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Following on from the Archdiocesan Synod, in March
2005, the Parish voted on the priorities and chose four to focus on:
1. That young people are
helped by a set of faith development opportunities to integrate their
faith with everyday experience.
2. That parish liturgy becomes
more vibrant, meaningful and inclusive.
3. That parishes are
welcoming, inclusive communities to which people are drawn and have a
strong sense of belonging.
4. That Catholics recognize
and value the impact of their everyday Christian living on building a
better world.
As a
result of deliberation by the Parish Pastoral Council, four initiatives
with Parish Groups meeting some of the needs of the priorities. The
Groups are:
Youth. Bringing together the young people of
the parish for both social and Church related topics.
Social Justice.
Helping the parish to be aware of social issue in our society and
suggesting ways of being involved.
Adult Faith Education. Through
small groups, helping parishioners to deepen their faith and know more
about their religion.
Care and Concern
Providing a visitation service for the sick
and housebound and a short-term (up to three hours) respite service for
carers.
Parishioners
wanting to know more about the groups or with suggestions for
implementing the priorities, contact the Parish Office
Stewardship
In 2006
St Francis Xavier’s Parish was engaged in the process of introducing
“Stewardship” into the parish as a way of linking together
the activities of the groups and individual parishioners.
What is catholic Stewardship?
Stewardship
is a spirituality – a way of life – which calls for our
response by:
- Receiving the gifts of God
with gratitude
- Cultivating them responsibily
- Sharing them generously in justice with
others
- Returning the gifts with increase to God.
Stewardship ………
…is
a complete lifestyle, a life of total accountability and responsibility
acknowledging God as Creator of all
…is
responsible management of our God-given resources of time, talent and
treasure
…enhances
our relationships with God and one another
…is
living out a commitment to be Christ-centred, rather than self-centred
…is a lifelong journey with each person
at a different place on the path.
(Colleen Smith Catholic Stewardship: Sharing God’s
Gifts)
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