Birthday of the Church

Pentecost marks the “birthday of the Church,” the beginning of the public mission of the Body

of Christ in the world, guided always by the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Advocate.

Though twenty centuries have passed since that Sunday in Jerusalem, our own parishes stand in direct line with this mission We have been together as the One in Christ Area Catholic Community for almost five years now. While each person has a unique experience of what that has meant, it is worth looking back on what progress has been made.

As we enter to next stage of strategic planning in the All Things New (ATN) process so we may continue to respond to the mission Jesus entrusts to us, here are some highlights of what has happened since July of 2020, in various key areas.

ACC Organization

• Formation of ACC Council with representation from all four parishes

• Formed committee structures with regular meetings to facilitate ACC goals (Worship; Youth/Young Adult; RCIA / Baptism (joint sacramental preparation); Stewardship; Evangelization (these two later combined into Discipleship);

Faith Formation

• Held joint Council gatherings

• Presented ACC progress to Bishop Neary at Pastoral Visit

(12/20/23)

• Established a joint ACC bulletin

• Established a shared Communications director position (Dana Howard)

Worship / Liturgy / Prayer / Sacraments [Priestly Mission]

• Established a coordinated weekend Mass schedule; rotation of celebrants

• Shared Advent and Lent letters to homes

• Developed contingency plans if a celebrant is unexpectedly unable to offer Mass

• Celebrated joint Easter Vigils (Annunciation and Sacred Heart; St. Francis Xavier and St. Stephen

• Observed the Eucharistic Revival (July 2023 - June 2024) Pre-Mass slides for education on the Mass

Monthly themed Food Shelf collection

Bulletin series on Eucharistic catechesis

Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and Revival Day

Veterans’ Flag Cases project

Teaching Masses

Eucharistic Miracles Display at SH

Bishop’s Pastoral Letter study by small groups

Hosted Diocesan Family Rally at SH and at SFX

Corpus Christi processions

Faith Formation / Catechesis / Youth and Young Adults [Prophetic Mission]

• Developed a Young Adult Ministry with shared coordinator position (Jason Prigge)

Young Adult Bible Study

Theology on Draft series

Core Team

Socials and Events

Pentecost marks the “birthday of the Church,” the beginning of the public mission of the Body

of Christ in the world, guided always by the Holy Spirit, our Counselor and Advocate.

Though twenty centuries have passed since that Sunday in Jerusalem, our own parishes stand in direct line with this mission We have been together as the One in Christ Area Catholic

Community for almost five years now. While each person has a unique experience of what that has meant, it is worth looking back on what progress has been made.

As we enter to next stage of strategic planning in the All Things New (ATN) process so we may continue to respond to the mission Jesus entrusts to us, here are some highlights of what has happened since July of 2020, in various key areas. ACC Organization

• Formation of ACC Council with representation from all four parishes

• Formed committee structures with regular meetings to facilitate ACC goals (Worship; Youth/Young Adult; RCIA / Baptism (joint sacramental preparation); Stewardship; Evangelization (these two later combined into Discipleship);

Faith Formation

• Held joint Council gatherings

• Presented ACC progress to Bishop Neary at Pastoral Visit (12/20/23)

• Established a joint ACC bulletin

• Established a shared Communications director position (Dana Howard)

Worship / Liturgy / Prayer / Sacraments [Priestly Mission]

• Established a coordinated weekend Mass schedule;

rotation of celebrants

• Shared Advent and Lent letters to homes

• Developed contingency plans if a celebrant is

unexpectedly unable to offer Mass

• Celebrated joint Easter Vigils (Annunciation and Sacred

Heart; St. Francis Xavier and St. Stephen

• Observed the Eucharistic Revival (July 2023 - June 2024)

Pre-Mass slides for education on the Mass

Monthly themed Food Shelf collection

Bulletin series on Eucharistic catechesis

Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and Revival Day

Veterans’ Flag Cases project

Teaching Masses

Eucharistic Miracles Display at SH

Bishop’s Pastoral Letter study by small groups

Hosted Diocesan Family Rally at SH and at SFX

Corpus Christi processions

Faith Formation / Catechesis / Youth and Young Adults

[Prophetic Mission]

• Developed a Young Adult Ministry with shared coordinator

position (Jason Prigge)

Young Adult Bible Study

Theology on Draft series

Core Team

Socials and Events

• Participating in NCCL process to strengthen familycentered

catechesis

• Piloting Young Life / WyldLife

• Shared Baptism preparation

• Shared Confirmation retreats and learning centers

• Lent 2025 Discipleship series on Start with Jesus

Community / Service / Stewardship [Kingly Mission]

• Joint ACC Mission with Jon Leonetti

• Hosted Sarah Hart concert

• Hosted Leonardo deFillipis (Vianney)

• Mission Trip to Alaska

• Served at one another’s annual festivals

These are just a few examples and far from an exhaustive

list. All of this is in addition to the regular ministry and life of

each individual parish community. God has blessed us

abundantly.

As we engage in the ATN planning work in these coming

months, we leave none of this behind. Rather, we build upon

it. Or, as Psalm 84 puts it: we go from strength to strength.

You will soon receive a letter from the ATN Planning

Committee with an update on our initial work and three

questions that will help them direct their work.

Jesus promises to make all things new (Revelation 21:5).

That does not mean the Scriptures or sacraments or the

Creed will be changing, but they can change us more

deeply when we open our lives to the Holy Spirit – who is

sent forth to renew the face of the earth.