Disciples Make Disciples

DISCIPLES MAKE

DISCIPLES

HEAVENLY FATHER, Grant us the gift of vision, that our eyes may be opened to perceive Your divine plan in our lives and the world around us.

Attune our ears to the gentle whispers of Your Spirit. May we be attentive to the voices of those in need, and may our hearts be receptive to Your Word. Help us to listen deeply, that we may understand the needs of others and respond with compassion.

In the midst of life’s complexities, may we be guided by Your light to make choices that align with Your will. May our discernment be rooted in prayer and reflection, and may we trust in Your providence.

Fill us with zeal to share the Good News with joy and conviction.

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Empower us to serve one another with humility and generosity. May our hands be instruments of Your peace, and may our lives be a testimony to the love of Jesus Christ.

With grateful hearts, we entrust ourselves to Your divine care. May our vision be clear, our listening profound, our discernment wise, our evangelization fervent, and our service selfless.

May our words and actions reflect the love and mercy that flow from Your sacred heart.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

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DEAR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST,

O

ver three years have passed since I received the call from our Papal Nuncio that the Holy Father had appointed me Archbishop of St. Louis. Although I had only visited St. Louis once before I received that call, I have come to feel at home in this Church that has a storied Catholic history dating back over two centuries. Since then, I have come to love so many aspects of life here in St. Louis: the variety of ways in which we celebrate our faith, Cardinals baseball, Ted Drewes’ Turtle and so many other wonderful experiences within our archdiocese.

Of course, over these past three years, I have had the privilege of visiting so many of our parish communities, shared in great meals and been able to speak about the wonders of The Catholic Faith. As bishop, these opportunities bring me great joy.

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As a shepherd, I am charged AS A SHEPHERD, I AM CHARGED with overseeing the vibrancy WITH OVERSEEING THE of The Catholic Faith in our VIBRANCY OF THE CATHOLIC archdiocese. Like so many FAITH IN OUR ARCHDIOCESE. other parts of the country, St. Louis has experienced challenges in bringing the Faith to new generations. The connections people had with the Church that we had taken for granted for so many decades seem to be deeply affected by our rugged individualism, rampant use of technology and a sense of self-reliance that breeds isolation and loneliness. Not only the Church, but various civic organizations also lament the fact that younger people are not joining in as they have in the past.

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These past two years, I was privileged to participate in the FOCUS ministries’ SEEK conference that took place in downtown St. Louis. Over 20,000 young people participated in four days of celebrating The Catholic Faith. The enthusiasm was infectious and greatly heartening. In our world of today, it was a breath of fresh air to see so many young people alive in our faith. “If I could just bottle up this enthusiasm for the rest of the Church, that would be a great boost,” I thought. Well, then, if they can be on fire for our faith, why can’t all of us?

Since the time I was ordained a priest in 1984, the world has changed immensely. As Pope Francis has said, we are not facing an age of change, but a change of an age.1 In his encyclical The Joy of the Gospel, the Holy Father urges all Catholics to take responsibility for their faith in proclaiming the Gospel message that brings so many remedies to the ills of our era. Our response to this new reality must be bold and rooted in Jesus Christ.

As Catholics, we believe in the salvation that is offered to us in Christ through the teachings and the sacraments of the Church.

This is the beauty and joy of the Easter message; that Jesus is indeed risen and offers to us the hope of eternal life forever with God. ARCHDIOCESAN VISION | 6

This is news that is to be shared with others as we seek to live the fullness of The Catholic Faith.

Over these past years, I have heard from so many of you about living out your faith, being a disciple of Jesus in our own age. I have also heard from many others who feel alienated from our faith, disconnected from a faith community but with a longing in their hearts for the message of Jesus. We have not only good news, but the best news: Jesus is risen and His life makes a difference in each of ours. How do we bring this message to others in our own day?

As a parish priest, I know that there were many advertisements in the Sunday bulletin asking for volunteers for different ministries and works of the church. Yet, the best invitation is personal–asking someone if he or she would like to share their talents with the wider community. The first apostles brought people to Jesus in their personal encounter with them. This past Easter, over 500 people were initiated into the Church.

