along…?as you walk along…?

What things? He asked…..What things? He asked…..

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THEN THEN they told their story….they told their story….

WE usually tell our story first, the WE usually tell our story first, the Church’s story….…without listening first, Church’s story….…without listening first, we expect them to fit in and accept our we expect them to fit in and accept our storystory

Do we acknowledge that they come Do we acknowledge that they come from a culture which is uniquely theirs?from a culture which is uniquely theirs?

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N. B.N. B.

It was only after Jesus had listened to It was only after Jesus had listened to them that he explained the passages of them that he explained the passages of Scripture,Scripture,

Even then they did not recognize him, Even then they did not recognize him, even though they were drawn to the even though they were drawn to the overwhelmingly attractive figure of overwhelmingly attractive figure of Jesus… “Jesus… “They pressed him to stay with They pressed him to stay with them.”them.”

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LISTENLISTEN If we are to involve young people If we are to involve young people

more fully in the Church’s life and more fully in the Church’s life and mission….we have no option but mission….we have no option but to LISTEN……to LISTEN……

Dave spoke of being with them, Dave spoke of being with them, sharing life, sharing struggles and sharing life, sharing struggles and said said “these experiences can “these experiences can clearly show (if you are prepared clearly show (if you are prepared to listen carefully) moments of to listen carefully) moments of God-talk.”God-talk.”

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ListenListen This means – - - - - - - This means – - - - - - - Staying with them, being with them, Staying with them, being with them,

as Jesus remained with the two on as Jesus remained with the two on the road to Emmaus,the road to Emmaus,

If we are going to provide If we are going to provide CREDIBILITY in this Critical Age and CREDIBILITY in this Critical Age and draw them to the overwhelmingly draw them to the overwhelmingly attractive figure of Jesus, we have no attractive figure of Jesus, we have no option but to stay with them.option but to stay with them.

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Listen ……and? and?Listen ……and? and?

There are many other things…e.g.There are many other things…e.g. Honesty, integrity, sincerity in Honesty, integrity, sincerity in

ourselves,ourselves, Praying with themPraying with them Faith sharing, personal witnessFaith sharing, personal witness

ANDAND

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One other point I want to make in One other point I want to make in this time we have…….this time we have…….

PROVIDE EXPERINCES OF BEAUTYPROVIDE EXPERINCES OF BEAUTY

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““Beauty – a royal way to God Beauty – a royal way to God who is it’s source.”who is it’s source.”

Cardinal Godfreid DanneelsCardinal Godfreid Danneels

““I wonder if we make sufficient use of I wonder if we make sufficient use of beauty as the doorway leading to God? God beauty as the doorway leading to God? God is, indeed, truth, holiness and moral is, indeed, truth, holiness and moral perfection, but also beauty. One can reach perfection, but also beauty. One can reach God through the gate of truth, for truth God through the gate of truth, for truth attracts us…attracts us…

God as moral perfection and holiness also God as moral perfection and holiness also attracts us……we are drawn by the idea of attracts us……we are drawn by the idea of moral perfection, but think we are incapable moral perfection, but think we are incapable of attaining it…..”of attaining it…..”

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““Beauty, on the other hand, disarms: Beauty, on the other hand, disarms: it is irresistible for our it is irresistible for our contemporaries. Young students contemporaries. Young students spend hours discussing and holding spend hours discussing and holding forth about dogma (truth) and ethics forth about dogma (truth) and ethics (goodness). But when they listen to (goodness). But when they listen to Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion, they Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion, they are disarmed and surrender in are disarmed and surrender in silence.”silence.”

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Examples….Examples….

1. Oberammagau1. Oberammagau 2. W.Y.D. –Rome (Theme Song)2. W.Y.D. –Rome (Theme Song) 3. W.Y.D. Toronto3. W.Y.D. Toronto - Exposition of the Blessed - Exposition of the Blessed

SacramentSacrament - Stations of the Cross- Stations of the Cross

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““Beauty can achieve a synthesis Beauty can achieve a synthesis between truth and goodness. Truth, between truth and goodness. Truth, beauty and goodness: those are beauty and goodness: those are three of God’s names and three three of God’s names and three paths that lead to him. But beauty paths that lead to him. But beauty has hardly been pressed into use by has hardly been pressed into use by theology or religious teaching up until theology or religious teaching up until now. Isn’t it time to do so?”now. Isn’t it time to do so?” ( (Danneels)Danneels)

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What’s my own attitude towards young What’s my own attitude towards young people today? Problem for the Church or people today? Problem for the Church or gift?gift?

Can I name five positive aspects of the Can I name five positive aspects of the culture of young people I am prepared to culture of young people I am prepared to welcome?welcome?

Is it time to press beauty into use in Is it time to press beauty into use in theology and religious teaching?theology and religious teaching?