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Pastoral Notes

The lord, God is my help

The Lord, God is my help

After last week’s readings from Isaiah and St. Mark which...

Pooja September 13, 2024

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Praise the Lord, My Soul!

When the Prophet Isaiah describes the time of God’s intervention,...

Pooja September 5, 2024

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points 1. School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! 2. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Listening to Christ’s Voice: The Transformative Power of the Transfiguration

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated...

August 11, 2024

The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning to reflect on the final things of life, most notably how we shall be judged. Pope St. John XXIII noted that on the final day we shall be judged in love. This not only reflected the optimistic view of the Holy Father, but was also a theological statement, for God is Love! The first reading today causes us to reflect on the very practical aspects of what that love looks like for us as human beings. Are we fair? Are we generous? Are we forgiving? Are we aware that God hears the voices of those who suffer, especially those who may suffer at the hands of other human beings? The Gospel continues by asking us if we love the Lord our God with our whole mind, heart, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves? Perhaps our first thought about being judged at the end of all history in love brings us a sense of relief, as well it might. But then, the question will go further, “how have we loved our neighbors?” Call to action: Three great acts have traditionally been noted as hallmarks of the Christian life when we are repenting – that is, when we are turning our hearts and minds back to the Lord. They are emphasized more strongly in Lent but apply to the Christian life always. The first is prayer, the second is fasting, and the third is the giving of alms (gifts to the needy). Giving, whether to the Church, to the homeless and poor, or to one’s favorite charities is a hallmark of Christian discipleship. As we thank God for these fall months of harvest and prepare for a new year, let us ask our people (and ourselves) if we are indeed praying, fasting (not just from food), and giving our alms as the faith beckons us. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has an amazing set of GC Smart Tools available to help your church grow. Do you know how to use them? Just call or email us at GiveCentral and we will be happy to spend time with you making you a success! Are you doing a fall stewardship drive? Statistics are clear that the greatest amount of giving happens in the final quarter of the year in association with the holidays, and that people are planning their budgets for the new year already. Use your GC Smart Text and GC SmartQR codes to help your people make their gifts quickly, efficiently, and without the donor friction of apps, website logins, etc. Getting ready for Advent? GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt to your parish for free. Just look for them in your New Communications Portal. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Judged in Love: Reflecting on the Final Things and Our Call to Action

The final liturgical weeks of Ordinary Time have us turning...

August 11, 2024

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up” his son (after years of having no heir) is able to keep him, whereas God the Father’s Son will be the one sacrificed for human sin. All these events happen on mountain tops, which are spiritual images for peak experiences. However, what stands out in today’s gospel passage from St. Mark are the words of the Father, “this is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” Listening, by which is meant deep listening, is no easy thing. Our minds are ablaze with our thoughts, our “to do” lists, and, let’s be honest, our own prejudices. We tend to filter everything we hear through the thick haze of our own preoccupations. Yet, if we will settle down, calm down, and turn the inner noise down, we might then be able to “listen to Him.” When we listen to God, we are in the act of being obedient. The word obedient comes from the Latin roots meaning “to listen to.” Someone who is disobedient, therefore, is someone who isn’t listening. They are filtering – as we all tend to do. The disciplines of Lent are meant as a gift to help us de-clutter, to cut the “noise,” and to listen to the Lord deeply. Call to action: At Give Central we keep pressing the point about becoming welcoming parishes. Why? Because if we listen to the numbers only 15 to 18% of Catholics are attending mass or being active in some way in their parishes. We must be obedient to the Lord when he told His disciples to out to all the nations and spread the Good News! Our churches must become sanctuaries of welcome where the brokenhearted can find rest and renewal in Christ. As Easter approaches and many “sometime” Catholics will attend our masses please take advantage of your GC Smart Tools, like GC Smart Text and QR Code to “capture” the contact information from your visitors, then follow up by contacting them and making them feel welcome. Once again, form a welcoming ministry, or ask your youth groups and/or senior citizens group to become welcomers. You can also set up a small kiosk in your entry area with information for visitors and guests. Pastoral Action Points 1. Keep your pews equipped with your parish’s pew cards all through Lent to make engaging and giving easy for your donors! 2. GC Guru is launching soon! This your GC AI assistant! You have questions? GC Guru has the answers! You will soon see the GC Guru upon logging into your admin account. 3. If you have not signed up for SmartGive Elite for Lent & Easter - - now is your chance to signup! Time is running out, click here to sign up! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Deep Listening in Lent: Tuning Our Hearts to God’s Voice

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of...

August 11, 2024

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated because it allows the Church, through the experiences of Peter, James, and John, to have a dazzling glimpse of the future as all is fulfilled in Christ. We can only begin to imagine how small and inadequate these apostles must have felt in this moment. Peter feels that he must do something, so he wants to set up “boothes,” or altars, for Moses, Elijah, and Christ. But nothing is needed save for them to “listen to the voice” of the beloved Son of God. It is the Church’s work in our time to offer that same dazzling glimpse of all things transformed and transfigured in Christ. The work of transfiguration begins when we listen to the voice of Christ as He calls us. Our job is to make as many hear His voice as possible! Call to action: Even the story of Christ’s Transfiguration contains a sense of the urgency of mission! We can no longer think of our parishes as sedate and stable places, rather, we must re-envision them as mission stations set in the midst of a hurting and unbelieving world. Pope Francis has asked the Church to conceive of herself as a “field hospital” where the hurting and injured may come for healing and succor. Ask yourself whether, as a skeptical visitor, you would feel welcome in your own parish? What needs to change? What needs to be added? Are you using your GC Smart Tools to reach out as effectively as you can? GiveCentral offers many webinars to help your parish reach out and grow. Look for our upcoming webinars here and sign up today! Pastoral Action Points School will reopen soon! Use your GC Smart Tools to welcome families back to school and back to parish life. Nearly 20% of Catholics active before Covid have not returned to regular attendance at mass or in volunteering for parish activities. This presents a great opportunity for reaching out! The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be celebrated in 9 more days. GiveCentral has email templates you can adapt for use in your parish for free. You can find them under Global templates in the New Communications Portal. Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Transfiguration and Mission: Transforming Our Parishes for the World

The Solemnity of the Transfiguration of the Lord is celebrated...

