­ Matthew  28:20


    

 Join a Small Faith Group for Lent.
 Each group consists of 8 to 10 men and women
 who meet during the day or in the evening
 once a week during Lent to look at Scripture 
 Readings for the next Sunday.


  Disciples in Mission: 
  'I was humbled 
   and inspired'

     Responses from members 
     of faith-sharing groups

HOME

Sign up now for Disciples in Mission Small Faith Groups. Call rectory at 610 543 0848.

Nearly 100 parishioners took part in Disciples in small faith sharing groups last year. Ten groups met weekly for six weeks in homes during Lent. Many participants chose to continue meeting monthly.

Here are some comments:
Lillian Jupin: "I was humbled and inspired by the meeting with my small faith group to read and share the meaning of the Scriptures. The meetings have enhanced my participation in the Mass and brought me closer to Christ and his message. I was encouraged by my group's love, support and commitment."
Lois Snyder: "This experience restored my faith in the mission of the Church. As times change, so has the way faith endures. In some ways this community experience more closely reflects what I believe Jesus meant His Church to be."
Ann Abbott: "I came to come closer to Jesus. To learn to know Him, love Him and serve Him as I did as a child. I love Jesus with all of my heart but I had forgotten how to know him in a very intimate way. These Monday evenings have helped me to learn and know Him as a special friend."
Ann Farren: "It has been good to come together to grow closer to the Lord. We were mostly strangers, but we have become a group. I sensed unity and love. We've had questions ­ more questions than answers. I am grateful that our church has given me this opportunity to come together for faith sharing."
D. Meier: "During these six weeks of faith sharing I have learned the deeper meaning of the Bible. I more fully understand Scripture and can participate more fully at Mass."
Anna Marie Betts: "I enjoyed being with the group and sharing their faith. I believe I have become stronger."
Ann Carullo: "These past six weeks have been a great source of peace and enlightenment. It was awesome to hear how each individual interprets different matters of faith. But we all have one thing in common: the love of the Lord."
Chris de Uriarte said the most valuable part of the small group experience was "the ability to appreciate the spirituality of my brothers and sisters in Christ."
Rick Lacey appreciated the experience of "everyne participating with their own experience and views and ideas."
Don Freda: "I learned from each member of the group."
Eileen Mowrer: "I enjoyed our faith sharing because it gave me an insight into the Bible I did not have. Spiritually, it has been very enlightening and faith-strengthening."

The goal of Disciples in Mission:
To enter more fully into life with the Lord

Evangelization is the "radical" (root) conversion to the Lord (Evangelii Nuntiandi). It is not just bringing people to the Lord, it is letting them know the great depth of commitment He calls each of us to ­ deeper every day. The Lord who alone saves us is at work in our parish through the Sacraments and various ministries. However, He calls us to a deeper understanding of evangelization.

1. HIS CHALLENGE:
- Confront ourselves clearly with the full challenge of the Gospel ­ to step forward and hand our lives over fully to the Lord.
- God's invitation to make Jesus the center of gravity of life must be clearly seen and fully embraced.
- It must be clear that the Lord is asking each person personally to make a total surrender of their life to Him.
- The person being evangelized is being called to hand over every part of their life to the Lord. Jesus wants to be Lord of every part of life: of our intellect, will, family, work, finances, entertainment, sexuality.
- It is very important that the Lord's call be presented in all its challenge as clearly as possible. The challenge cannot be watered down.

2. OUR RESPONSE:
We must make the conscious decision to answer the call of Jesus, to place ourselves under His lordship. To throw our lot in with the Lord. To fully accept the Lord's design for our life. Jesus must be chosen as Lord, not half-heartedly, but fully. We must know that Jesus wants to be part of their life, not an observer.

3. THE EXPERIENCE:
What happens next is not within our control: It is an experience of Jesus in which we start to know Him not because of what we read or hear but to know the reality of Jesus, in His own Person. To live in a relationship of sustained intimacy with the Lord. We need continually to be evangelized and to evangelize each other.