The Parish of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church has adopted as its mission the objective of being a Christ-Centered Parish. Father Michael Woods, at a parish town hall meeting, said that his life was changed completely when he became centered in Christ. He stated at that time his desire for the parish to be transformed in a similar manner by also becoming centered in Christ. After much research, the Leadership Team, in concert with Father, found that there was not any clear definition of what a parish that was centered in Christ would look like. We found elements or attributes of a Christ-Centered Parish in the writings of parishes and dioceses across the USA. The following are the attributes that we selected to define and measure our progress and successes as we move on the journey to becoming a Christ-Centered Parish.
The Parish will listen openly to the callings from the Holy Spirit and recognize in its actions the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and by that recognize communally the Fruits of the Holy Spirit. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, Fear of the Lord. The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.
The Parish will in its normal thoughts, practice, habits and actions recognize Jesus as a person and seek always to encounter His love and by this personal encounter reach out to others in and out of the community to love them as Jesus loves us.
The Parish will conduct Liturgies where all are regularly rekindled in Eucharistic amazement. The Parish must have a hospitable environment where mutual love is evident, must have music that both encourages communal participation and actively lifts the minds and hearts in worship of God, must have preaching that breaks up the word of God and applies it to life today, and must have an atmosphere of joy and faith that is focused on the Lord.
The Parish actively teaches its parishioners how to pray, daily offers opportunities for group oral prayers as well as opportunity for meditation and silent conversations with Jesus, recognizes the “Holy Moments” of the day as active prayer, provides opportunities for Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, actively encourages intercessory prayer, and daily centers the life of the Parish in Jesus’ prayer to the Father in the Mass.
The Parish will understand that a disciple is a student of Jesus with a desire to begin a lifelong learning process to imitate Jesus and His whole way of life. The Parish has a parish life that is centered on an ongoing personal encounter with Jesus through the Sacraments, prayer, fellowship, the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles as reflected in Scripture and Tradition. The Parish promotes Christian Fellowship so as to share the joyful life of the Body of Christ at the Parish with others, meeting the others where they are and taking care of their needs. The Parish invites others into its community where the others can be known, loved, cared for, and learn through example what it means to live with Christian Hospitality.
The Parish has established a community in the same manner as the early Christians who after Pentecost were noted as “See how they love one another”. The Parish has developed an ever growing Family of Families where the Parish actively shares in the needs of its members as if they were direct members of a family. The Parish should share in sorrow, joy, consolation, fellowship, friendship, prayer and love one another as Jesus loves them.
The Parish has a vision of personal growth in faith by building holiness one moment at a time. The Parish cultivates the formation of faith through active reading of sacred Scripture, writings of the Church, lives of the saints, consecration to Mary, and silent and intercessory prayer every day. The Parish encourages opportunities for personal encounter with Jesus by spiritual direction, retreats, small group communities, and the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.