August 11, 2024

Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that we had a “cheat sheet” for the final judgment; it is found in St. Matthew’s Gospel in the 25th chapter – today's Gospel proclamation. How we should conduct ourselves as Christians is no mystery. Whatever else our faults may be, and whatever our sins in need of reconciliation, we can be charitable and kind to those who hunger and thirst, to those who are sick or imprisoned. (As St. Peter tells us in his epistles, love covers a multitude of sins!) However, the call of Matthew 25 isn’t directed at only the individual Christian! It is directed at the Church, corporately! Another Pope of blessed memory, Benedict XVI, reminded us that the Holy Eucharist finds its fulfillment when the Church goes forth from the Sacred Liturgy and puts love into action in the world! In the first reading today, the prophet Ezechiel tells us what sounds like a job description for the Church. “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” That’s why we need to welcome the lost and strayed back into our churches Call to action: This is a good time to remind your people about their end-of-year giving! Use your GC Smart Tools to send an email or direct mail to your parishioners about end-of-year giving, or to make a commitment for their giving for the coming year of 2024. It’s a best practice to let them know the impact of their giving from this past year and to thank them for their generosity with time, prayer, and financial giving! (Did you know there is research from neuroscience about what’s called “giver’s glow?” More on that later.) Finally, Advent and Christmas are great seasons for welcoming back Catholics who have slipped in their participation, or potential new Catholics who are seekers in faith. Be careful about judging the lapsed! It might be better to be curious about why they’ve been away! Pastoral Action Points Are you ready with new, seasonal pew cards for Advent? You can find free templates for Advent pew cards in our Communication Portal. Not sure how to use it? Contact Teresa at teresa@givecentral.org or Edgar at edgar@givecentral.org Over 85% of Americans, including the elderly, now use smart phones. More Americans use smart phones than computers! Make sure your GiveCentral Smart texting phone number and GC Smart QR Codes are ready to go! Again, you can email Teresa or Edgar for more information or training! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

A Call to Action: The Church’s Role in Bringing Christ’s Love to the World

Pope St. John XXIII was known to tell people that...

August 11, 2024

Pastoral Reflection The readings for Sunday call for peace, respect, and the exercise of virtue in family life. While modern family life is a great deal more complex than family life in ancient times, the need for virtue and respect is as relevant as ever! The idea of the family today is very broad and includes the extended family, the family of the parish community to which we belong, our “work” family, and many others. Yet, the family of our own household is the place where the greatest lessons of life and love are learned. Let us take this Sunday and New Year’s Day (Mary, Mother of God) to first give thanks for our own families, in all their joys and sorrows, their virtues and vices. Then, let us ask God’s blessings upon our families that we may grow in love and devotion to one another, reaching out where needed and reconciling where bonds have been bruised. Finally, let us pray that the bonds of love may unite the whole human family in love and peace throughout the entire world! (Mary, Mother of God, is also the day of prayer for world peace.) Call to action: Use your GC Smart Tools to send a quick email or text to your families this week inviting them to attend mass this weekend as a family. Also, remind them to pray together as families, and to offer prayers of blessing together before meals. Remind parents that they may offer simple blessings to their own children every day. In some cultures, it is common for mom and dad to make the sign of the cross with their hands or thumbs on the forehead of the children each night before bed, or in the morning before school. Also, at masses this weekend, offer a special blessing for families at the end of the homily. You can find some lovely blessings in the official Book of Blessings. Studies are clear that in families where faith is expressed at home, more family members will remain connected to the Church. Pastoral Action Points You might also consider handing out a simple gift, like a bookmark, that has a blessing prayer for families printed on it. Families can then use this as a prayer in the “domestic church” of the home. Consider a simple family activity after mass, like having families come to the hall. There you can have sheets of paper where families can draw their family tree. The family tree can then be blessed and taken home as a reminder of belonging. Help non-traditional families, like one parent households, to feel included. Remind them that they are a part of the greater family of the Church and the Kingdom of God! Keep your eyes open! GiveCentral has some exciting and innovative announcements coming in January 2024! Your experience of GiveCentral is about to get easier and faster! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Strengthening Family Bonds: A Call to Peace and Virtue in the New Year

Pastoral Reflection The readings for Sunday call for peace, respect,...

August 11, 2024

From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world to investment strategies in the gospel parable, it looks like the readings are all over the map for this weekend. But they aren’t. There is a consistent theme, and it's about how we should be living until the Day of the Lord. St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are children of the light and of the day, and so should live with the joys, hopes, and conduct appropriate to being in the light. The first reading describes the virtues of a wife (from an ancient perspective), and the gospel parable describes what we should be doing with what the Lord has given us. I imagine that the writer in Proverbs is a man who appreciates his wife and is writing this reflection as he beholds her from across the room, watching what she does. The gospel parable is from the first part of the twenty-fifth chapter of St. Matthew’s Gospel. Next weekend we will read the last part, where the sheep and the goats are divided and judged. In light of that, we can see the urgency of this parable and all the readings of this weekend. We are called, at the end of the day, to appreciation, to recognition of the light we’ve been called to, and to use generously and well the talents we’ve been given. Call to action: If you’ve been doing a stewardship drive this month, the readings for this weekend provide a wonderful opportunity to pull it all together! The call to live spiritually in the light (prayer and sacrifice), the call to give of ourselves virtuously (the image of the good wife), and the call to use and give our talents well and generously (parable of the talents). As we approach Thanksgiving later this week, do we have a spirit of gratitude? A spirit that celebrates joy, feels appreciation for all that we have, and is willing to give generously? It’s time to call your parishioners to Christian joy and generosity. Use your GiveCentral GC Smart Tools, especially your pew cards with your Smart Text number and/or QR Code, allowing them to give joyfully and quickly. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has customizable templates for your pew cards! You can find them here. Do you need help using our GC SmartTools? Please email edgar@givecentral.org so you can join an onboarding/re-boarding training where you will learn all about the GC platform and GC SmartTools. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Living in the Light: A Call to Joy, Gratitude, and Generous Stewardship

From the virtues of a wife in the ancient world...

