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September 18, 2016
Dear friends in Christ,
Last month, over two weekends, you heard an invitation—first from parish leaders and then from me—to become part of one of IHM’s first Small Christian Communities (SCCs) in recent years. I was overwhelmed by the response: nearly 250 parishioners signed up to participate in “Come As You Are,” the 12-week ice-breaking experience that will begin to form our parish’s new SCCs.
This response confirms my impression after years of pastoring: Because we are so often uprooted from home by education or work, isolated from extended family and exhausted by pursuits and obligations that drain us, there is a real hunger in many people for friendships based on shared faith that can instead nurture and uplift us.
Early in my tenure as your pastor, I encountered many parishioners who are deeply committed to our parish and our faith—alone and at various group meetings around the parish—and I asked: What happened in your life that helped you become the active disciple that you are today? And in almost every story, there was some small group experience that broke through the anonymity of the crowds at Sunday mass and made the Catholic faith, and the practice of it here at IHM, something more personal and passionate. I join our Parish Pastoral Council and parish staff in wishing that for every parishioner.
These first “Come As You Are Groups” begin meeting in homes this week. Please join me in praying that the participants will find the experience fruitful and enjoyable. And if you were on the verge of filling out a card last month, but did not or could not, do not despair! You will have another opportunity this time next year and this time every year.
Your brother in Christ’s word and work,
