Go Make Disciples: Seeking Holiness
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Phase 2: Seeking HolinessPhase 2 Continues – Part Two of the Annual Plan -
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What are we doing to help our parishioners grow in holiness?
Who? The focus of this part of the plan should be on everyone who comes through the doors of the parish in one way or another: adults, kids, parents, families, youth, elderly, etc.
What? The pursuit of holiness encompasses the whole Christian life; but these four holy habits are foundational building blocks:
- (A) Reclaiming Sunday--making time for God (Holy Mass), family, and community;
- (B) Daily Prayer--at least 15 minutes;
- (C) Regular Mortification--starting with penance on Fridays;
- (D) Frequent Confession--at least once a month.
When? Take advantage of liturgical seasons like Lent and Advent to teach about the importance of daily prayer and regular mortification as essential parts of the Christian life. The U.S. Bishops have been focusing on the Eucharistic Revival for the past few years, which dovetails nicely with our emphasis on reclaiming Sunday. Consider expanding or changing your Confession times to make them more convenient for the faithful, especially if you can make them available just before or even during Mass.
Why? The pursuit of holiness is the primary vocation of every human being. Our eternal reward will correspond exactly to the degree of holiness that we have (or have not) attained in this life. It is also a necessary pre-requisite for effective evangelization, since actions speak more loudly than words.How? These holy habits should be promoted and encouraged in a variety of ways: homilies, school classrooms, religious education programs, teen and adult formation programs, pew cards, personal testimonies, social media, etc.
Key Source Documents
Other Phases
Phase 1: Forming LeadersPhase 3: Witnessing to Christ
GMD Homepage
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Contact
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Office of Evangelization and Catechesisoecmadisondiocese.org
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Annual Evangelization Plans
Every parish evangelization plan should have three parts corresponding to the three key questions of Go Make Disciples:
- What are we doing to form parish leaders as missionary disciples?
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What are we doing to help our parishioners grow in holiness?
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What are we doing to equip our parishioners to be witnesses of Christ to others?
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Recommended Resources
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The Activated Disciple with Jeff Cavins
As Catholics, we often find ourselves going through the motions. We believe our faith but struggle to put it into practice; we are not the activated disciples we are called to be. An activated disciple is someone who strives every moment of every day to imitate Jesus, someone who desires such a close relationship with God that every area of his or her life is transformed. The Activated Disciple 40-Day Challenge will help you become more like Christ as you cultivate the eight characteristics that are the most important in the life of a disciple.
Learn More
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The One Percent Challenge
1% of your day is 14 minutes and 24 seconds. How you spend that time can change your life!
Challenge yourself and others to spend 1% of each day praying with the word of God. Our 1% Challenge resources guide you to use the saint-recommended way of reading Scripture, Lectio Divina (divine reading): Read, Reflect, Respond, & Rest. Fifteen minutes a day with the word of God changes lives!
Learn More
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Discipleship is a Series of Next Steps
Wherever you are in your journey following Jesus, we’ll help you take your next step, from growing in prayer to helping others take their next steps.
- Discover Your Story
- Believe in the Good News
- Pray Every Day
- Meditate on God's Word
- Be Reconciled
- Get More Out of Mass
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Exodus 90
Exodus 90 is a ninety-day spiritual exercise for men based on three pillars: prayer, asceticism, and fraternity.
Research shows that habits can be dramatically transformed in a span of 90 days. And, when put in the context of Biblical stories, a routine prayer life, and a fraternity of brothers to support you, men experience freedom from unwanted habits and an ability to be who they were truly called to be: Men in Christ. Men of the Church. Men for Others.
Learn More
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