August 11, 2024

Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The person who is wise seeks wisdom, while the fool runs from thing to thing. However, in order to obtain wisdom, we need to be focused and prepared. In today’s gospel parable the wise virgins are ready for the wedding feast because they have prepared, they have thought about what is needed, and they have actively sought what they need – in this case, oil for their lamps. The foolish virgins are foolish because they have not prepared and have not actively sought what they need. Every human being comes to a point in life when he or she realizes that life is short and that we want a life of meaning. Sometimes people come to our churches because they are seekers, and they are actively looking for wisdom and meaning, for connection and hope. The good news is that there is still time, though not an infinite amount of it! For those whose souls are like “dry weary lands without water,” and who are seeking the One who is the Truth, who is Wisdom, let them find in our parish communities a welcoming place, a place where He who is Wisdom can be found. Call to action: The readings in the final Sundays of Ordinary Time focus on the last things and the conclusion of history. It reaches a crescendo on the Solemnity of Christ the King – the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Christ the King celebrates looking forward to the time when all things shall be under the headship of Christ. November also marks the beginning of the Holiday Season as people prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations. It is also the time when the greatest amount of charitable giving is done for churches and nonprofits. Perhaps your parish is running its annual stewardship campaign, or you are asking your people to consider their Christmas gift to the parish. If you are, use your GiveCentral texting and QR Code capabilities to make things easier for them! Remember, the wise are prepared! Pastoral Action Points Do you have a new staff member that needs to be trained on the GiveCentral platform? If so, contact Teresa to set up training at teresa@givecentral.org Prepare now to welcome new church members and those “once or twice a year” visitors during Advent and Christmas. Do you have a welcoming ministry organized? Also, we have Advent and Christmas pew card templates, email templates, and direct mail templates here available for your use. Contact teresa@givecentral.org for more details! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Seeking Wisdom: Preparing Our Hearts for Christ’s Coming

Wisdom is a divine gift, in fact, one of the...

August 11, 2024

Today St. Paul reminds us to humbly regard others as more important than ourselves. By this he does not mean that we should regard ourselves in a lowly fashion, but to place the importance of others ahead of our own. Instead of having an attitude of judgment toward others, we should develop an attitude of mercy, just as the Lord has mercy toward us. It is critically important to develop this attitude of mercy and of placing the needs of others ahead of our own in a welcoming community. Welcoming cannot be only a program for gaining new members, or something temporary. It must become a deep characteristic of the culture of a community -- if the community is to be sustained over time. In such a Christian community, the needs of others are placed at the head of the line, while not neglecting the needs of the rest. What are the spiritual wounds of those who don’t feel welcome? As the Lord is kind and merciful toward us, so let us be toward others. Call to action: Many churches still report that they are at about 80% of where they were before the Covid emergency. That means there remains much to do in reaching out to the de-churched, as well as the unchurched. Your GC Smart Tools can help you to identify many of those no longer participating. In some cases, they may have moved away, or there may be some other legitimate reason they are no longer in your parish. In this case, GC Smart Tools can help you update your lists. If you are not sure how to do this, call us GiveCentral! We will be happy to walk with you in this process of using the tools you already have, wisely and well! Pastoral Action Points If you are like many of us in the world of pastoral ministry, you are an “analogue person living in a digital world.” In other words, all these GC SmarfTools might feel overwhelming. Reach out to us! We are happy to answer your questions and walk with you while you learn. If you need help email teresa@givecentral.org Our GC Webinars can give you lots of information. Please join us! You can find the next scheduled webinar on your admin dashboard. Plus, you’ll meet other people with similar questions and needs. Let’s become a helping community toward one another. Templates! We’ve got templates! And they are free for you. If you are sending a church-wide email you are welcome to use GiveCentral templates and adapt them to your local needs. Just look in your Communications Portal! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Putting Others First: The Call to a Christ-Centered Community

Today St. Paul reminds us to humbly regard others as...

August 11, 2024

Recall that the Church already existed when the gospels, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, were written down. Thus, the parable of the workers in the vineyard gains an even fuller meaning, for new members were joining the Church constantly, and older members may have assumed that they were more privileged than newer ones. In truth, there has always been tension in the Church between older members and newer members. Even in today’s parishes sometimes older members, though happy to see more people, are not always happy to share space or influence with the newer ones. Just as the New Testament Church had to examine itself about its spirit of welcome toward its new members, so must we today. Being with the Lord is a privilege, but it does not make us more privileged because we have been with Him longer. Our souls, hearts and our arms must be open to those who are new to Christ and His Church. Call to action: Part of developing the spirit of welcome in a parish community is by asking the long-standing organizations and ministries to encourage new members, to receive their ideas, and make them feel valued. This can be hard, because it requires groups to move beyond old thinking and the spirit of “we’ve always done it this way.” It requires a deep examination of conscience and an openness to the “new means and methods” called for by the New Evangelization. Unless we take the risk of deepening our spirit of welcome, there will be no new laborers for the vineyard. Pastoral Action Points Fall is a wonderful time to invite parishioners to join the various ministries, services, and organizations in your parish. Some parishes have ministry fairs or parish town hall meetings where the organizations and ministries can be highlighted. Use your GC Smart Tools to communicate an awareness of your groups and ministries by creating emails or direct mailings about them. Is your parish engaged in GC’s 20 for 20 campaign? If it is, stay in touch with Give Central throughout the campaign and look for our weekly webinars offering support and instruction. Have you started thinking about Advent? It’s a great time to encourage your parishioners to invite others to join them at mass. Take some time to plan a special welcoming experience for those “sometime” Catholics to get them re-engaged. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Breaking Down Barriers: Fostering Unity Between New and Old Parish Members

Recall that the Church already existed when the gospels, under...

August 11, 2024

Anger, in its proper use, is meant to protect us or someone who is dear to us. But so often anger builds a home in the heart and begins to poison it by turning into rumination, the desire for vengeance, and making one a bitter person. Prophets and sages of old learned to let vengeance belong to God, and not to us, because “the Lord is kind and merciful, slow to anger, and full of compassion.” Anger, which was intended to enforce justice, instead becomes a source of injustice, self-righteousness, and embitterment. The antidote to anger gone afoul is mercy. Mercy is a loving gift, not something that can be earned or bought. This is illustrated so clearly in today’s gospel proclamation. The master has mercy on his servant, but the same servant compounds his own injustice by having no mercy for another servant. All of us wish to receive mercy, but we must ask ourselves honestly if we are willing to give it. If we have trouble giving mercy to another person, let us ask the Lord to help us become merciful by the grace of His own mercy and example in forgiving us! Call to action: The Sacrament of Reconciliation through the Rite of Penance is intended to celebrate a change of heart that has already begun. First, we recognize the need for forgiveness within our hearts, then we ask for God’s mercy with sincere intentions. Let us invite our people to the seat of mercy by encouraging them to come for confession and reconciliation. Let them know that confession is a moment of celebrating mercy and for allowing a change of heart to take place. Question: are your parish’s times for reconciliation truly convenient for your people? Can you adjust the time, or add additional times for reconciliation? Pastoral Action Points A parish is a local family of faith. We rejoice in each one’s victories and grieve each other’s sorrows. Use your GC Smart Tools so that parishioners can send in their prayer requests. If you want to know how, just contact Teresa Meyer at teresa@givecentral.org GC’s 20 for 20 campaign is in kick-off mode! If you want to know more about it look here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaign Have you formed your welcoming ministry yet? It is critical to your parish’s growth. It’s not too late to start one now! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

The Power of Mercy: Overcoming Anger and Embracing Forgiveness

Anger, in its proper use, is meant to protect us...

