I would like to extend to you the invitation of a lifetime! The invitation is not from me, but from Jesus himself—who is fully God and fully man.
 
To that end, I welcome all of you to our “Mission on the Mission” on November 3rd and 4th here at St. Joseph starting at 6pm. As you know, we exist as a parish, “To know Christ Jesus and fulfill His Great Commission.” I would like to spend these two nights unpacking the meaning and richness of those 9 simple words.
 
Night One – “To know Christ Jesus”
 
This evening we will explore the “gospel”, the “good news” of who Jesus is and what he has done for us. By “gospel” we are not referring to one of the 4 gospels authored by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John but to the initial and ardent proclamation of the Catholic faith by which a person encounters Jesus and is given a concrete way to respond. I will follow the schema of Fr. John Riccardo’s “Created, captured, rescued, and response”—in other words, why we were created; how we have been ‘captured’ by sin, death and evil; how God has come to rescue us through the person and ministry of Jesus; and finally how we respond to that invitation. This night will culminate in an invitation to declare Jesus as the Lord of your life before our Eucharistic Lord.
 
Night Two – “And fulfill His Great Commission”
 
This evening will focus on the missionary nature of the Church and her “marching orders” that Jesus gave at the end of Matthew’s Gospel (Matthew 28: 19-20) – what is commonly referred to as the “Great Commission.” We will then transition into a time of prayer and intercession to pray for deeper encounter and equipping for mission. This evening we will also have time for adoration, opportunities for confession and the ability to receive prayer ministry from prayer teams.
 
Night one is on proclamation of Jesus and commitment to him; night two is on equipping for mission and a demonstration of God’s power. You won’t want to miss it. It truly is the invitation of a lifetime.

May God bless your week!
Peace of Christ,
 
Fr. Parks