Evangelization Project Good Shepherd Parish Brossard

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Evangelization ProjectGood Shepherd
ParishBrossard
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Background

• Good Shepherd has grown from very humble
  beginnings
• Took great effort over 25 years to build our
  church
• Explosive growth in attendance and had our own
  dedicated pastoral team i.e., priest, at times 1
  ½ priests, deacon, youth minister. We also had
• Vibrant, active Youth Group with dedicated Youth
  Minister
• Three choirs / three masses
• Parish Pastoral Council/Committee
• Many volunteers for ministries and community
  activities
• Past number of years, reversal of trend i.e.
  fewer attendees, masses, etc.
• Lack of a consistent, dedicated priest, priests
  are over taxed, unavailable
• Lost our Youth Minister and was not replaced.
• We feel like lost sheep now some have left
  for other pastures others have just left

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Evangelization

• Statue of Christ in Rio

• We want to proclaim the Gospel to everyone whom
  we can reach especially those who do not attend
  now
• We need to start growing again
• Offered at Good Shepherd
• Baptism preparation
• Faith First
• RCIA
• World Youth Day
• Retreats
• Many volunteers proclaim the Word

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Pillars
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Evangelization Challenges

• We need a Priest our shepherd we are lost
  without one

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Youth

• Good Shepherd Youth
• Love your fellow Christians always. Do not
  neglect to show hospitality, for by that means
  some have entertained angels without knowing it.
  Hebrews 131

• Youth are a preferential option focus in the
  establishment of priorities for evangelization
• We are called to help parents as the first
  teachers of the faith
• Youth have a hunger for connection and to belong
  we need to be there for all ages 7-11, 12-16
  and beyond
• Offered at Good Shepherd
• Faith First
• Youth Group
• Youth involved in ministries
• World Youth Day
• Pageants by Youth
• Fundraisers by Youth
• Youth involved in community projects (e.g.,
  Amazing Grace, leaf raking)

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Pillars
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Social Justice

• The harvest of justice is sown in peace for
  those who cultivate peace. James 318

• Social consciousness and a life of justice and
  service
• We definitely have more work to do in this area
• We are not meant to live in isolation but in
  community with one another
• We are responsible to preserve the planet for
  future generations
• Offered at Good Shepherd
• Awareness of Development and Peace
• CWL involved in D P
• HOPE

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Pillars
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Vocations

• Claire and Ed Gawronski 43 years married!
• Gods flock is in your midst give it a
  shepherds care. I Peter 52

• Requires a commitment to ourselves and to others
• We could be stronger in this pillar
• Offered at Good Shepherd
• Sacrament preparation
• Lay vocations (Prayer group animation, visiting
  the sick, committee membership, Leisure group)

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Pillars
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Spirituality

• Make every effort to preserve the unity which
  has the Spirit as its origin and peace as its
  binding force. There is but one body and one
  Spirit, just as there is but one hope given all
  of you by your call. Ephesians 43-4

• Attention to the inner rhythm of our days and of
  our lives
• It brings a connection to a divine presence
  within us and a discovery of our own soul.
• Spirituality is a personal, yet communal
  relationship with Jesus who leads us to the
  Father
• Offered at Good Shepherd
• Sacrament preparation
• Invitation to retreats
• Prayer group
• Rosary Hour
• Legion of Mary
• Mass
• Way of the Cross

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Pillars
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Good Shepherd Parish

• Good Shepherd Church

• What do we want to do?

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Structure Choice
Scenario 3

• Closest to our current position
• Can benefit in sharing of faith
• Strongly recommend pairing stronger parishes with
  smaller parishes
• Clear allocation of pastoral responsibilities
• Ability to share resources, strengths, expertise
• CAUTION
• Need much better communication to be able to
  reach Priest or other pastoral team member when
  required

St Francis Xavier Team 4
Group A Team 1
Group C Team 3
Group B Team 2
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Conclusion

• Recurring theme in our presentation Priest
• Consistent, dedicated , available, dynamic
  pastoral team
• Our focus over the next few years must be Youth
  and Adult Faith Education
• We MUST reach out to Faith First children and
  parents
• Must inspire them and get them to WANT to know
  more and attend mass regularly
• Need to fuel the fire of spirituality of current
  parishioners
• Need to arouse their beliefs, desire to know more
  about God, Jesus, the Bible
• Fulfilling the above can only result in a
  positive outcome of the Evangelization Project
  AND
• Should turn around the current down trend in
  attendance and registration