August 11, 2024

The Church has a prophetic mission to tell the truth to the world. This mission is not an easy one because it means pointing out the faults and errors of both individuals and social systems. In the ancient world of Israel, prophets were often scorned by the community because they said things people didn’t want to hear. Today when the Church points out violations of human rights, or violations of individual conscience, she can receive scornful rejection. Yet, the point of the prophetic role is not to condemn others, but to call for a change of heart – a conversion or renewal of the heart and soul! Ultimately it is a call to love! Thus, as St. Paul tells us in today’s Second Reading, “the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” St. Peter also tells us that “love covers a multitude of sins.” The Church’s goal in her prophetic mission is not to condemn, but to move individuals and the world to the love of God and neighbor. Call to action: Many people have stayed away from Church because they fear condemnation or rejection. They may be in an irregular marriage, or have been through a painful divorce, or are dealing with some other personal issue. Take this Sunday as an opportunity to invite people to meet with you pastorally. Very often there are both formal and informal pastoral solutions they don’t know about. There is a place for everyone in the Church whose heart is open to the love of God – even if conversion comes about slowly. Think about offering a parish workshop on annulments and marriage reconciliation. Use your GC Smart Tools to announce it by text, email, or direct mail. This weekend is also Grandparents’ Day weekend for those who deferred it from the feast of Sts. Ann and Joachim. Recognize and bless the grandparents who are present. Use your GC Smart Tools to send a quick email or text to remind your parishioners of this celebration. GC has templates for Grandparents’ Day you can find them under the communications portal. Pastoral Action Points Be sure to refresh your pew cards and have your QR codes available for your parishioners and visitors. Parishioners can update their information very quickly (in seconds, literally) using our GC Smart Tools. If you need assistance getting your pew cards ready please email teresa@givecentral.org Fall is the best time to invite parishioners to greater engagement with the parish community. Invite your seniors to be “telephone evangelists” by asking them to make a quick call to other parishioners. You can use your GC Smart Tools to make smaller phone lists that can be delegated to your senior volunteers. Provide a short phone script for them saying they are calling on behalf of the parish to thank them for being part of the community, and to see if they have a need with which the parish can help. Later, have a thank you party for your volunteers. Many of us in pastoral ministry are not “techies.” We don’t use many of the tools available to us because we don’t know how to use them. Join GiveCentral’s Bridget Daly for a great webinar on this topic on September 14 at 1PM Central Time. Claim your seat here! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Speaking Truth in Love: The Church’s Role in Guiding Hearts

The Church has a prophetic mission to tell the truth...

August 11, 2024

Both our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, and the Responsorial Psalm text from Psalm 63 speak in visceral terms, terms felt at the gut level of the body. The Word of God burns within Jeremiah, and he can contain it no more. The Psalmist is longing and pining for God, like a dry weary land without water. The human conditions of both Jeremiah and the Psalmist speak to the modern person, as well. In our time there is a great spiritual longing and a search for God and life’s meaning. Searching people are often referred to as seekers, because they are looking. Jesus will make clear that the fulfillment the human person seeks will be found in the embrace of the cross. This is not an embrace of suffering for suffering’s sake, however. Rather, it is the embrace of the cause of divine love in a world so much in need of healing, forgiveness, and peace. Call to action: This is also Labor Day weekend, the traditional end of the summer season. Take some time to recognize the value of the labor your people do, whether it is the work of children doing their chores around the house or apartment, the labor of students dedicated to their studies, and the labor of adults who work manually or in an office. All are contributing to the good of their own families, as well as the good of the world. St. Thomas says the human person is a co-creator along with God in making our world! Laet us be, as the Second Vatican Council called us to be “artisans of a new humanity” in Christ. You can use your GC Smart Tools to send an email or text to your families recognizing their labors and honoring them. Pastoral Action Points With families returning to school this is a great time to reach out using your GC SmartTools and inviting your families to greater participation in your parish. There are families you haven’t seen since Covid – invite them back now! Do you have a fall festival or parish event coming up? At GiveCentral, we remove the donor friction by allowing you to create an event with these features: • Raffles, auction, paddle raise, and ticket sales • Able to recognize your donors and user-friendly for them • Bidding within seconds • Guest preregistration • Easy check out • Capable of adding dynamic photos and content • Advanced reporting post event To learn more or to get ready for your BIG event email teresa@givecentral.org. Keep up the work of your evangelization through developing the spirit of welcome in your parish! Have a welcoming committee or ask your Pastoral Council members to serve as special ministers of welcome. Use your GC Smart Text or QR codes to help visitors and new parishioners get connected. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

The Spiritual Hunger of Our Time: Finding Fulfillment in Christ’s Embrace

Both our first reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, and the...

August 9, 2024

Who Do You Say I Am? Understanding Jesus in Today’s World

Who Do You Say I Am? Understanding Jesus in Today’s World

Jesus asks this question of his apostles in today’s reading...

August 9, 2024

Breaking Barriers: God’s Invitation to All Peoples

Breaking Barriers: God’s Invitation to All Peoples

God’s intent, throughout the sacred story of the scriptures, was...

August 9, 2024

In our search for faith, we often enough look for God in grand and large things. We look for signs “of biblical proportions,” like earthquakes or great winds. However, we can learn from the Prophet Elijah that God is more often found in the still, small things. The quiet voice in the heart. The soul that has stilled its anxieties and listens in peace. It was in the quiet that Elijah “hid his face,” because he knew he was in the presence of the Almighty. Life has its storms and other upsetting experiences. Jesus never said we would not have these problems. But as with Peter, Jesus bids us to trust Him to bring us peace and to still the storms. Church should be a place where, in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, we may find peace. Yes, it's also a place of community and encounter! However, in our Catholic faith we also have a long tradition of respecting people’s sense of quiet within the sanctuary. It is from the quiet of the heart that our fears and anxieties can be released to the Lord, and from Him that we may find our peace. Call to action: As we welcome new parishioners, visitors, and even skeptics to come into our parish and to join our community, let us also invite them into a deeper spiritual life. We don’t need to be slavish in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, but we can convey the traditions of quiet respect, both for the Holy Eucharist itself, and for those who engage in quiet prayer in Our Lord’s presence. As we spend these next months educating our people about the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist, let us also teach our people to commune with Christ, heart to heart, in peaceful contemplation. Pastoral Action Points The celebration of the Assumption of Our Lady is celebrated this Tuesday. You can use your GC Smart Tools to inform your parishioners about mass times and any special events you may be having. GiveCentral also offers free templates you can adapt and use in your emails, texts, and direct mail. You can find them under global templates. School is starting! Use your GC Smart Tools to connect with your school aged families. This is a great time to reach out and help them to reconnect with the parish! GC Smart Tools make it a snap to reach hundreds of people in seconds! Last call to get into GiveCentral’s 20 for 20 Campaign! We are using the last 20 weeks of the year to help you increase your parish members’ levels of participation and giving by at least 20%. Find more information about 20 for 20 here: https://www.givecentral.org/20-for-20-campaign Connect with GiveCentral Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Listening for the Divine: The Peace of Christ in the Stillness

