November 2023 - Good News Notes

Are you overwhelmed? This is a word we often hear from people who work in the Church. Merely maintaining our systems, programs, and buildings can bear a heavy load. When we look at a more mission-oriented church that forms disciples of Jesus, there is an overwhelming amount of work to do.

Desmond Tutu wisely once said, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” He didn’t say this as a recommendation for an elephant burger. In his wisdom, he was giving reprieve to the overwhelmed and stressed. Every large project or transition or mission requires a series of steps or actions or bites.

There are a few simple ways we can practically implement Tutu’s advice:

Breaking Down Projects into Steps: If you were to take on a major renovation in your home, you wouldn’t just start knocking down walls. There are a series of actions: find a contractor, draw a blueprint, price out materials, get permits, etc.

The same is true if you want to make major changes to a system, process, or program in your parish. Let’s say you want to change the way you offer First Communion preparation. You would need to go one step at a time. Start by drawing up a plan, then researching programs, then consulting the pastoral team. By breaking a project down into steps, it becomes more than an idea. It becomes manageable and actionable, even more so when those steps have timely benchmarks associated with them.

Next Best Thing: Even with those steps, large projects can feel daunting. Tutu’s advice also suggests that you may not have to tackle the whole elephant. Start with one thing you can do right now to move the needle forward.

An example may be the desire to make your weekend liturgies more welcoming to new people. You can begin by adding simple signage around the entryway of your parish indicating where the restrooms are.

Perhaps you’re wanting to provide more personal outreach to people who have left the congregation. You do not necessarily begin a full campaign with committees and meetings; you can begin by reaching out to one person. Do it right now – take 2 minutes to reach out to someone!

Say No: If you’ve ever seen a toddler eat something they love, you’ve probably heard a parent say, “You have too much in your mouth.” Tutu may also be reminding us that we need to say no to allow room for the bite we already have in our mouths.

One of the most difficult people to say no to is ourselves. We want to do so much and be the change and help others know Jesus, but we struggle to prioritize our work and say no to things at the bottom of the list. Challenge yourself to say no to new things or old things that are no longer working.

No matter if it’s a major project broken down into a step-by-step plan or a single action, there is forward movement. Overwhelm can paralyze us, but small, simple actions are what moves us forward. Take on the elephant.

• Simple, Personal Outreach Goes a Long Way - Evangelical Catholic
• 10 Tips for Better Conversations - Evangelical Catholic
• Church Announcement Formula - Pro Chuch Tools
• Giving Generously: Developing a Culture of Stewardship - Upcoming Webinar
• Modern Catholic Gifts - Modern Catholic Goods (Canadian Company)

Important Dates in December 2023

Click the links for more information about the saint or occasion.(S=Solemnity, F=Feast, M=Memorial, OM=Optional Memorial)

6 - St. Nicholas (OM)

7 - St. Ambrose (M)

8 - Immaculate Conception (S)

9 - St. Juan Diego (OM)

12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe (F) and National Day of Prayer in Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

13 - St. Lucy (M)

14 - St. John of the Cross (M)

25 - Nativity of the Lord

26 - St. Stephen (F)

27 - St. John (F)

28 - Holy Innocents (F)

31 - Holy Family (F)

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.

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

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Diocese of London Pastoral Services: 

1070 Waterloo St

London, ON N6A 3Y2

Canada