We have been looking at the five “best practices” for revitalizing the Catholic Community as presented in Everyone Leads by Chris Lowney. I have reviewed the first four; the ways we are entrepreneurial, strive to be accountable, how we serve the poor and marginalized and how we transform each worshipper’s heart and soul here at Sacred Heart. The fifth and last best practice is the most challenging: “Reach out to the world beyond our doors.”
The days when Catholic families practice faithfully in keeping Holy the Sabbath Day, praying together and gathering as families on Sunday with extended families are a thing of the past. There have been major cultural shifts in people’s attitudes towards faith and church. Many people find church irrelevant and sorry to say, find Catholic communities judgmental. Lowney quotes Pope Francis’ challenge to all of us, “A Catholic Community that does not go out of itself, sooner or later, sickens form the stale air of closed rooms.”
Lowney says, “87 percent of Evangelical Christians invited someone to participate in their church activities during the last twelve months.” DO WE take the risk to invite others to attend Mass with us? I know how happy I am when you share with me the invitation you give to others to join us in worship. It is important that our greeters are at the doors of our church each weekend to welcome all of us as we gather as a Catholic Community.
It is important that we continually invite and accept the invitation to be involved in our parish ministries. When we serve together we build community and we make a difference not only here on our campus, but also beyond our doors.
Of all the five “best practices” this is the one we need to concentrate on the most. I am not talking about inviting non-Catholics to come worship with us; I am asking us to continually invite fellow Catholics in Hopedale to come and be active in our Catholic Community. Invite them to not only worship, but invite to parish ministries and activities.
It is necessary to make a concerted effort to reach out and invite. I am hoping that through the joint leadership of our Stewardship and Community Engagement Teams we may all be empowered to be a welcoming and inviting Catholic Community. In January, we will be hosting our annual parish Retreat and you will personally invited.
In the meantime, I am calling us all to consider inviting a Catholic neighbor, to come join our Catholic Community here at Sacred Heart. All are Welcome!