BISHOP DAVID L. RICKEN, DD, JCLDISCIPLES ON THE WAY - FOLLOW JESUS

DISCIPLESHIP FORMATION: DIOCESE OF GREEN BAY

Discover Jesus Follow Jesus Worship Jesus Share Jesus

OVERVIEW• WefollowJesusbyansweringthecalltoPrayerandHoliness.• WefollowJesusasHisdisciplesbyimitatingHimdaily.• WefollowJesusbybuildinghabitsofeffectivediscipleship.• WefollowJesusbyfosteringacultureofmissionarydiscipleship.

FOLLOW JESUS: THE WAY OF DISCIPLESHIP

AshepassedbytheSeaofGalilee,hesawSimonandhisbrotherAndrewcastingtheirnetsintothesea;theywerefishermen.Jesussaidtothem,“Comeafterme,andIwillmakeyoufishersofmen.”Thentheyabandonedtheirnetsandfollowedhim.-MARK1:16-18

WhenGodcomes,healwayscallsusoutofourhouse.Wearevisitedsothatwecanvisitothers;weareencounteredsoastoencounterothers;wereceiveloveinordertogivelove.-POPEFRANCIS

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

I. WE FOLLOW JESUS BY ANSWERING THE CALL TO HOLINESS

The Call to Prayer & Holiness“MakingChristapriorityinourlivesmeansthatwehavetosay“yes”towhatChristisaskingofusandsay“no”tothethingsoftheworldthatpullusawayfromhim.”-BishopRicken,Teach My People To Pray

Making Space for ChristWeneedtomakespaceforChristinourmindsandinourheartswhichareoftentoocluttered.WeneedtomakespaceforthegiftwhichisJesusChristhimselffor“JesusChrististhesameyesterday,todayandforever”(Heb13:8).-PastoralLetter“Parishes: Called to Be Holy, Fully Engaged, Fully Alive”andPastoralReflection“Teach My People to Pray”

What does the prayer life of a disciple look like?“ItisclearthatitisnotjusttherecitationofprayersatSundayMassthatsignifiesapersonwhohasaqualityprayerlife,althoughthisiscertainlyanimportantpartofadisciple’sprayerlife.Rather,adiscipleofJesusissomeonewhoisagoodfriendofJesusandspendssometimealonewiththeLordinprayereveryday.EachofusiscalledtowalkwithJesus,andstrivetogrowclosertoHiminthought,wordanddeed.”-PastoralReflection“Teach My People to Pray”

“JESUS IS THE ONLY GOSPEL: WE HAVE

NOTHING FURTHER TO SAY OR ANY OTHER

WITNESS TO BEAR.” -EVANGELIUMVITAE#80

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

II. WE FOLLOW JESUS AS HIS DISCIPLES BY IMITATING HIM DAILY

What is a disciple?TheworddisciplecomesfromtheGreekwordmathetesmeaningpupil/studentofthemaster.Itisanapprenticeshipinfaith.

• AdiscipleisonewhofollowsJesus,lovesHim,wantstolearnfromHim,bewithHimandshareHimwithothers.

• Adiscipleisonewhoisbaptized,confirmedandwhopracticesthefaithjoyfully.DisciplesarefriendsandfollowersofJesus.

• AdiscipleisabaptizedmemberoftheChurchwhowantstokeepgrowinganddeepeninghis/herwalkwithJesusandHisBody,theChurch.

What does it mean to be a disciple?“BeingadisciplemeansbeingconstantlyreadytobringtheloveofJesustoothers,andthiscanhappenunexpectedlyandinanyplace:onthestreet,inacitysquare,duringwork,onajourney.”-POPEFRANCIS,EVANGELIIGAUDIUM,#127

How do we imitate Jesus?• Ifhespeakstosomeone,helooksintotheireyeswithdeeploveandconcern.

• “Jesus,lookinguponhim,lovedhim.”-Mark10:21• Weseehowaccessibleheis,ashedrawsneartheblindman(cf.Mk10:46-52)andeatsanddrinkswithsinners(cf.Mk2:16)withoutworryingaboutbeingthoughtagluttonandadrunkardhimself(cf.Mt11:19).

• Weseehissensitivityinallowingasinfulwomantoanointhisfeet(cf.Lk7:36-50)andinreceivingNicodemusbynight(cf.Jn3:1-15).

“JESUS’ SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS IS NOTHING ELSE THAN THE CULMINATION OF THE WAY HE LIVED HIS ENTIRE LIFE.”-EVANGELIIGAUDIUM#269

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

III. WE FOLLOW JESUS BY BUILDING HABITS (VIRTUES) OF DISCIPLESHIP

10 Habits of effective discipleship 1. APersonalRelationship–Adisciplecultivatesapersonalrelationship

withJesus,articulatesitandintroducesotherstoJesus.2. Prayer–Adiscipleprayseveryday.3. Commitment–AdisciplehasacommitmenttoJesus,hisChurch

andtotheKingdom.4. Worship–AdiscipleworshipseverySunday.5. Study–AdisciplestudiesSacredScriptureandotherChristian

writings.6. Openness–AdisciplepracticesopennesstotheHolySpiritand

responsivenesstowheretheLordisleadinghimorher.7. Participation–Adiscipleparticipatesinthecommunityandinthe

SacramentallifeoftheChurch.8. Service–Adiscipleservesothersinthecommunityinthenameof

JesusChrist.9. Generosity–Adiscipleshareshisorherpersonalgiftsoftime,talent

andtreasurewiththeLord,HisChurch,andthepoor.10. Evangelization–Adiscipleevangelizestheworldthroughword,

witness,worksofmercy,andcompassion.

