First Annual Trinity Region Leadership Assembly, September 24-26, 2004
Kay Knott, Regional Custodian, presiding; Joanne Jones, Assembly Coordinator
Friday, September 24, 2004
Introductions:
Josie Morales, MCA, Custodian General; Joanne Jones, MCA, Assistant Custodian General; Fr. John Seymour, ST, International Spiritual Guide for the MCA; Fr. Guy Wilson, ST, who has been nominated to serve as the Spiritual Guide for Trinity Region; and Br. Paul Michalenko, ST, facilitator for the Assembly. .
Kay distributed the booklet, Go and Make Disciples: A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The booklet would serve as a focal point for discussions during the Assembly.
In her keynote address Josie Morales explained that the purpose of the Assembly was to develop a mission statement and a plan to:
1) develop highly spiritualized lay Apostles in the Church and in the region;
2) foster an apostolic holiness as broadly as possible;
3) identify potential leaders in the region.
At the 2003 MCA Leadership Assembly 14 goals were drafted to serve as the basis for action by the MCA for the next four years. From these goals, the General Council drew up a summary statement that synthesizes the goals. The purpose of this Assembly is to elaborate on that statement and come up with a Mission Plan to implement the overall goals. This is the first regional Assembly to address these issues. Similar Assemblies will be held in each of the regions.
First Session , Friday eveningBr. Paul asked the group to think of the following questions.
How do you call forth lay Apostles? How can MCA in this region be more intense in calling forth a spiritualized laity? What is evangelization? How are we doing that and how might we do it more effectively?
Evangelization was defined as “bringing the good news of Jesus to every human situation.” Evangelization requires asking that people be transformed, or called to conversion. In calling others to be transformed, we need to recognize our own “conversions.” In small groups each was asked to recall how his or her own conversion took place, who else was involved, and when and where it occurred. This was followed by sharing some of these experiences with the larger group.
Second Session, Saturday morning, September 25
In his opening remarks, Br. Paul challenged us to find ways to develop highly spiritualized lay apostles in the region over the next three years and to identify leadership to help achieve this goal. The following topics relating to developing lay apostles were selected as focal points and groups were formed to discuss each of the issues.
1) Peace and justice action in our communities, nationally, and globally
2) Youth
3) Fallen-away Catholics;
4) Deepen our own spirituality
5) Become lay apostles in Baptist [protestant] language. (Learn to sing the song of Zion in a strange land.”)
6) Hispanics
7) Elderly
Third Session–Saturday afternoon
Reports from the groups:
1) Peace and justice action
Define the connection between social values and gospel values;
Make justice a part of our lives;
Find ways to access opportunities to do social justice;
Evangelize within the Cenacles about the call to Justice;
More fully recognize our unity of purpose in responding to the gospels;
Find ways to “light” fires in others;
Start small and build on that.
2) Youth
Identify faith-filled youth, and use them to build inspiration and motivation;
Nurture vocations (both lay and religious);
Use resources available in the MCF to foster spiritual growth among youth, e.g. Find your Mission.
3) Fallen-away Catholics
Invite fallen-way Catholics to come back to Church (personal invitations usually more effective;
Initiate group discussions;
Learn about the healing process;
Utilize RCIA programs in the parishes.
4) Deepen our own spirituality
Spirituality is a body of beliefs and practices relating to our relationship with God. Fr. Judge distinguished between devotional spirituality and Apostolic spirituality. Both are necessary if we are to become effective missionaries.
Members need to look at practices and devotions in the Rule of Life and in the writings of Father Judge and the other founders as well as in the scriptures and the teachings of the church.
Identify and choose Spiritual Guides who will help us grow spiritually.
5) Lay Apostles in a Baptist [Protestant] language
Need to be aware of the social values, the customs, the language, and the songs of our Protestant brothers and sisters.
6) Hispanics
Greatest issue is one of communication.
More collaboration needed among Hispanics and other ethnic groups.
Need to reach out to newly arrived immigrants.
