Advent through our Pastoral Plan

Note: This was first shared in the October 2022 edition of Good News Notes. With Advent beginning this weekend, we wanted to re-share it!

Advent will be here before we know it. Or maybe we already know it, since stores are filling up with Christmas things. Liturgical seasons like Advent are an amazing time to grow with our communities. During this period of four weeks of prayer and preparation, we can engage our parishioners and members of our communities in the mission of the Church.

Being mission-oriented doesn’t mean we must change the things we are doing, rather, it means we are intentional about how we do things. We don’t need to do it all, but by looking at the season through the Pastoral Plan for the Diocese of London, we can see some amazing opportunities to have a mission-oriented Advent.

Personal Call to Holiness

The first goal allows us to focus prayerfully on the season of renewal and to look forward to the coming of the Lord Jesus among us, his beloved people. For us and our parishioners, we can encourage an increase of prayer time this season.

• Encourage making time for personal and family prayer and offer support through resources and practical tools.
• Offer Advent booklets to parishioners, even for a small fee. No time or money to order? Share a digital resource through your email list weekly or on social media.
• Host a candlelight prayer event. It could include the reading of the nativity narratives (through a Liturgy of the Word or Lectio Divina), music, or simple and quiet personal prayer time.

Evangelization & Teaching

The second goal focuses on the areas of evangelization and teaching that are “linked to the life experience of the people.” As people are preparing for Christmas, they are busy, but open to things that connect to their life experience.

• Be hospitable to all who visit. Make sure there is “room in the inn” (cf. Lk. 2:7)for all visitors.
• Focus on Christ and be ready to give a reason for your hope (1 Pt. 3:15). Ask people what you can pray for when you see them this season.
• Offer teachings about the season of Advent or Catholic traditions like the Jesse Tree or ‘O’ Antiphons through homilies, bulletins, or social media.

Justice & Compassion

The third goal of the Pastoral Plan sets our eyes on serving the wounded, the searching, the entrapped and those in material and spiritual need. People are naturally more giving during the holidays and we can connect them now with ministries that may feed them and the people they serve all year round.

• Host a Giving Tree or Family Sponsorship. During these initiatives, connect people by encouraging prayer for those they are giving to.
• Host a community meal for those in need. Connect parishioners to not only cook and clean the meal, but to also talk with the people who come.
• Think globally, act locally. Encourage seasonal activities and gifts that are conscious of others and the Earth.
• Remember the grieving this season. Offer a remembrance service or reach out through a simple card to parishioners who lost someone this year.

Meaningful Liturgical Celebrations

This goal encourages full, conscious, and active participation for all. As we prepare for guests and people who may not come to church often, ensure all feel welcome and are able to participate.

• Encourage parishioners to prepare for Sunday Mass by prayerfully reading the readings of the day. You could send them the readings by email or social media a few days early.
• Ensure people have access to the words of the songs and responses.
• Publicize Mass times early and often.
• Help children participate in the liturgy. Children’s Church or Sunday School are awesome but are not possible at all Masses. Alternatively, offer relevant activity pages with a couple of crayons or pencils that children can look at during the readings and homily.

Co-Responsible Ministry & Ongoing Formation

The fifth goal reminds us of an important aspect of ministry, especially at busy times. We aren’t in this alone. We are part of the Body of Christ and are co-labourers as priests, deacons, LEMs, staff, and parishioners.

• Promote and partner with existing ministries like Society of St. Vincent de Paul and Development & Peace.
• Invite parishioners with leadership potential to take a leadership role. The short season gives a good taste of a ministry. It could be a 4-week small group, one-time prayer event, or an outreach initiative.
• Thank all volunteers in your Family of Parishes as the calendar year comes to a close.

Good Governance

This sixth goal about good governance covers a lot of areas. For this purpose, let’s focus on a couple: meeting the needs of God’s people, supporting the Church’s mission, and promoting accountability and transparency.

• Take time this season to listen to people: parishioners, community members, visitors. We cannot know the needs of the people without listening to them.
• Share the love and light of Christ in all that you do this season by acting with charity and hope.
• Share clear, consistent communications with your Family of Parishes and community. People need to see messages multiple times in a variety of methods.

Below you will see a list of relevant links and resources that may help in some of these aspects. The Pastoral Services team is praying for you as your team prepares for Advent.