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s our Grouping Team continues the strenuous task of prayerfully discerning and thoughtfully discussing the strengths and weaknesses of the various scenarios presented a few weeks ago, we would do well to keep a few scriptural passages in mind:
“Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves. (Luke 22: 23-27)
I encourage all of us to meditate on this passage and its impact for our own lives and, in a special way, our thoughts as to what might be best for the future of our parish and our place in the renewal of the Church for the entire Chicagoland area. We are called to serve one another.
The Renew My Church prayer that we shared at the beginning of this process and that is prayed by our Grouping Team at every meeting offers these intentions:
Pour out the gift of your Holy Spirit upon us,
and so enable us
to hear you clearly
to listen to each other attentively
to imagine our future boldly
to discern your direction wisely
to persevere in your holy will courageously
to stay together in charity
to surrender our own plans readily
to embrace the greater good
to hand on your gifts to future generations.
Let us continue to make these intentions our own as a daily expression of our love for and hope in Jesus Christ, His Church and our entire Archdiocesan faith community.
As always, for more information, visit RenewMyChurch.org, or ask me or members of our parish team.