June 2023

It's only been three weeks since we were together at Pastoral Study Days. It was such a joyous occassion to see everyone connecting or reconnecting with people from around our diocese. In addition to some wonderful time together, we were so inspired and uplifted by our keynote speaker, Julianne Stanz.

There is a lot to sift through from those two jam-packed days. Our plan is to unpack some of the great practical tools that Julianne shared with us over the summer through Good News Notes, starting with her "Big, Ugly Chart." In a follow-up conversation about the chart, Julianne and some members of the Pastoral Services team were talking about making the chart more beautiful, or aethetically pleasing. But then what would it be called?

The 4 Stages of a Christian's Journey (Julianne's Big, Ugly Chart)

There are many practical ways to use this chart as a ministry team. Here are a few for you to consider:

1. Prayer - Pray intentionally for parishioners in each of these stages. Ask for their hearts to be open to grow in their journey though the process of becoming a missionary disciple. Invite the Holy Spirit, the prime evangelizer, to work through you and your team to accompany your community members as they grow.
2. Annual Planning - If you haven't already, you will soon be looking at your calendars for next year and making plans. Have this chart handy at those meetings and use it to ensure that what you're planning and how you're planning on doing it is in line with the methodology.
3. Long Term Planning - Invite your Family of Parishes Pastoral Council to review this and have a discussion about the needs of people in these different stages. If you are working on your pastoral plan, use the ideas and methodology to discern a comprehesive plan that accompanies people on the journey. Perhaps you may even discern that there is a particular stage you want to focus on for a period of time.
4. Assessment - As you look back and review what you've done in ministry this year, and how you've done it, use these stages to help assess your work. Are your time and energy resources focused too much on one area? Can you think of people you can enourage as missionary disciples to take a leadership role in ministry? 

The bottom line is, this is a handy reference chart to keep on hand. Some of the members of the Pastoral Services team have printed a copy to hang in our office as a reminder of the call to accompany people on their journey.

Want to hear Julianne talk about this again or share it with someone who couldn't be at Pastoral Study Days? She shared this resource and many others in a CCCB webinar series called Encounters of Hope, available here. You can also access Julianne's resources from Pastoral Study Days on our website.

Great Things We Found On The Internet This Month:

• Five Books to Read for Making and Breaking Habits - Blessed is She
• 'Growing Better' Together for Those We Serve - Unleash the Gospel (Ft. Julianne Stanz)
• How Can Grandparents Evangelize their Grandchildren - Unleash the Gospel
• Keep the Faith When School's Out - Unleash the Gospel

Important Dates in July 2023

Click the links for more information about the saint or occasion. (OM=Optional Memorial)

1 - Canada Day
3 - St. Thomas
6 - St. Maria Goretti (OM)
11 - St Benedict
15 - St. Bonaventure
16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OM)
22 - St. Mary Magdalene
23 - World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
25 - St. James
26 - St. Anne and St. Joachim
29 - Sts. Martha, Mary & Lazarus
31 - St. Ignatius of Loyola

After His resurrection, Jesus approaches two of his disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35). In this encounter, Jesus models a way for us to accompany each other, build trusting relationships, and share faith with each other.

Pastoral Services has developed a resource to use as a prayerful reflection to discern how we may implement this approach in our own ministry. It is an excellent way to open a meeting. It could be used as a staff, parish council, ministry meeting, or small group. 

Here's how we recommend you use it:

1. Allow approximately 20-30 minutes for this prayerful reflection 
2. Hand out the reflection to participants.
3. Read the passage (Luke 24:13-35) out loud, allowing for a few moments of silence after. 
4. Begin reading the first section (Encounter) out load and allow for a few minutes of silent reflection, then continue through each of the six sections. The leader could read them all, or invite people to go around the table, each reading one.
5. Open the table to conversation and sharing. Invite people to share what stood out to them in their reflection. You could also ask how this approach could be applied based on what the meeting is about.

The document is available to download through our Nurturning Joy Resources, found here.

Joe Bezzina - Director of Pastoral Services
Claire Bondy - Director of Ongoing Formation & Lay Ecclesial Ministry
Chrisandra Skipper - Pastoral Services Coordinator
Christine Coyle - Family and Youth Ministry Specialist
Olwyn Supeene - Administrative Assistant

Outreach Ministries:
Refugee Office
Migrant Worker Ministry
Ministry for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Holy Family Retreat House

If you have a Good News Story from your Family of Parishes, please share it with us! We have an online form available for staff, volunteers, and parishioners to share the Good News happening in their communities! 

dol.ca/pastoral-services

Diocese of London Pastoral Services:

1070 Waterloo St
London, ON N6A 3Y2
Canada