Note From The Pastor
 
 Didn’t we already do Uniting in Heart?
 
For the next three weeks my bulletin article will be about our parish and diocesan renewal, Uniting in Heart.  Some people may assume that this was simply a change in pastors and the sharing of priests with a neighboring parish.  That was only one part.  Uniting in Heart is much more.  At the core of Uniting in Heart is a renewal of our diocese and each parish to more effectively become Missionary Disciples.  So what is a Missionary Disciple?
 
For many reasons, Catholic membership, engagement and practice of the faith has waned.  Research from many organizations, Catholic and non-Catholic alike, indicate that many have fallen away from their Catholic faith.  Many others in our society haven’t been introduced to Christ and His Church.  This was prior to the pandemic.  There is now an even more urgent need for all the Baptized to take up Jesus’ call to “make disciples of all nations.” (Matthew 28:19-20).  A Missionary Disciple is someone takes this call of Jesus and tries, each in her or his own way, to share it.  It is both someone who shares their own experience of Christ by their actions and their words, and it is a faith community that as a body is able to teach, nurture and empower parishioners to be Missionary Disciples. 
 
Awareness of the need and preparation for this effort extends beyond our diocese and predates Uniting in Heart.  In 2017, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) published a resource entitled, “Living as Missionary Disciples.”  It builds on much of what the last three popes have articulated as the New Evangelization.  It calls for both renewal of faith and a reorientation of perspective, priorities, resources and vision around this effort.   Uniting in Heart grew out of this call and was also in response to demographic changes and diminishing number of available clergy.  It is the broader vision for renewal within our diocese, with a focus on evangelization and missionary discipleship.  That is why I was named not just “pastor” but a “Missionary Pastor.  We have put into the bulletin the vision statement of Uniting In Heart, but you can also read it online at the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana website – dol-in.org/uih-vision.
 
The vision of Uniting in Heart has other aspects that are broken down into three (3) pillars – Mission, Community and Witness.  These are areas of shared commitment across the diocese.  Under each pillar are areas of focus.  They don’t necessarily mean a particular parish is lacking in one or another area.  In fact, both Holy Spirit and St. John Vianney are excelling in some of these areas.  The vision simply highlights what are important priorities in the coming years.  This is also online at dol-in.org/uih-shared-commitment.  The Uniting in Heart vision and shared commitment are very general.  It is up to each pastorate and local faith community to articulate the specifics.  This is what will be the Pastoral Vision Plan.  I will outline some of our steps in that direction and a rough timeline next week.
 
The opening statement of the vision is “Guided by the Holy Spirit, and grounded in prayer and formation …” this means that prayer is our first step.  If any of us are to be guided by the Holy Spirit we need to be praying.  There is a Uniting in Heart prayer that will be available on our parish websites.  It is also on the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana website - dol-in.org/uih-prayer.  Whether you pray that particular prayer or another, I ask that each of us commit to praying for renewal in our Catholic Church – parish, pastorate, diocese and nation.  God desires to send us His Spirit and renew our faith communities.  Let us ask Him for that grace.
 
“When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.”
~Psalm 104:30 (NIV translation)
 
Yours in Christ,
 Fr. Dale