INTRODUCTION

Those who were first converted by the Apostles revealed their conversion

not by feats of individual stardom but by entering a new life in community.

"The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold

their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves

according to what each one needed. They went as a body to the Temple

every day but met in their houses for the breaking of the bread; they shared

their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by

everyone" (Acts 2:44-47). God's compassion became evident in a radically

new way of living, which so amazed and surprised outsiders that they said:

"See how they love each other."

A compassionate life is a life in which fellowship with Christ reveals itself in

a new fellowship among those who follow Him. By entering into fellowship

with Jesus Christ, who emptied Himself and became as we are, and

humbled Himself by accepting death on the cross, we enter into a new

relationship with each other. This new relationship with Christ and with

each other can never be separated. It is not enough to say that a new

relationship with Christ leads to a new relationship with each other, rather, we

must say that the mind of Christ is the mind that gathers us together in

community; our life in community is the manifestation of the life of Christ.

In and through Christ, people of different ages and lifestyles, from different

races and classes, with different languages and education, can join together

and witness to God's compassionate presence in our world. There are many

interest groups and most of them seem to exist in order to defend

something. Although these groups often fulfil important tasks in our

society, the Christian community is of a different nature. When we form a

Christian community, we come together not because of similar experiences,

knowledge, problems, or colour, but because we have been called together by

the same Lord.

The basis of the Christian community is not the family tie, or social or

economic equality, or shared oppression or complaint, or mutual attraction,

but the Divine call. The initiative belongs to God and God is the source of

our life together. As people of God, we are called ekklesia (from the Greek  -- 

kaleo, call; and ek, out), the community called out of the old world into the

new.

SITUATION IN THE ARCHDIOCESE

Major observations concluded from the written and telephone surveys

conducted by Angus Reid Group in 1999:  

A.  Church is perceived to be unwelcoming: feeling of being welcome is

most important especially for new members. Almost half of all

parishioners feel that making everyone feel welcome in the parish is

the most important fellowship and community activity.  

B. There is a lack of support for members under age 30, over 60, and a

special need for support for single parents. Outreach to young people

as well as practical and emotional support for fellow parishioners is

perceived to be important by one in four parishioners.

C. There is a need to improve sense of belonging, feeling of community,

with consideration for ethnic accent. Overall, parishioners are most

likely to say that they have a moderate sense of community.

However, only 25% report having a strong sense of community and

just as many say they have a minimal sense of community or none at

all. A strong sense of community directly links with other aspects of

the Faith, such as willingness to share and do charitable work.  

D. Talents of members are not used. Relatively few parishioners feel

that their own gifts and talents are welcomed and used in the parish,

with about a third who feel that their gifts and talents are rarely or

never used.

E. There is a minimal sense of connectivity to the archdiocese as a

whole. About one in ten parishioners are disappointed by the lack of

community they experience in their parish and in the Catholic

community more generally. These parishioners feel there is a lack of

togetherness and the Church is not welcoming of outsiders.

RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Become a more welcoming church.

We need a fundamental change in mind-set and become more

welcoming in attitude, like the evangelical churches. Have you ever

visited the Sisters at the St. Clare's Monastery in Mission? Their

mere presence fills the room with such love, a caring serenity, and

spiritual joy, which is felt by all, even complete strangers. "Are we

welcoming to those who come to our door? Do we, as parish

community, seem to say that we are uncomfortable with you who are

a stranger? Or, do we reach out to you and welcome you, extending

ourselves to those who are new to our community?" 1 We need to

develop a warmer and welcoming attitude to our fellow church

members, as well as visitors and strangers.

»  Form hospitality teams

»  Welcome everyone warmly before Mass begins

»  Introduce new members on a one on one basis

»  Hospitality Team to introduce new members to other members

»  Expand database on new members to include special interests info

»  Introduce new members to whole congregation before Mass

»  Introduce newly married couples (engagement blessings)

»  Start parish pictorial directory

»  Schedule open church hours

»  Invite all to feast day, parish day, and confirmations

»  Invite all to seasonal celebrations, parish picnics, ethnic dinners,

    and sports days

»  Improve outreach programs: home visits of shut-ins, sick and

    disabled

»  Introduce Catholic neighbours in the same neighbourhood to one

    another

»  Improve outreach to those in need

»  Outreach to couples in 'irregular' marriages

»  Develop network of support families for new member families

»  Announce before Mass, the names of hospitality team members

     and liturgical ministers

»  Use pulpit talks

»  Review handbook for setting up small church communities,

   'Creating Small Church Communities' by Arthur Baranowski.

    This book is a manual on restructuring the parish so

    Catholic life can flourish. It explains how small communities,

    neighbourhood based, provide a support system and help

    members connect everyday life to faith. The process described is

    based on the work done at St. Elizabeth Seton Parish in Troy,

    Michigan. The original idea comes from South America.   

B. Organize support and activities for youth, seniors and single

parents