In our search for faith, we often enough look for...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of the first reading and the gospel. Abraham, who thinks he must “give up” his son (after years of having no heir) is able to keep him, whereas God the Father’s Son will be the one sacrificed for human sin. All these events happen on mountain tops, which are spiritual images for peak experiences. However, what stands out in today’s gospel passage from St. Mark are the words of the Father, “this is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” Listening, by which is meant deep listening, is no easy thing. Our minds are ablaze with our thoughts, our “to do” lists, and, let’s be honest, our own prejudices. We tend to filter everything we hear through the thick haze of our own preoccupations. Yet, if we will settle down, calm down, and turn the inner noise down, we might then be able to “listen to Him.” When we listen to God, we are in the act of being obedient. The word obedient comes from the Latin roots meaning “to listen to.” Someone who is disobedient, therefore, is someone who isn’t listening. They are filtering – as we all tend to do. The disciplines of Lent are meant as a gift to help us de-clutter, to cut the “noise,” and to listen to the Lord deeply. Call to action: At Give Central we keep pressing the point about becoming welcoming parishes. Why? Because if we listen to the numbers only 15 to 18% of Catholics are attending mass or being active in some way in their parishes. We must be obedient to the Lord when he told His disciples to out to all the nations and spread the Good News! Our churches must become sanctuaries of welcome where the brokenhearted can find rest and renewal in Christ. As Easter approaches and many “sometime” Catholics will attend our masses please take advantage of your GC Smart Tools, like GC Smart Text and QR Code to “capture” the contact information from your visitors, then follow up by contacting them and making them feel welcome. Once again, form a welcoming ministry, or ask your youth groups and/or senior citizens group to become welcomers. You can also set up a small kiosk in your entry area with information for visitors and guests. Pastoral Action Points Keep your pews equipped with your parish’s pew cards all through Lent to make engaging and giving easy for your donors! GC Guru is launching soon! This your GC AI assistant! You have questions? GC Guru has the answers! You will soon see the GC Guru upon logging into your admin account. If you have not signed up for SmartGive Elite for Lent & Easter - - now is your chance to signup! Time is running out, click here to sign up! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

The Power of Silence: How Lent Helps Us Hear God’s Voice

Pastoral Reflection There is an irony in the juxtaposition of...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection The Epiphany of the Lord, and tomorrow’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord bring to a conclusion our Christmas seasonal celebrations. The gifts brought by the Magi signify a transition in the story of Jesus’ birth by pointing to his future as King, his divine nature, and his death for our freedom. And we know that this story marks a transition for Joseph and Mary who will have to go haste, once again, to exile in Egypt to save the life of this child. Our lives are filled with transitions, aren’t they? Some are joyful, like the birth of a child, and some are full of anxiety, like the flight into Egypt and wondering what the future may hold. Whether our transitions are joyful or anxious, we can turn to the one whose name is Emmanuel -- “God is with us.” Jesus has come to accompany us in all our joys and sorrows, hopes and griefs. Jesus accompanies us especially in his Word, the gospels; his living body, the Church; and most especially in the Holy Eucharist, where, in his body and blood, he continues to enter our humanity so that we might share in his divinity. Emmanuel -- “God is with us.” Call to action: In the United States we are in a special year devoted to a deepening of our understanding of the Holy Eucharist. It is a special time of catechesis and an invitation to encounter Our Lord in the mystery of his Sacramental Presence – body and blood, soul and divinity. Use this year as a time of invitation. Let the beauty of the mystery of the Lord’s Eucharistic presence speak to the hearts of his people – especially those who have been away. The Church has understood that there are three important “portals” that open the door of the soul to an encounter with God. They are sometimes referred to as the transcendentals: goodness, truth, and beauty! Through telling the stories of the Eucharistic saints we may demonstrate the power of goodness. Through clear but gentle catechesis we may demonstrate the truth of Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist. But most especially through beauty will the hearts of believers and non-believers alike be opened to the love of Christ made known in the Holy Eucharist. Pope Benedict XVI, of blessed memory, said that it was beauty, in the end, that would save the Church. Then let your Eucharistic celebrations be beautiful, and Christ will speak for himself! Pastoral Action Points Use your GC Smart Tools as a means for educating your people about the Holy Eucharist through texts, emails, and direct mails. There are many who, for various reasons, may not be able to receive the Eucharist at this time. Yet, they can still attend mass and adore the Lord in the Holy Eucharist. Take advantage of the opportunities for Holy Hours and Benedictions, and even Eucharistic processions as ways to include the many. GiveCentral has some exciting new tools coming your way later this month! Stay tuned for more information. As always, GiveCentral stands ready to assist you in using the full array of GC Smart Tools to make your ministry more effective and easier. If you need some help or just want to know more, contact us at support@givecentral.org. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Finding God in Every Transition: Lessons from the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord

Pastoral Reflection The Epiphany of the Lord, and tomorrow’s feast...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection The first reading from the Book of Leviticus and the gospel passage from St. Mark’s Gospel stand in sharp contrast to one another. In the first reading, if someone thinks they might have leprosy they are to go to the priest who will confirm the diagnosis. If the priest agrees, the leper is to make himself look disheveled and exclude himself from the rest of the community until he is healed or dies. There were practical reasons for this, of course. The self-exile was intended to protect the rest of the community from infection. But soon enough these self-exiled people were looked down upon, forgotten, and thought to have brought disease upon themselves. No one was to touch them or approach them. By contrast, in the gospel, a leper approaches Jesus (something he should not have done) and asks if it is Jesus’ will that he be healed. Jesus does will this man’s healing and he is healed! No longer is he “on the outside,” but now he is back, restored, renewed! How often do we exclude ourselves from others because of our past or current mistakes, addictions, or problems? Do we “self-exile?” Or, in other cases, do we feel judged and excluded by the community? It is Jesus’ will that we be healed, restored, and renewed! As Ash Wednesday approaches this week, let us take the opportunity to return to the Lord who loves us beyond all measure with all our hearts! Call to action: With the beginning of Lent on Wednesday this is an important time to reach out to your people, especially those we may not have seen in a while. Two full years after the Covid emergency Churches still haven’t returned to previous levels of active participation. Our job, like that of Jesus, is to reach-out to those “self-exiled” and to offer God’s grace of healing love and the renewal of life and spirit. Use your GC Smart Tools to reach out to everyone on your email and direct mail lists! We have email and letter templates you can adapt to your own parish for free. Please use them to renew souls and restore hearts! Call your people home for Lent. Pastoral Action Points GiveCentral has hard evidence that using our GC Smart Tools increases participation and giving. Check out our End of the Year report for more information. Read our Year in Review Report! Save your seat for our upcoming webinar on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 12:00:00?PM Join us to learn the many ways GiveCentral can support you in welcoming and engaging parishioners and visitors throughout the Lenten and on Easter Sunday. Learn the best welcoming and engaging practices. Save your seat now! Use your GC Smart Tools to email, text, or direct mail to your people Lenten messages of renewal and hope. Do this weekly and you will see growth in your participation. Sending a mass email or text literally takes only seconds with GC Smart Tools! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Breaking Self-Exile: Returning to Community and Christ’s Love

Pastoral Reflection The first reading from the Book of Leviticus...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection In the 1st reading for today we see that poor Job, who has suffered so many problems and deprivations, is tempted to despair. How often have the people in our pews been tempted to despair when life takes hard turns, or when the choices we make turn out to be the wrong ones? Yet, God is the God who “heals the brokenhearted,” as the Psalmist reminds us. In the gospel we see that Jesus, once again, confronts the evil and the effects of evil that afflict God’s people. He is there to heal. He is there to save. He is there to restore the goodness His Father intended for the human person. He is the light of the world who drives out the darkness, who converts the shadows into places of light. He lifts us from what oppresses us just as surely as he lifted Peter’s mother-in-law when he took her hand. Call to action: Very often in Church we are admonishing people to avoid sin and evil. They do need to be taught and formed, and they do need the reminder to avoid sin. But the Church must also be a place where they can come to be healed, where they can cast their cares upon Him who cares for them and be lifted up – just like Peter’s mother-in-law. Use this year of Eucharistic education to hold special moments of adoration for the purpose of healing. Acknowledge the pains and hardships, physical, mental, and spiritual, that your people endure. Use your GC Smart Tools to invite and remind people of these Eucharistic events. You can email them, send a broadcast text, or even use direct mail to reach all your parishioners. Pastoral Action Points Plan some Eucharistic events, like Holy Hours or Benedictions where your people can come and venerate the Lord in His sacramental presence. Make them times of healing and hope for people who are carrying burdens in their hearts. Lent is coming in two weeks! We have GiveCentral pew cards, emails, and direct mail templates available for you to customize and use. You can find them in your Communications Portal. If you need assistance with the Communications Portal, or would like some training on these features, please email implementation@givecentral.org Our monthly monitor is a very powerful tool that you can use to help enhance engagement and increase giving for your location. The report can currently be found in your admin dashboard or click the link to check out your Monthly Monitor today! https://www.givecentral.org/admin/report/location-report-card Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Restoring Light: How the Church Can Lift the Burdened

Pastoral Reflection In the 1st reading for today we see...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection Notice that when Jesus encounters the man with the unclean spirit, he does not condemn the man so afflicted. Rather, he has compassion for him, and his wrath is turned toward the unclean spirit afflicting him. Jesus confronts evil and its power directly and immediately throughout the Gospel of Mark. Please notice that Jesus makes a distinction between the person and that which is afflicting the person! His compassion is for the suffering person, but his judgment is upon what afflicts him. Do we sometimes judge others as persons without regard to their circumstances or “what afflicts them?” There is that wonderful saying that goes something like this: “every person you see is fighting silent battles within you know nothing about.” As Christians we need to get beyond making judgments about others based on superficial appearances or circumstances. We don’t know why people are in the situations they are in or why they think or act the way they do. First, we must see them as God’s child, a human being who has dignity before God. Then, we must both pray and work for their wellbeing! Call to action: Are all people welcome in your church? Maybe not everyone is ready for communion, but are they still welcome? Does your congregation foster a welcoming attitude toward others? Or, through sour facial expressions, or an unwillingness to create room in the pew display an attitude of judgment, a spirit of unwelcome? Judgmentalism has been a plague within the church from the earliest days, and it festers and pops up all too easily. It’s time to call it out, and push it out, just like Jesus casting out the unclean spirit! Resolve that as Lent approaches your parish will become more dedicated to developing the spirit of welcome. Pastoral Action Points Resolve that your parish will be a place of welcome, solace, and pastoral love. In this year of Eucharistic education, plan events that allow people to open their hearts to Christ in his sacramental presence. Use your GiveCentral GC Smart Tools to get contact information from new parishioners and visitors, then follow up with an email, a text, or a call within 24 to 48 hours! If you need assistance in setting this up please contact the GC Implementation Team at implementation@givecentral.org Plan for Lent now, if you haven’t already! Ask your teens to be welcomers at masses. Ask your senior citizens to run a “welcome booth” near your main doors! The 2024 GiveCentral Webinar Schedule is now available! Save your seat to attend a webinar, expert insight, parish roundtable discussion, onboarding or reboarding training session! Click here to save your seat. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Welcoming All with Grace: A Call to Compassionate Ministry