Why? Because many of them encountered Catholics who are living out their faith and willing to speak about Jesus and the difference He has made in their lives. The dynamic is still the same as it was 2,000 years ago.

Pastoral Visit of His Holiness Pope Francis to Prato and Florence, Meeting with the participants in the fifth convention of the Italian Church, November 10, 2015

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POPE ST. PAUL VI SAID IT BEST:

the world does not merely need teachers but witnesses.2 And who but each one of us!

In this new age, we are being challenged to think and plan creatively so we are equipped to emulate those first disciples of the Lord Jesus, to live out our faith to its fullest. It does not require a theology degree to be a disciple and witness to Jesus, but a heart that is open to His Word and seeks to do His will.

My brothers and sisters, The Catholic Faith is life-giving and filled with hope! We have so much to share. I invite you to join with me, as your archbishop, with your priests, deacons, women and men religious and fellow parishioners in bringing that Good News to others by the witness of your lives. This is what Jesus calls us to be: His hands, His feet, His presence in our families, communities, workplaces and schools. Let us share the Faith with new ardor, new methods, and new expressions so that others may be drawn to Christ in His Church!

Sincerely in Christ, (Most Rev.)

Mitchell T. Rozanski Archbishop of St. Louis

Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, On Evangelization in the Modern World, #41, December 8, 1975

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THE MOMENT In every age of the Church’s history, unique challenges have emerged. The early apostles and Christians faced the task of converting a pagan world.

Saint Athanasius grappled with combating the Arian heresy, engaging in debates about the nature of God, both divine and human. During the Counter-Reformation era, saints like Saint Teresa of Avila and Saint Francis de Sales endeavored to promote the complete Gospel and live fervent Catholic lives in a time when the Church’s teachings and practices were under scrutiny. Saint Thérèse of Lisieux imparted her “Little Way” during a period marked by skepticism regarding the extent of God’s mercy. Understanding the particular moment in the world and the Church’s history is crucial. Therefore, it’s imperative to address the questions that the world poses about the Faith accordingly.

For many centuries, we dwelled in an era often termed as “Christendom.” This was a time when the social, political, economic, and moral frameworks of society were deeply entrenched in Christian culture. The influence of the Church on the culture was apparent, with prominent Catholic institutions—

such as hospitals, schools, and social services—embodying Gospel values by uplifting the downtrodden, safeguarding the innocent, and serving the marginalized in society. Furthermore, civil laws often mirrored Catholic principles on matters like marriage, life issues, and morality.

The operational structure of our parishes was designed for this bygone era and functioned effectively within it. Our approach to parish life, catechesis, and Catholic education assumed a societal environment where the family unit and the Gospel were integral to our daily existence.

WE ASSUMED THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS WOULD EVANGELIZE BY THE SIMPLE FACT OF THEIR EXISTENCE. AND, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THEY DID. HOWEVER, THIS PARADIGM NO LONGER HOLDS TRUE.

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Without delving into a detailed analysis of how we arrived at this juncture, it is clear that we are currently experiencing a profound shift. Over the past few decades, a radical transformation has taken place, and our culture appears to be striving for self-sufficiency rather than relying on God. Therefore, if the world is undergoing change, we must adapt— not by altering the timeless and immutable truths of the Faith or the foundational structures inherent in the nature of the Church, but by adjusting how we convey these truths to a culture that is increasingly disinterested, entrenched in busyness and noise, failing to pause and recognize God’s presence among us.

THE QUESTIONS THAT PERMEATE TODAY’S WORLD ARE PROFOUND: Why should I have faith in God? How does believing in Jesus Christ make a difference in my life?

Do these ancient teachings have any relevance in a modern, evolving society?

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Our mission is to respond to these questions creatively and effectively, demonstrating how faith in God brings meaning, purpose, and hope, and how the teachings of Christ offer a transformative path to fulfillment and harmony. We must navigate the tumultuous seas of skepticism and indifference with patience, empathy, and unwavering conviction in the A RENEWED enduring truth and relevance of our faith. We are called to APPROACH TO engage with a world seeking meaning amidst its frenzied pace EVANGELIZATION and superficial distractions, offering the timeless wisdom and enduring love rooted in our Catholic heritage. This demands a fresh perspective and a renewed approach to evangelization — one that meets the present challenges with grace and determination, recognizing that the essence of our faith remains eternally relevant to the deepest yearnings of the human heart.

