Reading Assignment Reminder for Session 4 September 30

•      Chapter three Joy of The Gospel
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•      Read and reflect upon pages 20-37 of the Mission Workbook in preparation for our next meeting

•Evangelization

•Catechesis

•Prayer & Worship

•Communio

I'm reading John Allen's book: The Francis Miracle and came across his explanation of Pope's Francis's treatment of Capitalism in "The Joy of the Gospel."  I want to share this since group one in last week's session had a robust conversation about it.  Here's what he writes: "Focusing on Francis's treatment of capitalism misses what what was truly innovative about "Evangelii Gaudium," (The Joy of The Gospel) which wasn't the pope's approach to economics but rather to Catholicism itself.  The key line was one in which Francis asserted that solidarity with the poor, as well as the promotion of peace, are constituent elements of what it means to be a missionary Church.  This was a direct challenge to contemporary Catholic sociology.  Evangelization and the social gospel have generally been regarded as distinct concerns.  The former is concerned with bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ and membership in the Chruch, while the latter addresses their material needs.  Pope Francis aspires to break down those barriers between people who evangelize and people who serve the poor, because in his mind they should be one and the same.  Serving the poor, in other words, is part and parcel of what it means to "do mission."

Thanks Valerie...

Valeire Walker created a special prayer card for our Parish Transformation program.  Nice job.  We are reciting the prayer in back of the card before we begin our sessions.  We will also have the prayer card available in the church pews so that we can recite this prayer together at the end of the intercessory prayers at Mass.