Pastoral Reflection Notice that when Jesus encounters the man with...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection Although Sts. Matthew and Luke give us more detail about Jesus’ desert experience, St. Mark notes that it is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in the world. He is announcing good news: “the Kingdom of God is at hand.” The response he is looking for: “repent and believe the good news!” As has been mentioned before, repentance means a change of heart, or literally, to change the heart’s general direction. Lent is a time for those who live the Christian life to take some time out, to review and reflect, and, if necessary, to change our direction. We are drowning in a sea of secularity, and before you know it the ways of the world seep into your thoughts, decisions, and way of living. However, to be a disciple of Jesus is to be in this world in a different way – a salvific way. A way that leads us deeper into the heart of the God who loves us so. It is a special time for those who are preparing to celebrate the Easter sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Having studied the Christian faith and being sponsored by the faithful of the community they are making their 1st full commitment to Christ in the fullness of the Catholic faith. It is then, for their sakes and ours that embark on this penitential journey of 40 days we call Lent. Call to action: The catechumens and the candidates who are preparing for their big night at the Easter Vigil are not only sponsored by individual Christians, but, in fact, the individual sponsor stands in place for the sponsorship of the community of the Christian faithful. Do your parishioners know the names of those who are joining the faith? Is the whole of the community praying and fasting for them? You can use your GC Smart Tools to communicate with your parishioners and unite them more closely as members of the Body of Christ. Invite them to connect their Lenten journey with those of the catechumens and candidates. Pastoral Action Points Be sure to have your pew cards updated for Lent. We have free templates you can adapt for your use. Explore Pew Cards Now! Lent is a wonderful time to re-engage with your community. For many parishes, the number of active donors has been decreasing. We can help with this. We have created tools that help with engagement that can be put in your bulletin and in your pews. On your dashboard, we call them pew cards but they are more than that. We also have tools to help identify all of those donors that aren't signed up for Easter who can be as many as 50%+ of your donors. Please let us help. We will help you send out a SmartGive communication which allows those donors to set up their Easter gift in less than 10 seconds. Please let us help you make it easier to engage and re-engage those praying with your community and those who are most likely to financially support you. You can join us for a webinar. You can have your team learn. Even better....You can ask us to do it for you. Email teresa@givecentral.org with the subject line--Please help us with Lent and Easter SmartGive. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Journeying Through Lent: Aligning Our Hearts with Christ

Pastoral Reflection Although Sts. Matthew and Luke give us more...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection (based on the reading for mass at dawn) The shepherds referenced here by St. Luke were remarkably simple people who lived in the fields among the sheep. We have romanticized the idea of the shepherds and turned them into cute Knick Knacks for our nativity sets. But what is said by St. Luke is actually shocking! “All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds!” And what the shepherds told the people was the message they had received from the angels; namely, that the Christ (messiah) had been born. The fact that people were amazed does not mean they believed the shepherds! Swarms of people did not come out from Bethlehem to see him. The only other account we have of visitors were the magi in St. Matthew’s gospel. Proof once again that God uses the simple people of the earth to tell His story, to tell of His might and glory. Most people who come to our churches feel that they are simple people. They are not famous, nor do they wish to be. Their lives are not perfect, and they humbly rely on God’s grace to bring about a perfection which we humans, unaided, can never achieve. Let those who feel simple and in need of God’s grace be welcome in our church, just as the visiting shepherds were at the manger. Call to action: With so many visitors, family members, and former parishioners visiting this weekend it is a critical moment for connection with them. Please do use your GC Smart Tools to assist you in making these connections. Use your text number, your QR code, your pew cards, banners, bulletin announcements, greeters, pulpit announcements – every means you have to get the information you need for growing your parish and widening the circle of relationships among your people! These next few days are busy, but GiveCentral stands ready to help! Don’t be afraid to call us or contact us at support@givecentral.org with any question or request you have. Pastoral Action Points Make sure your ushers/greeters/staff personnel are ready and keep the pew cards restocked for each mass and service this weekend. You don’t get second chances to make first impressions. Have your staff or volunteers ready to keep your lavatories clean and well stocked between each mass or service! You want your church to look great and be welcoming. Ask your High School aged youth to get involved as extra greeters and information ambassadors for this weekend! It will be a wonderful experience for them, and it will help visitors feel wanted and welcome. Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

God’s Simple Messengers: The Shepherds’ Lesson for Our Parish Community

Pastoral Reflection (based on the reading for mass at dawn) The...

August 9, 2024

When we are baptized, we are baptized into the threefold ministry of Jesus himself (the munera Christi), as priest, prophet, and king. Today we hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah who, speaking on God’s behalf, defines what the mission of the prophet is! The prophet proclaims liberty to captives, healing to the brokenhearted, glad tidings to the poor, and a time of favor from the Lord! Insofar as the Church continues the munera Christi -- the very ministry of Jesus in the world today by virtue of baptism, it is our duty to continue to proclaim this good news. A recent Gallup study indicated that 70% of Americans say they are spiritual, but only about 15 to 20% attend a church, temple, or synagogue. This indicates the hunger within people for a sense of connection with God and their brothers and sisters. Let our churches be places of welcome where we continue the prophetic work of Christ as Isaiah has described it. Call to action: Many people come to church in Advent, and especially at Christmas who we otherwise don’t see. Don’t let them slip through your fingers without trying to reach out to them! Have your GiveCentral GC Smart Tools ready! Pew cards, QR codes, texting number, bulletin inserts, posters, and greeters – have them ready for these important days. If you need more information or guidance on how to use these tools contact Teresa at teresa@givecentral.org, or Edgar at ebarroso@givecentral.com. Pastoral Action Points Stay ready (like the wise virgins in the parable) throughout this holiday season with your pew cards, texting numbers, emails, and direct mails. This busy season presents wonderful opportunities for welcoming and inviting people into your parish. Use your GC Smart Tools to stay on top of things! Have some of your parishioners ready as greeters or “information booth” volunteers. Visitors need to feel welcome, and sometimes they just need to know where the restrooms and drinking fountains are! (Be sure to keep them clean and presentable throughout all the liturgies and concerts of this busy time.) Many of your confirmation students are off from school during these weeks. They may need service hours as a part of their formation for confirmation. Don’t be afraid to ask them to help as greeters and welcomers during Christmas and New Years. Sunday, December 31st is the Feast of the Holy Family. Start asking your families now to attend mass together that Sunday. Offer some family friendly activities. (Studies show that families who attend mass together, pray at meals together, and spiritually support each other are more likely to remain active in the faith than those that don’t!) Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Answering the Call: Continuing the Prophetic Mission of Christ in Today’s World

When we are baptized, we are baptized into the threefold...

