On this first Sunday of Lent, it is my joy to share with you our Parish Pastoral Plan recently developed by our Pastoral Council. As we begin the Lenten season with our personal plans to reform our lives and recommit ourselves to Christ, so as a parish community may we do the same through these strategies and goals.
Holy Spirit Parish Mission Statement: Know Christ, Love Christ, Serve Christ and invite others to Christ through word, Sacrament and Service.
Goal 1: To strengthen, grow and enrich the Worship Life of our Parish ¨Create opportunities for people to better understand the Sunday scriptures ¨Focus on cultivating a climate of hospitality at our liturgies ¨Create meaningful celebrations throughout the Liturgical Calendar ¨Encourage Eucharistic devotions and adoration ¨Increase our knowledge and appreciation of the Liturgy
Goal 2: To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others ¨Enhance formation opportunities for all ages ¨Create an Adult Education Committee and opportunities for faith formation ¨Develop and promote a program to welcome “returning” Catholics ¨Foster active and personal religious experience through participation in small-groups and other communal experiences in which the Good News is shared, experienced and applied to daily life
Goal 3: To equip and empower parishioners to live their Baptismal graces through outreach ¨Develop a methodology for Ministries to share opportunities for volunteering ¨Create a strategy for parishioners to identify their giftedness and match it to opportunities of engagement As the Lord battled with the devil for 40 days and 40 nights, then boldly began his public ministry, so may we be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to make this Lenten journey truly a time of personal and communal renewal.
This past week and weekend we celebrated Mardi Gras with our Flambeau Cash Raffle, Patrons, a Silent Auction and a wonderful, festive Mardi Gras meal through curbside pick-up. Thank you to all the volunteers and staff members who made it all possible. There is a Mardi Gras report on Raffle Winners, Donors and Patrons in this bulletin on page 13. Special thanks to Mark Mijavec, who put together the wonderful meal; to Gina Sharbaugh, our new Mardi Gras coordinator; to Maureen Kuhn, our Raffle Ticket facilitator; and to Jean Pascale, our wonderful facilitator. If you are interested in learning more about our faith and evangelization, we invite you to consider Engaged. This is a Word on Fire program from Bishop Robert Barron. Sign up via our website and you will receive flocknote invitations to a variety of programs from Word on Fire. Please see our website HSPLC.ORG for more information.