An amazing thing is happening in a Chicagoland parish that we have worked with over the past two years.  They have come up with and are implementing the most amazing parish mission statement I have ever read. This Mission Statement and Guiding Behaviors document has been worked on and discussed by the Staff and Parish Council and is now the parish's official document.

Mission Statement

To spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, offering people the means to Eternal Life in Jesus—through our sacramental life and our apostolic witness. To this end, we will form disciples and send every member out as an apostle to work for the transformation of our world—home, neighborhood, and workplace—through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Guiding Behaviors

1. We will prepare every parishioner to live their faith in the world as intentional disciples of Jesus Christ, recognizing their secular competence and forming them to evangelize individuals, human structures, and culture in light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ

2. We recognize that every baptized man and woman is called by God to a state in life and a specific work of love (vocation), and as a community pledge to help each person discern that vocation so as to answer their call from God and take personal responsibility for the Church’s mission to the world.

3. We honor the charisms and recognize their importance both in building up the Body of Christ and in fulfilling our evangelistic mission to the world. Therefore, we will help every baptized man and woman discover their charisms and help connect them with opportunities to utilize these charisms in the world and in the parish.

4. We will always strive to remain centered on the Eucharist and the Sacramental life of the Church and pledge our fidelity to the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church

5. We will take seriously Christ’s call to acts of Charity and Social Justice so as to transform the world, seeking to restore creation to all its original dignity. In particular, we will apply the gospel to issues of injustice and need in our town.

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