Our Mission of Evangelization

11-10-2019Pastor's CornerRev. Robert J. Deehan, V.F.

Dynamic Catholic has been inspiring Catholics to rediscover the genius of Catholicism through the development of world-class resources and life-changing events for a decade. They will spend the next decade helping parish communities like ours grow and thrive through an initiative called Dynamic Parish. They have invited us to pilot this program in our parish for five years at no cost to us. There are over 15,000 parishes in America and ours is one of just 61 that was selected! During the five years, Dynamic Catholic will invest more than a million dollars in our community through engaging and energizing events, programs, and resources. Parish consultants will walk alongside me and our parish leaders, share best practices and support us at every turn. If you didn't have a chance to view the video from Matthew Kelley and receive the booklet detailing this new initiative, click here. We also have copies of the booklet at the doors of the church for you to take home and read.

This is a wonderful opportunity for Holy Family Parish, and it turns out to be rather providential in its timing. As you may know, our parish has recently begun participating in the Archdiocese of Boston's Pastoral Planning initiative called Disciples in Mission, which is being rolled out in stages. Cardinal Sean has called all parishes in Disciples in Mission to have evangelization as its primary mission. In other words, our parish is to help people deepen their relationship with Jesus and His Church, inspire them to grow as intentional disciples of Jesus, and give them the tools they need to share their faith with others. Using the words of Pope Francis, our goal is to become a parish of "missionary disciples." With the growing secularization within our culture, there is a great need for committed, faith-filled Catholics to be like "leaven" in society, profoundly influencing it for the better by intentionally living lives that reflect the mind, the heart and the hands of Jesus.

I invite you to join me in this endeavor to know Jesus more, to love him more, and to seek to serve Him more by continuing the mission He started 2000 years ago. God has given us "Good News" to share, which offers fullness of life here on earth and eternally in the life to come! With the power of His Holy Spirit, we can help bring about the Kingdom of God here in this corner of His vineyard by fulfilling Jesus' call to us to "Go make Disciples." (Mt. 28:19) The events, programs and resources of Dynamic Parish will help us tremendously to accomplish this mission of evangelization. Let us pray a prayer of gratitude to God for this special gift offered to us, and pledge ourselves anew to His mission, by being open to the new possibilities that await us!

God bless you!
Fr. Bob