Follow Jesus - Reflection Questions• InwhatwaysamIfollowingJesusinmylife?

• HowdoesJesuscallmetofollowHiminmyministry?

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

IV. WE FOLLOW JESUS BY FOSTERING A CULTURE OF MISSIONARY DISCIPLESHIP

Moving forward as one Body in Christ• PresentState2016:DioceseofGreenBay• Ourgoalistofacilitateallindividuals,groups,parishes,schools,apostolates,programsandministriestoheadinthesamedirectionwithaclearfocusandthedevelopmentofgoalsandstrategiesforimplementation.

Vision and MissionVision:WearemissionarydisciplesstrivingtoleadallpeopletotheKingdomofGod.

Mission:AsfriendsandfollowersofJesus,wearedevotedtofosteringhouseholdsandcommunitiesofdiscipleshipthroughthemissionandministryoftheCatholicChurch.

CommunitiesofDiscipleship:DiscoverJesus.FollowJesus.WorshipJesus.ShareJesuswithothers.

Fostering a culture of missionary discipleship in the Diocese of Green Bay

Who is Jesus, and why is he important to us today?“IcanseefrommyownexperiencethatevenifIspeakofmanybeautifulconcepts,nothingseemstohappen.WemustproclaimJesusasLordandSavior,helpingpeopletograspwhatitmeanstohaveJesusastheirSavior—notinatheoreticalway,butthateverydaytheyhaveaSavior,someonewhowillliftthemfromtheirfatigueoftheday,oftheirsin,andtheirmistakes,andwhorenewsthem.Hesavesus.Whenyouproclaimthisliving,crucifiedandrisenJesus,somethingalwayshappens.”-Fr.RanieroCantalmessa,OFMCap

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

Our Culture“WearestrongwitnessestoChristwhenwebandtogetherasmissionarydisciplestoutilizeourGod-givengiftsandtalents.Weaddressourowninconsistenciesasweacttodotherightthing.ThereispowerinourtransparencytoownourweaknessesandtotrustinGodandeachotherinourvulnerability.”-DioceseofGreenBay,CultureStatement

Our Values1. ExplorePotential2. ConnecttoInspire3. EmbracePeople’sHearts4. EmpoweredtoAct5. NurtureAbundantLifeandGrowth

Explore Potential• WeallhaveGod-givenpotential.WeworktogethertoseethepossibilitiesandthegiftseachofushasbeengiveninordertoaccomplishthevisionandmissionoftheChurchtoevangelizeandimpactcommunities.

• Scripture:“I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.”-Philippians4:13

Connect to Inspire• Weareabletoaccomplishmoretogetherthanwecanonourown.TheconnectionwehavewithGodandotherscreatesgrowthandexcitement.

• Scripture:“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”–Hebrews10:24-25

Embrace People’s Hearts• EachpersoniscreatedintheimageandlikenessofGodandisdeservingofrespectandhonor.Allofourinteractionscommunicatethepositiveregardandappreciationwehaveforeachandeveryperson.

• Scripture:“Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”-Romans12:10

Empowered to Act• AllbaptizedChristiansareempoweredtoactaccordingtothegiftsgiventothembytheFather,throughtheSon,intheHolySpirit.Bylivingoutthediocesanvisionandmissionofmissionarydiscipleship,weareempoweredtotakeresponsibilitytoact.

• Scripture:“We put no obstacle in any one’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.”-2Corinthians6:3

Nurture Abundant Life and Growth• LifeisagiftandwearechargedbytheCreatortoprotectitandtofosteritsgrowthwhereverpossible.Weactivelypursuelifeoverdeath,potentialoverlimitation,andlightoverdarkness.

• Scripture:“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”-John1:5

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

Reflection QuestionsAsyouconsiderthevalues,whichonedoyoufeelyouexemplify.Why?

Asyouconsideryourministry,howdothevaluesalignwithyourwork?

Whichvaluesarethemostchallengingforyou?Why?

Time for a new pentecost“WhatanewPentecostmeans,isthatweareaskingfortheHolySpirittomanifestHimselfmoreandmoresothatwebecometrulyaliveinourfaith.Wewanttoshineasalightinthemidstofdarkness,andtrulytobesaltfortheworldbythequalityofourwitnessandthesacrificeswemakeforthesakeofJesus,fortheGospelandfortheChurch.”-DisciplesontheWay

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FOLLOW JESUS | BISHOP RICKEN

A DISCIPLE’S PRAYER

“Oh,GoodShepherd,Jesus,”HelpmetoimitateYou

AndreflectYourimagetoothers,EspeciallythosewhomIguideandserve.

Helpmetothinkwithyourmind,Toseeandgazewithyoureyes,

Tohearwithyourears,Tospeakwiththewordsofyourmouth.

LordJesus,usemetocarryforthyourmission,

Asyourservantanddisciple,Helpmetocarryoutthisworkwithyourhands,TobeavoiceforYouinallthatIsayanddo.

MercifulShepherd,Jesus,

HelpmetoliveinyourPerson,Tosharegenerouslyinthecarryingofyourcross,

Sothatmanyothersmaybesaved.BycomingtoknowandloveYouThroughmysimple,faithfulwitness.

GlorybetotheFather,andtotheSonandtotheHolySpirit,

Asitwasinthebeginning,isnowandevershallbe,worldwithoutend.Amen.

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Diocese of Green Bay|disciplesontheway@gbdioc.org