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may grow slowly and may be harvested by others later on. Prayer should
accompany all
discussion and planning, in order to ensure that the soil of
parish life receives the nourishment it needs so that the seeds of disciple-
ship can bear fruit.
Encounter
All Christians are invited to a “renewed personal encounter with
Jesus Christ.”
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Christ calls all people to himself in his Body, the Church, through the
workings of the Holy Spirit,
so that we can enter into a personal relation-
ship with God the Father. “In virtue of their baptism, all the members of
the People of God have become missionary disciples.”
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Reflective reading,
lectio divina
, and the
study of Scripture will aid in deepening the encounter
with Christ. The Sunday homily breaks open the Word
of God by stirring
the hearts of people, deepening our knowledge of the faith, renewing our
participation in
the Church and her sacraments, and strengthening us for
the daily challenges of life. By participating in Mass,
learning common
prayers, and practicing personal and public devotions, Christians appro-
priate the teachings
of the faith into their own lives and are sent forth to
witness Christ.
Discipleship involves helping people enter into a personal encounter
with Christ through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, works of mercy, and
faith formation.
Questions for Reflection:
•
Do I have a relationship with Jesus Christ?
•
In what ways do I cultivate this friendship with Jesus and his Church?
•
How do I help others grow in their relationship with Christ and the Church?
•
What opportunities does the parish provide to cultivate ongoing encounters
with Jesus?
•
In what ways does the parish accompany our family, friends, and commu-
nity through the journey of conversion?
•
Are there opportunities that are not in place in our parish ministries that we
may need to provide?