…where there is despair, hope…
Just last month, we had our first Parish Council (PC) meeting of the year. If you weren’t aware of it, Bishop Malesic issued a new vision for PC throughout the diocese. He is inviting us to allow a big chunk of the meeting time to be prayer so that as we allow the Holy Spirit to move in our hearts, we can listen to how God wants us to respond in mission and ministry. You may have also noticed that there was no voting for new members. The new guidelines have taken away the option to vote for members. Rather, PC will nominate potential members and then prayerfully discern who the new members will be. We are stepping into this new approach, and it is working well. We do welcome new members: Matthew Crawford, Rick Evans and Michelle Jackson. We also thank Logan Tolson who has completed his service. If you want to learn more about the Diocese of Cleveland Parish Council guidelines, they are published on the diocese website.
Why do I bring up Parish Council in this bulletin article? Precisely because the topic is HOPE. …Where there is despair, hope… One of the questions I asked PC members to pray with and answer was: What is your hope for St. Francis de Sales Parish? I sprung the question on them and only gave them a couple minutes to pray on it, then we went around the room. Their answers were fantastic! What are their hopes? Here you go! 1) Familiarity with the sacraments—families that frequent the sacraments; 2) Grow as a family and deepen relationships with one another; 3) Increase faith sharing with others; 4) Continue to grow as a parish; 5) Have full Mass attendance; 6) Be of good service to others and know the needs of the community; 7) Fall in love with Jesus (that was mine! 😊); 8) Increase our welcoming presence; 9) Make Church a safer place for prayer; 10) Grow enrollment at the school; 11) Do a better job of welcoming PSR families into the community; 12) Enhance our ability to embrace others into our community by sincere invitation.
What is your hope for the parish? I am writing this a couple days before the PC shares and prays with your thoughts and concerns that they gathered this past weekend. I look forward, with the help of God, to making St. Francis de Sales a place where hope dwells.
Peace and blessings,
Fr. Jeremy
