Reflecting on Pope Francis' call for disciples to accompany others in their journey of faith, Discovering Your Gifts helps faithful to realize how God has gifted them to serve others.

"In a culture paradoxically suffering from anonymity and at the same time obsessed with the details of other people’s lives, shamelessly given over to morbid curiosity, the Church must look more closely and sympathetically at others whenever necessary. In our world, ordained ministers and other pastoral workers can make present the fragrance of Christ’s closeness and his personal gaze. The Church will have to initiate everyone – priests, religious and laity – into this “art of accompaniment”.

Join us for an interactive workshop that builds upon the foundations of Church teachings, forming a blueprint for evangelization. During these four sessions, parish leaders and catechists will learn the elemental building blocks to form disciples prepared for mission.

The series will run from 5:45-9:00 PM, June 10-13 at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs in Bevery Hills, MI. Click here for more information and to register. RSVP by June 3 to ensure enough materials are prepared.

• Do you have a clear plan for forming disciples in your parish?  

• Does your staff and parish leadership have a clear vision for mission?

• Would you like to better understand the spiritual needs of your parishioners?

• Do you desire a re-vitalization of the culture in your parish?

• Would you like to better organize your staff for pastoral planning success and mission?

Ministry with a Purpose

Parishes create vision and mission statements and may even develop strategic plans.

As leaders, however, we must ask ourselves, do these plans truly represent a vision for creating a community of faith prepared to be sent forth as missionary disciples?

Often communities of faith rely on programs to develop disciples. This may work for those whose charisms are in the intellectual realm, but often fall short of developing the environment within the community of faith to walk with, mentor and nurture believers as they seek to grow more deeply in relationship with God and each other.

Forming the Human Person

What is needed is a vision for discipleship that forms all aspects of the human person. When we help individuals discover their true identity as beloved children of God, created for a purpose and mission, with a future full of hope empowered by the Holy Spirit, they are awakened to new life and direction.

Via Maria Consulting, LLC, with years of experience in parish and diocesan ministry, can help your parish create a vision for discipleship that goes beyond programs--one that forms individuals within the context of community--to go forth into the world with a joy and zeal to share the Gospel according to their charisms.

Contact us and let Via Maria consultants prepare a parish leadership training for your staff and lay leaders.