August 9, 2024

Pastoral Reflection In this liturgical year our gospel passages come from St. Mark and St. John. In today’s gospel proclamation from St. Mark, we encounter Jesus initiating his public ministry after the arrest of his cousin, John the Baptist. He proclaims good news: “the Kingdom of God is at hand!” He wants a change of heart: “repent and believe the good news!” To repent is not about feeling bad or feeling sad, rather, it is about the redirecting or re-orienting of the heart, mind, and soul toward God and the ways of God. Next, we encounter Jesus calling his first disciples, Simon (later to be renamed Peter), and his brother, John (the youngest of the apostles and the author of the Gospel of John). Please notice that they literally drop everything and follow the Lord! When the Lord calls us, he does not want us lingering in old places and old ways. Rather, the Lord wants us to follow where he leads. The immediacy of discipleship is most pronounced in St. Mark’s Gospel. There will be no waiting around in St. Mark’s telling of the Christ story, and those called to discipleship had best respond quickly! Call to action: When our parishioners, old or new, show an interest in engagement with the parish community we should act on it as quickly as prudence allows! One fast way to lose volunteers is to wait many days or weeks before getting back to them when they offer their services. Whether it’s the offer to volunteer, or to make a donation, getting back to the parishioner within 24 to 48 hours is critical! Use your GC Smart Tools to make lists of your volunteers and ministry groups. Use your Smart Texting to get back to them, even if just to acknowledge their interest! Finally, thanking your people for their service or offers of service helps in making your people feel wanted, known, and engaged in the community. Pastoral Action Points Lent is coming quickly this year! Have you planned your Lenten activities? If your parish is participating in the Rites of Christian Initiation, take the opportunity to help the candidates and catechumens to be known by the greater parish community. Trying to create a welcoming ministry can be hard (Catholics are so shy!). If it’s not possible to have a full welcoming ministry, try having a welcome desk or kiosk in your foyer or gathering space. Invite some of the teens who need service hours to be at the desk to welcome visitors and answer questions. Likewise, some of our more senior members may be willing to do it if they can sit instead of stand! Think creatively about welcoming visitors, guests, and seekers to your parish! GiveCentral has some big announcements coming soon that will make using our platform faster, easier, and more fun! Be ready for some good news! Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org

Answering the Call: The Urgency of Discipleship in St. Mark’s Gospel

In this liturgical year our gospel passages come from St....

August 9, 2024

Guided by the Light: Preparing Our Hearts for the Journey of Faith

Guided by the Light: Preparing Our Hearts for the Journey of FaithPastoral Reflection

These few short weeks after the Epiphany and before Lent...

August 9, 2024

John the Baptist is in the desert, near to Jerusalem, proclaiming a baptism of forgiveness and announcing the coming of the Lord with great anticipation. Yet, he feels unworthy of the Lord, his own cousin, Jesus. Even so, Jesus will come to him! How many of us feel unworthy? How many stay away from Christ because they feel unworthy or unwelcome? The good news is that the Lord wants to come to them, just as he came to his cousin, John. Jesus is the very embodiment of the proclamation we heard from the Prophet Isaiah in today’s 1st reading. He is the one who will bring God’s comfort to His people! In Christ, their oppression is at an end. If Advent is about the coming of the Lord, let us take this time to invite Him to come into our hearts and souls now! Call to action: St. Bernard referred to the coming of Christ (Advent) in three ways. The first was the coming of Jesus at Christmas as a matter of history (past). The second is the Advent of the Lord in the form of the Holy Spirit, who is here with us now guiding the Church (present). And the third is the Advent regarding the coming of Christ at the end of all time to unveil the new creation (future). In modern times we have tended to focus only on the first of St. Bernard’s meanings of Advent. This has, no doubt, been exacerbated by the commercialization of Christmas and the entire holiday season. However, if we are responsible pastors, we need to help our people have the fuller understanding of what Advent means for us as Christians. When we decorate our homes and churches, we are not merely mimicking our neighbors but making a statement about the future! All things shall be made new in Christ, and in Christ we shall dwell in the light! Let’s educate our people about why we decorate and what it means from a Christian point of view! You can use your GC Smart Tools to send short messages to your people that will educate them and remind them of who they are, children of the light! Pastoral Action Points The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will bring lots of parishioners and visitors to your parish, making this celebration the perfect opportunity to welcome all, grow engagement and donations in support of your mission and ministries. Join Edgar Barroso for a very special webinar to learn more about ways to boost your parish engagement and giving for the Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day. Friday December 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. CLICK HERE to Register! Pastors, have you asked your parishioners to consider their Christmas or end of the year gift to the parish? Join us for an upcoming webinar where you will learn all of the marketing materials and tools GiveCentral has available to assist you with engagement and giving for Christmas and year-end giving. DEC 11 Webinar Registration DEC 15 Webinar Registration DEC 18 Webinar Registration Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org Facebook Twitter Linkedin Youtube Instagram

Advent Reflections: Inviting Christ into Our Lives Today and Beyond

John the Baptist is in the desert, near to Jerusalem,...

August 9, 2024

John the Baptist is in the desert, near to Jerusalem, proclaiming a baptism of forgiveness and announcing the coming of the Lord with great anticipation. Yet, he feels unworthy of the Lord, his own cousin, Jesus. Even so, Jesus will come to him! How many of us feel unworthy? How many stay away from Christ because they feel unworthy or unwelcome? The good news is that the Lord wants to come to them, just as he came to his cousin, John. Jesus is the very embodiment of the proclamation we heard from the Prophet Isaiah in today’s 1st reading. He is the one who will bring God’s comfort to His people! In Christ, their oppression is at an end. If Advent is about the coming of the Lord, let us take this time to invite Him to come into our hearts and souls now! Call to action: St. Bernard referred to the coming of Christ (Advent) in three ways. The first was the coming of Jesus at Christmas as a matter of history (past). The second is the Advent of the Lord in the form of the Holy Spirit, who is here with us now guiding the Church (present). And the third is the Advent regarding the coming of Christ at the end of all time to unveil the new creation (future). In modern times we have tended to focus only on the first of St. Bernard’s meanings of Advent. This has, no doubt, been exacerbated by the commercialization of Christmas and the entire holiday season. However, if we are responsible pastors, we need to help our people have the fuller understanding of what Advent means for us as Christians. When we decorate our homes and churches, we are not merely mimicking our neighbors but making a statement about the future! All things shall be made new in Christ, and in Christ we shall dwell in the light! Let’s educate our people about why we decorate and what it means from a Christian point of view! You can use your GC Smart Tools to send short messages to your people that will educate them and remind them of who they are, children of the light! Pastoral Action Points ● The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe will bring lots of parishioners and visitors to your parish, making this celebration the perfect opportunity to welcome all, grow engagement and donations in support of your mission and ministries. Join Edgar Barroso for a very special webinar to learn more about ways to boost your parish engagement and giving for the Our Lady of Guadalupe feast day. Friday December 8, 2023 at 10 a.m. CLICK HERE to Register! ● Pastors, have you asked your parishioners to consider their Christmas or end of the year gift to the parish? Join us for an upcoming webinar where you will learn all of the marketing materials and tools GiveCentral has available to assist you with engagement and giving for Christmas and year-end giving. ● DEC 11 Webinar Registration ● DEC 15 Webinar Registration ● DEC 18 Webinar Registration Stay up-to-date with news & information - follow us on social! Toll-free: 833.716.2612 | Email us at: support@givecentral.org No longer want to receive these emails? You can unsubscribe here.

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