Weekend Wisdom - September 10th, 2023

Friends,

One of the joys of my 32 years of priesthood is the excitement that comes with the beginning of a new formation year in our schools and discipleship formation. Our students and families, public and private, bring such a vitality to our parishes.

Along with parish leadership and staff moving into my 4th year here, I’m grateful that the three Cs are almost behind us – COVID, campaigns, and construction. I am looking forward to focusing more intently on the areas of parish ministry that are at the core of my priesthood including discipleship formation and pastoral care. I am also excited to turn our focus more fully to the Year of the Eucharist.

So much has been happening behind the scenes in the parishes these past couple of years and it is wonderful to see the growth and fruits rising from the soil we have been cultivating. Our parish leadership and staff have been relevantly and creatively supporting our parishioners all along. Our parish pastoral councils will be using a portion of every meeting to intentionally form ourselves in missionary discipleship – learning how to share about our relationship with Jesus and coming up with ways to invite other parishioners into that formation. They will also be working to highlight and recruit for many of our core ministries each month over the coming year – watch for our ministry fair and monthly highlights. Our discipleship formation program is growing to include opportunities for our adults and parents.

The goal in each of these efforts is to build relationships. As we get to know one another and Jesus, we are inspired and motivated to serve and grow with them. That is what we mean when we use the word “accompaniment” in our missionary discipleship. We’re all together on the spiritual journey. Maybe you’re ready to make your Mass attendance a higher priority. Maybe you’ve watched The Chosen and the stories you’ve heard for a lifetime are coming to life for you. Maybe you’ve been listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz Bible in a Year or Catechism in a Year and you’re ready to go deeper. Wherever you are on the journey, our priority as your parish staff and leadership is to meet you, get to know you, and accompany you as we all seek to follow Jesus more closely.

Be watching for the amazing opportunities to meet one another, myself, Fr. Josuva, and our staff – and to grow in life and in faith. We have opportunities for everyone from pilgrimages and pancake breakfasts to Bible and small group studies, youth ministry, speakers, meals and more.

Peace,

Fr. Mike