• Empowerment Through the Holy Spirit

    Action Items

    1. Watch the Recap video and the Empowerment through the Holy Spirit videos as soon as possible.
    2. Consider the following actions:

      o Raise up an intercessory prayer team to pray together for the renewal efforts in your parish. Ask them to pray for the power of the Holy Spirit to be released upon the parish which will help to prepare fertile soil for the work that is to be done.

      o Plan a homily/homily series around the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Use the early Church as a guide and how the Holy Spirit moved powerfully to transform lives (See the book of Acts).

      o Include a moment of prayer in your homily or at another appropriate time in the liturgy to allow time for the Holy Spirit to move. Give those at Mass an opportunity to experience how the Holy Spirit can move among them communally even within the liturgy.

      o Introduce/practice communal prayer with one another and over one another at leadership gatherings (meetings, discipleship gatherings, leadership summits, etc.)

      o Spend an hour this week in front of the blessed sacrament asking "God what is your vision for your church?" Sit in silence waiting for His inspiration. Write down every thought that comes to mind. Use these God-inspired thoughts as the starting point to begin to paint a picture of the future for your church that creates passion for you and that will eventually create passion among your parishioners.

    Recap Video on Vision

    https://vimeo.com/553317084/8877ef378a

    Vision is a God given picture of the future that inspires passion. The first part of this statement cannot be taken for granted. While our vision provides clarity and direction, it must be inspired by the Holy Spirit. We believe that if the Holy Spirit is inspiring a vision in a pastor, this is the same vision He will have for the parish.

    A reality that many parishes face, however, is that many people don’t know how to pray and are not relying on the Holy Spirit. It is necessary for priests and leaders to form a relationship with the Holy Spirit. Only when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, can we lead others to an encounter with the Spirit. We must be intentional about inviting and accompanying all parishioners to an encounter with the Holy Spirit, so that our parish can be united in vision and clothed with the same power from on high. (Lk 24:49)

    Videos for this Session