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NEW ARDOR PATRON SAINTS OF NEW ARDOR: SAINT MONICA AND SAINT AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO were mother and son. Saint Monica, born in the third century in northern Africa, was a Christian, but her husband was a pagan and a man of loose morals. Monica’s virtues and prayers, however, converted him, and he was baptized a year before his death. When her son, Augustine, went astray in faith and morals, Monica’s tears and prayers for her son were incessant. Through her prayers, the sermons of Saint Ambrose and wise counsel and examples of companions, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion.

Saint Augustine was ordained into the priesthood of Hippo (modern day Algeria) and, four years later, a bishop of the same city. The example, prayers, and influence of Saint Monica had no little part to play in the drama of her son’s spiritual itinerary, and Saint Augustine ascribes largely to her his conversion to The Catholic Faith. He possessed one of the most penetrating minds of ancient Christendom and is numbered among the four great Doctors of the Western Church.

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CHRISTIAN VIRTUES

SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER,, a 16th-century Jesuit missionary, exemplified “new ardor” for the Faith.

He zealously spread Catholicism, traveling to distant lands like India and Japan, overcoming language barriers, and baptizing thousands. His tireless efforts and deep compassion for the marginalized exhibited a fervent commitment to the Gospel. Saint Francis Xavier’s dedication to evangelization and his profound impact on the global Church make him a model of unwavering faith and missionary zeal.

DEDICATION TO EVANGELIZATION

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LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENT TO A NEW EVANGELIZATION, ONE THAT IS NEW IN ITS ARDOR, NEW IN ITS METHODS, AND NEW IN ITS EXPRESSION.” –SAINT JOHN PAUL II

Address to the Latin American Bishops ARCHDIOCESAN VISION | 13

Saint John Paul II stated that the New Evangelization would be new in its ardor; that is, it would be a new fire of evangelization. This new fire is nothing less than a rekindling, or fanning into flame, of the gift of faith that we have received

by God’s grace. Our call to be disciples starts with a call to be men and women of prayer. If our hearts are not on fire with a love of God that is personal, then we have little to offer others.

There are many challenges to being men and women of prayer today. The world seems to have become increasingly noisy and filled with distractions. The technologies that were created to make our lives easier have in many ways made us more busy, more anxious and less connected in authentic ways to others. The average person in today’s society spends 3 hours and 15 minutes on a smartphone each day. That equates to 50 full days out of the year that most people spend looking at a screen in the palm of their hand instead of at another person.

The fear of missing out or societal pressures of doing more lead many of us to fill our personal and family schedules with things that might be good to a certain extent, but that detract from the greater goods of quality time spent with family or the authentic rest (sabbath) our hearts and minds need in order to be healthy.

The anxiety, violence and division that seem to be ever increasing in our society need to be countered by the rest and peace that only God can give us. As the lights from our phones and other screens have grown brighter, the fire of prayer and evangelization has grown dimmer.

In many ways our world is growing cold and dark. Let us set it ablaze with a new fire of God’s love kindled within us! Think of how the world has changed since the advent of the iphone 17 years ago. Imagine what our Archdiocese would look like in the next few decades if there were as many hearts tethered to the love of God and a desire to evangelize as there are tethered to smartphones.

As exemplified by Saint Monica, Saint Augustine of Hippo and Saint Francis Xavier, our hearts must be made new in prayer each and every day so that a new fire of evangelization takes place. To commit to being a man or woman of prayer demands more of a challenge today than ever before in Church history. Pope Francis exhorts us:

I INVITE ALL CHRISTIANS, EVERYWHERE, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting Him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.

- The Joy of the Gospel 3

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This may seem overwhelming, but all fires start with a spark. Rekindling the fire of faith through prayer can look very simple on the surface, but that simple start can have lasting effects.

Perhaps the habit of consistent Sunday Mass has faltered in your life due to busyness or boredom. Recommit! God desires to nourish us in ways that the world cannot. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to turn down the noise in your life and put down the phone for 5-10 minutes in order to speak to Him in prayer about what is going on in your life. Do it! Social media does not have the answers your heart is searching for, but God does!

