“Living as the Body of Christ”

“Living as the Body of Christ”
  (part three of a series on our PWC Purpose)

Earlier this fall, in the introduction for this series of columns, I explained how the heart of our new “welcome packets” present potential new parishioners with an image of our Plainville-Wrentham Collaborative Parishes using four themes from our collaborative purpose: (1) Transformed by Our Relationship with God; (2) Growing in Faith, (3) Living as the Body of Christ; and (4) Changing the World. Now, for those of us who are not newcomers, we will explore each theme and the fruits we are trying to nurture. For those of us who have been here a while and involved in the life of St. Martha and St. Mary parishes, these will hopefully feel familiar to you. If not, they will be a good way for us to grow more closely united in the purpose and life in our parishes! 

Now, as we wait in Advent hope and joy for the Coming of the Lord, we are reminded that we need a Savior – someone who can do what we cannot do for ourselves. This is a grace, a blessing freely given! It also means acknowledging that Jesus comes to bring change in us – so we continually need be open to:

While this may sound like a lot of work to take on, you do not have to do it on your own. Part of our purpose as parishes is “to inspire spiritual growth as Disciples of Jesus.” Through homilies and columns like this one, online and in person, together and privately, our faith communities provide both opportunities and the encouragement we need to give some of our TIME back to God for growing in knowledge of Church teaching, insights into our Christian faith, and relationships with God and each other. 

This card in the welcome packet includes various examples of practices we encourage or opportunities we offer during the year to help us to grow in faith. Various forms of prayer are encouraged, including: daily conversations with God; weekday Masses; devotions such as the Holy Rosary, Novenas, and Adoration of Christ in the Eucharist; or Catholic apps and daily meditation books. It also mentions general types of programs, such as: Faith Formation for adults, youth, and kids; retreats for individuals or groups – specifics of which we see in the bulletin and on PWC each week. We all need to give a little of our time and attention to growing in faith, otherwise we won’t be able to fully benefit from the great gift of God giving himself to us in Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned for the other themes of our PWC purpose, and pray that we may truly embody these aspects of who God calls us to be, so others will be drawn to follow the Lord in our parishes!