Discipleship How to grow many Catholic Christians in your parish easily and quickly Martin Teulan

Parish Life in 2012 Reality Check + Numbers are falling 12% attend church regularly Church is irrelevant to many Young people are bored at Mass Catholic Church is poorest performer of all churches 30 per parish by 2050 – less in the bush!

Parish Life in 2012 Reality Check + Only the Church has passed on faith for 2000 years Loss of attenders is slowing Some Parishes are growing Catholics want to have a better parish but don’t know how It is easy to grow your parish

Parish Life in 2012

New Evangelisation – What is it? “the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes” Redemptoris Missio 3 “pastoral initiatives adapted to the circumstances of each community” Novo Millennio Inuente 29 “a personal and profound meeting with the Saviour.” JP II 1993

Community of Disciples on Mission “As a community of believers, we live out the call of baptism, through personal faith in Jesus, witnessing together to the Good News of the Kingdom.” Rockhampton Diocesan Vision Statement

Community of Disciples on Mission Community – everyone has friends and a ministry, parish is an extended family for parishioners. Test: does every member have friends and a ministry (role) in the community?

Parish helps parishioners to: Commit their lives to Christ Pray Daily Know Bible and Tradition Participate in Parish community and ministry Join a small group Give generously Share their faith Serve others Discipleship

Community of Disciples on Mission Discipleship Test: Do others see you positively and perhaps differently as a Catholic by your life and actions?

Growing your Community of Disciples Mission – the parish reaches out to the wider community with faith and service Test: – can every parishioner talk about their faith?

Community of Disciples on Mission Service and Justice “love your neighbour as yourself” “people put more trust in witnesses than in teachers. ” RM 42 Test: do you know and work with people who are poor and in need? “

Growing your Community of Disciples

A definition of insanity is “doing the same thing as before and expecting to get a different result.” For effective change you must: 1.Learn the best way to move forward 2.What process is needed to implement that new way? 3.Implement the process

Quick ways to grow Disciples- Worship Aim To have a celebration of Mass where parishioners will experience God and be happy to invite their friends along

Quick ways to grow Disciples- Worship Masses for different ages Welcoming Relevant music teams Homily relevant and directive Expand & train ministers Participation Cuppa to finish Personal introductions Bulletin is main media

Stewardship next - increases giving by 50% 1 pastoral worker for every 200 attenders to retain, 100 to grow – you can’t do it alone. Get the best staff you can Volunteer ministers – initiated, trained Minister for each age group or Mass group Minister’s role to support vol. ministers Quick ways to grow Disciples - Staff

Priests and core parishioners say, “we can’t get volunteers.” Parishioners say, “we can’t easily get involved in ministry.” Quick ways to grow- Ministry

“Every parishioner is a minister – what is your ministry?” “You need ministry to grow as a Christian” This is repeated and explained in the homily, bulletin, pastoral council, meetings Make it easy to volunteer – ask in Mass using a form Follow up within a fortnight – stagger ask? Quick ways to grow- Ministry