Read scripture, go for a contemplative walk…sing!

Wherever you are on your faith journey, commit to growing deeper! I am imploring us to beg God to rekindle a real, true, personal and authentic relationship with each one of us and to set our hearts on fire for love of Him and for each other. Nothing that we attempt to do as a Church or as individuals will ever bear fruit that will last unless it is rooted and grounded in prayer.

FOR JESUS HAS ENTRUSTED US with the

Gospel message that gives life, that makes sense in our troubled times when isolation, war and despair seem to dominate the headlines. It is this Gospel message of Life, Death and Resurrection that brings to us the hope we need to illustrate that the passing headlines of today do not dim the light of the Good News proclaimed by Jesus.

- ARCHBISHOP ROZANSKI Chrism Mass Homily, April 6, 2023

An authentic encounter with Jesus always leads us to encounter others in a new way. Jesus wants us to draw others to Him. At Pentecost the disciples were filled with the new ardor of the Holy Spirit and left the comfort and security of the upper room to go out and bring others to Jesus!

LET US PRAY FOR A NEW PENTECOST HERE IN OUR ARCHDIOCESE THAT WE MAY BE SET ABLAZE FOR THE GOSPEL! ARCHDIOCESAN VISION | 15

NEW METHODS PATRON SAINTS OF NEW METHODS: SAINT KATHARINE DREXEL, born in 1858, epitomized innovative evangelization by dedicating her life and wealth to uplift marginalized communities.

A Philadelphia heiress, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, focusing on education and social justice for Native and African Americans. Drexel established schools, missions, and centers, breaking barriers and promoting inclusivity. Embracing new methods, she utilized media and philanthropy to amplify her message. Canonized in 2000, she exemplifies a modern approach to evangelization, seamlessly blending tradition with contemporary tools to spread the Gospel and address social inequalities, leaving an enduring legacy of compassion and service.

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COMPASSION AND SERVICE

SAINT FRANCIS DE SALES, a 16th-century Bishop of Geneva, is celebrated for his gentle and compassionate approach to spirituality. He emphasized the universal call to holiness, making it accessible to people from all walks of life. Known for his writings, particularly “Introduction to the Devout Life,” he inspired countless souls to seek God in their daily activities. His kindness and patient guidance earned him the title “Gentleman Saint.” Saint Francis de Sales remains a beacon of approachable and practical spirituality in the Catholic tradition.

APPROACHABLE AND PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY

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LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENT TO A NEW EVANGELIZATION, ONE THAT IS NEW IN ITS ARDOR, NEW IN ITS METHODS, AND NEW IN ITS EXPRESSION.” –SAINT JOHN PAUL II

Address to the Latin American Bishops ARCHDIOCESAN VISION | 17

For evangelization to be new in its methods, it means we need to ask ourselves: What have we done right, what is no longer working, and what can we do better? We need to assess, refine, and forge pathways to bring the Good News into “every strata of humanity”3 and into the lives of all those we meet.

Over the past several generations, the mode of evangelization relied on people believing that faith was a priority. People would show up to Mass on Sundays because they believed it is what God was asking them to do. Families would send their children to Catholic grade schools so that their education would be rooted and grounded in the Gospel. Sundays were days of rest and quality time spent with the family.

However, we know that in today’s society the fastest growing demographic is the “nones,” those who have no religious affiliation. Societal changes and scandal within the Church have led those who were baptized and raised Catholic to leave the practice of the Faith behind them.

Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness Pope Paul VI, Evangelii Nuntiandi, On Evangelization in the Modern World, #18, December 8, 1975

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WE CAN NO LONGER RELY ON THE “IF WE BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME” MENTALITY. DISCIPLES, NOT PROGRAMS OR INSTITUTIONS, MAKE DISCIPLES. In fact, we have the data to show it is not.

In short, the era of our institutions being the most effective tool for evangelization has had its day. We need new methods!

Pope Paul VI puts the challenge of evangelization this way:

THIS QUESTION OF “HOW TO EVANGELIZE” is permanently relevant, because the methods of evangelizing vary according to the different circumstances of time, place and culture, and because they thereby present a certain challenge to our capacity for discovery and adaptation.

