WORDS TO THE WHYS
You cannot subsidize irresponsibility and expect people to become more responsible. Thomas Sowell
12 Ways To Catechise And Strengthen The Bonds Of Fellowship
- Host small informal home gatherings and mix in people who are well-versed in Tradition and the transcendentals - truth, goodness, and beauty - and who can gently shape conversations toward living the Faith with integrity.
- Establish the Guild of Saint Stephen for altar servers at your parish. Altar servers can be the leaven that inspires reverent worship of God among parishioners. https://www.guildofststephen.org/
- Conduct Eucharistic processions (Corpus Christi, Marian processions) to bring the light of faith into a surrounding neighbourhood, to give people permission to live the Faith and celebrate ways of living that are healthier and more beautiful than current societal norms dictate.
- Ensure the Sacrament of Penance is available every day, if even for only 30 minutes. Forgiveness and reconciliation gives people cause for peace and joy that spreads from one life to another. By purifying the faithful through challenging homilies and by making the Sacrament of Penance available every day, true and lasting relationships are formed and the Catholic identity of the parish informs and supports the wider community.
- Encourage realness. Help people understand what is real and what is good so they can orient themselves to healthy ways of thinking, ways informed by the wisdom of the saints.
- In the Ordinariate, fellowship is considered something of an "eighth sacrament." That is, the fellowship that follows Mass offers believers opportunities to awaken to the graces offered in the Mass, the blessings of God's wisdom, His healing and peace, and His life-giving Presence. Celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. Offer a monthly Requiem Mass for the memory and repose of the dead. Invite people to submit prayer requests for family members.
- Encourage people - visitors, newcomers - to introduce themselves during fellowship. Welcome the stranger as you would welcome Christ.
- Establish men's and women's groups to extend Eucharistic fellowship into daily life and to share practical experience rooted in Catholic wisdom. E.g., https://littlemorefellowsh.wixsite.com/littlemore
- Host seasonal talks: Lenten and Advent lecture series on aspects of Lent/Advent.
- Foster a rich parish and individual devotional life. Ordinariate communities are well known for their celebration of beautiful timely devotions that build identity and confidence: the shared Daily Office (e.g., Mattins before Mass); seasonal memorials and festivals that orient believers to the beauty of God's creation, e.g., Ember Days and Rogation Days, Tenebrae, Blessing of Graves, Harvest Thanksgiving, Nine Lessons and Carols. Establish a Guild of the Holy Souls. https://www.victoriaordinariate.com/holysoulsguild.html
- Offer Exposition and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at least once a week with a full hour for meditation and confession, concluding with Solemn Benediction.
- Ensure the Mass is always celebrated with dignity and heartfelt reverence.
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POPE LEO XIV Magnifica Humanitas
Even in the darkest nights, the Lord raises up men and women who refuse to give up, who persevere in doing good, who protect the vulnerable and open pathways to reconciliation. The memory of the saints, righteous people and the oft-forgotten peacemakers, show us that grace does not magically eliminate conflict, but instead it inspires active resistance to evil and an astonishing creativity in doing good” (paragraph 211).
LUCIUS ANNAEUS SENECA
Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
I doubt not then but innocence shall make false accusation blush, and tyranny tremble at patience.
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