Need to address justice issues.
7) Elderly
Consistency needed in dealing with elderly.
Listen to stories; let them know that we care.
Visit the elderly and the dying.
The groups reformed and were asked to come up with a Mission Plan and three action steps to implement the plan. Issues relating to the elderly were combined with those dealing with fallen-away Catholics, leaving six groups. (See Attachment A for the Final draft of Mission Plans and Action Steps.)
Following the presentation of Mission Plans participants were asked to take an Emmaus walk with one other person to discuss how to communicate the Mission Plan and action steps to others in our region.
Suggestions:
1) Identify leaders who can help make goals of the Assembly a reality.
2) Let Cenacles look at plan, pray over it, choose for the future.
3) Talk among Cenacles, e.g. three Cenacles in Tallahassee area.
4) Celebrate what is already happening.
5) Use materials and resources available from the MCF and from the Church.
6) Use the process that was done in the assembly.
7) Select appropriate Mission Plans and Action Steps.
8) Take counsel with other members of the Missionary Cenacle Family.
Fourth Session - Saturday
The participants met in groups to identify potential leaders in the region who can help make the Mission Plans a reality.
Fifth Session - Sunday, September 26, 2004
Reports from groups charged with identifying potential leaders in the Cencales included a number of names from those attending as well as those not in attendance. Attendees were reminded of the need to identify and foster good leadership within the individual Cenacles.
Father Charles Piatte, ST, who is in charge of vocations for the STs, gave a presentation on his duties and the status of vocations in the ST branch of the Missionary Cenacle Family. He asked for suggestions for fostering vocations.
The Assembly concluded with Mass.
ATTACHMENT A: MISSION PLANS and ACTION STEPS
GOALS
Developing highly spiritualized lay apostles in the church
Fostering an apostolic holiness as broadly as possible
__________________________
Mission Plan:
To deepen our own spirituality which serves as the foundation of all our apostolic activities
Action Steps:
1) making available materials relating to Missionary Cenacle Apostolate spirituality (Ordo., biographies of our founders, etc.);
2) identifying and choosing persons who will provide spiritual guidance;
3) developing a practice of daily meditation on content that is consistent with both the MCA charism and the teachings of the church.
______
Mission Plan:
To evangelizing recent arrivals and immigrants
Action Steps:
1) to use the Renew method of evangelization;
2) evangelization retreats (local);
3) invite others to be involved in our apostolate: visit jails, families, homes for the aged, the sick, etc.
_______
Mission Plan:
To “Sing the Song of Zion in a Strange Land”
Action Steps:
1) investigate resources for defending Catholicism in the South;
2) participate actively in interfaith community-building activities;
3) investigate Baptist customs and language to determine which we can accept and which we cannot.
___________
Mission Plan:
To: 1) reach out and welcome inactive Catholics back into the Body of Christ; and
2) reach out and invite the elderly to participate in the fullness of the church.
Action Steps:
1) identify and contact (one to one) inactive Catholics and elderly (rapport);
2) invite inactive Catholics to socials involving faith witness;
3) educate about Catholic faith through the RCIA and catechesis);
4) taking Eucharist to the elderly; being consistent in loving, listening, and caring.
___________
Mission Plan:
To evangelize and nurture the faith of our children, adolescents, and young adults
Action Steps:
1) seek out and use resources and programs available in the dioceses, parishes, and the MCF for evangelizing;
2) help to identify gifts and talents by sharing with each other;
3) make us disciples in our everyday life.
_______
Mission Plan:
To be effective justice-makers and evangelizers we must spiritualize ourselves, be advocates, connect and establish relationships with community leaders, church, and lay leaders; go and see where justice is lacking and utilize individual talents
Action Steps:
1) evangelize the members of our Cenacles;
2) develop a presentation of the Christian mandate to be justice-makers for use in parishes, groups, schools, etc;
3) develop and train rotating teams to witness/assess justice needs, that is, visiting elderly, prisons, the poor, non-English speaking, and involvement in political action.