- EN 40

It is time for us to acknowledge that disciples make disciples and that the most effective evangelization takes place one-on-one.

Some say that we are living in the “golden age” of resources for the Church. Although videos, apps and podcasts make for great tools that we all have access to at our fingertips, they don’t make disciples on their own. Disciples make disciples.

Each one of us has someone in our lives who God is asking us to forge a new path toward. Whether it is the son or daughter who no longer attends Mass, the co-worker you share a beer with, or the family on the soccer field you see every weekend, we are each called to go where God needs us to share His Good News. I think it was Saint Francis who told his monks: “If you are rapt in ecstasy in contemplative prayer, and a hungry beggar knocks at the door, you must immediately (important word!) leave your ecstasy and open the door to Him, because God has left your ecstasy and has entered that beggar, and you must do the same; you must go where God is.”

The first tool of evangelization is the Holy Spirit. Using Saint Katharine Drexel and Saint Francis de Sales as inspiration, ask the Holy Spirit to help you tell your faith story to others.

Sharing the Good News should not just be about what Jesus accomplished 2,000 years ago for all of us, but about what He has accomplished for you today. Practice at home around the dinner table with each other. Jesus has chosen you to be His witness in the world today!

Create spaces in your life to have authentic and real conversations with others, with a particular emphasis on listening with intentionality. Vulnerability and accountability are critical to growing in faith and holiness. We can spend years participating in Mass, parish events and social groups without ever being “real” with each other. Jesus lingered with people.

Long meals were one of His mainstays. Whether it’s opening up your home to others, meeting at a neutral spot to sit around a fire and talk about faith, or doing some shared service together, we need to create space for authentic relationships in our lives where we can talk about the things that really matter.

Lastly, we must be willing not only to invite people to share our faith, but to accompany them in their own faith journey.

Discipleship is personal; it’s a relationship, and like faith, it’s a journey, not a moment. The “new methods” of evangelization will be as numerous as the people in our parishes.

The methods may be many, but the goal is the same: to save souls!

We want to bring as many people to Jesus as we can!

THE FIRST TOOL OF EVANGELIZATION IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. ARCHDIOCESAN VISION | 19

NEW EXPRESSION PATRON SAINTS OF NEW EXPRESSION: SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL, a 17th-century French priest, dedicated his life to serving the poor and marginalized. He founded the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) to train priests for this purpose.

His charitable efforts extended to establishing hospitals, orphanages, and homes for those in need.

Known for his humility and compassion, Saint Vincent de Paul’s legacy endures through the worldwide organization he inspired, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, which continues to aid those who are less fortunate. His life is a testament to the transformative power of selfless service and faith.

CHARITY

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LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH COMMITMENT TO A NEW EVANGELIZATION, ONE THAT IS NEW IN ITS ARDOR, NEW IN ITS METHODS, AND NEW IN ITS EXPRESSION.” –SAINT JOHN PAUL II

Address to the Latin American Bishops

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SIMPLE ACTS OF LOVE

SAINT THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX, a Carmelite nun in the late 19th century, revolutionized evangelization through her “Little Way.” Rather than grand gestures, she advocated for simple acts of love and humility in everyday life. Saint Thérèse emphasized the importance of small, unnoticed deeds performed with great love, transforming mundane tasks into opportunities for spiritual growth. Her autobiography, “The Story of a Soul,” outlined this approach, making spirituality accessible to all. Saint Thérèse’s profound insights resonated globally, inspiring countless believers to find holiness in the ordinary. Her fresh expression of evangelization focused on the universal call to love, making the divine accessible in the simplicity of daily existence.

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When we talk about a work of art being very expressive, or someone having a good expression on his or her face, what we mean is that somehow an invisible reality of beauty or emotion is being made visible to us. Saint John Paul II tells us that we need to have new expressions of our faith, new ways to make the invisible faith we hold inside visible to the world at large.

There is an old saying: “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would they have enough evidence to convict you?” Jesus tells His disciples that it is by their love for one another that they will be recognized. Charity, generosity, forgiveness and good works flow from the heart of the disciple as expressions of their love for God.

JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES; Planned Parenthood protest

‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ …‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

- Matthew 25:35,40

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Based on this teaching of Jesus, the Church throughout history has highlighted the spiritual and corporal works of mercy as a way for us to express our faith in service to others. These are tried and true expressions of faith that the Church has excelled at for generations:

SPIRITUAL WORKS OF MERCY

CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY

• Instruct the Ignorant

• Feed the Hungry

• Counsel the Doubtful

• Give Drink to the Thirsty

• Admonish Sinners

• Shelter the Homeless

• Forgive Offenses

• Clothe the Naked

• Comfort the Afflicted

• Visit the Sick

• Bear Wrongs Patiently

• Visit the Imprisoned

• Pray for the Living and the Dead

• Bury the Dead

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In working with the poor, Saint Vincent de Paul expressed the corporal works of mercy, responding to the physical needs of the people he encountered. Saint Thérèse’s “Little Way” is a shining example of how we can simply express our faith through the spiritual works of mercy.

Saint Vincent de Paul and Saint Thérèse of Lisieux both responded to a prompting of the Holy Spirit to express the Faith in a new way that was needed in their place and time. We, too, need to be open as they were to the new expressions needed today.

We are blessed that as a Church we have some of the most robust social outreach of any institution or group. However, I do see some challenges to the current mode of expression.

• There is a temptation to treat people as part of a larger problem, instead of serving them as individuals. “Helping the poor” is much different than helping John or Mary, who are my brother and sister in Christ and happen to be poor.

AS POPE FRANCIS SAYS: How many poor people today are like Bartimaeus (cf Mk 10:46-52), sitting on the roadside and looking for meaning in their lives!

How many of them wonder why they have fallen so far and how they can escape! They are waiting for someone to come up to them and say: ‘Take heart; rise, he is calling you.’

- POPE FRANCIS Second World Day of the Poor, 2018

• Related to this, it is much easier to be generous with our money than it is with our time and energy. While financial generosity is important and helps many people in need, we cannot forget that Christian charity isn’t something to be outsourced. Every Christian is called to service in some way.

• Finally, it is tempting to leave Jesus out of the conversation while serving others.

Jesus is the greatest gift that we can bring. A good-hearted atheist can do many of the same things as a Christian. What makes Christian service different is Jesus! The greatest treasure the poor can receive is Jesus! The greatest comfort the sick can receive is Jesus! The greatest friend the imprisoned, lonely and isolated can have is Jesus! Christian service doesn’t exist to merely help solve a temporal problem; it exists to lead people to Jesus!

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Jesus says that it is by our love for one another that we will know we are His disciples. All of us in the Archdiocese are called to recommit to some expression of Christian service. Ask God to inspire in us new ways to express our love for our neighbors. Let us, like Saint James, give proof of our faith by our good works.

There are already so many different ways we can reach out in Christian service to others. But as our neighborhoods change, so do the needs. Today, we have an opportunity to re-evaluate new expressions of service to more fully respond to the needs of our brothers and sisters.

To the young church, it is important to remember that the new expression of Christian love that we need in the Archdiocese might just be you. You are the solution to the problems that the world faces today. In you lies the creativity, the gifts and the new expressions of faith that will carry the Church forward.

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CONCLUSION As the Archdiocese embraces the call for a new, dynamic movement of evangelization, marked by newfound passion, innovative methods, and fresh expressions, individuals are encouraged to pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The hope is for each person to discover his or her unique role in this evolving mission, recognizing that the Faith journey involves not only preserving traditions, but also embracing new dimensions with enthusiasm, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to the Gospel.

Finally, in order to assist our parishes and ministries in this discernment process, we are proposing “The Way: A Journey Toward Renewal and Vitality.” The goal is to guide each parish or ministry in formulating a clear vision rooted in evangelization, motivating them to explore diverse approaches in reaching out, making disciples, and nurturing a compassionate community, not only in the present but also in the future. This process will be built on the following principles, which will be accompanied with ongoing training and resource development: • Vision and Leadership • Listening and Building Community • Discernment • Evangelization • Communion of Care We invite you to discover your place in this mission by visiting theway.archstl.org and learning more about how you can grow deeper in your own faith and share it with others.

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“GO THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE EVERYTHING I HAVE COMMANDED YOU.” MATTHEW 28:19-20