I am pleased to provide you with this update on the Parish Priority Plan and its progress. This update represents an outpouring of perseverance, prayer, and planning. It is clear the Holy Spirit is at work within our parish. For any plan to work, it must be reviewed regularly. this article provides some accomplishments since the Parish Priority Plan was first published. 

Cultivating the Spiritual Life – The goal of this priority is to encourage those habits that lead us to experience the deep joy of encountering the Lord through a better prayer life. In response to this basic need for prayer, Father Jirak is offering a morning retreat entitled “Father, Teach Me How to Pray!” on Saturday, December 9th from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Your relationship with Jesus Christ will be deepened by practicing Lectio Divina, St. Ignatius Examen prayer, and other forms of prayer. In addition, on Wednesday evenings during Advent, Father will teach us the ancient practice of Night Prayer, more information to follow. To celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the apparitions at Fatima, the Cultivating Spiritual Life team hosted a special showing of the movie on Our Lady of Fatima on Friday, October 13th. The evening was so successful that we are in the process of planning more movie nights. 

Enhancing the Sunday Mass Experience – We hope to create the conditions for the faithful to more powerfully encounter the Lord at our parish. We have recently trained new Mass Captains. The Mass Captains program provides direction for the younger servers and ensures that the liturgy runs more smoothly and orderly, eliminating distractions which inhibit prayer. A specific goal of the Parish Priority Plan is to attain 1400 parishioners. We are currently averaging about 1470 Sunday Mass attendance. Only approximately 46% of our parishioners are attending Mass at The Church of the Blessed Sacrament. Although our obligation is fulfilled by attending any parish, there is added significance and fruit by worshiping with our parish family, and as Catholics our faith is not individualistic but rather has a very tangible communal element. 

Living the New Evangelization - The goal of this priority is to equip Blessed Sacrament parishioners with the skills needed to share their faith in an inviting and compelling way. 94 parishioners just completed the Discover Christ series. Following Christ, the 7-week series began October 25th. Following Christ helps one to grow in his/ her relationship with Jesus Christ. It is accomplished by praying together, teaching, and supporting one another. Following Christ equips Catholics for the essential work of evangelization and provides a great opportunity for parishioners and guests to encounter Jesus and to grow in this personal relationship. It is also a way that our parish can begin to create conditions to becoming an evangelizing community. It’s not too late to join. Please call or stop by the parish office for more information. 

For our Parish Priority Plan to bear fruit, we need to be reminded that the plan will require the commitment, energy, and partnership of ALL parishioners. Please prayerfully consider any area that you can offer support and participation. We must believe that our parish will grow stronger through the relationships we build with God and each other in fulfilling our Vision. 

Please continue to pray for God’s blessing on this plan as we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

Yours in Christ, C.Y. Suellentrop