|
ATLANTA--As part of the RENEW 2000 preparation effort for the new
millennium, St. Jude the Apostle Church, 7171 Glenridge Drive, is
beginning an outreach program June 14 to increase worship
participation, which will culminate in a week-long parish mission in
September.
In response to the call of Pope John Paul II and the U.S. bishops
for Catholics to invite inactive parishioners back to full church
life, the program, initiated by St. Jude’s pastor, Msgr. Daniel O’Connor,
will offer ways to welcome back St. Jude’s members who don’t
regularly come to Mass. Those not coming on a regular basis may be 50
to 75 percent of a parish, studies show.
To begin the outreach, parishioners will be given bulletin inserts
at Sunday Mass written by Father Ron Luka, a Claretian missionary of
34 years who holds masters’ degrees in theology and sociology
from the Catholic University of America and the University of Chicago.
The materials encourage parishioners to invite inactive Catholics to
Mass the following weekend and the first inserts to be distributed, “Me
Evangelize?” and “Mending Broken Hearts,” explain
evangelization as deepening and sharing a personal relationship with
Christ. Other inserts distributed monthly will cover remaining
Catholic, returning to the church, Sunday Mass, and “What to do
if Mass is boring.” “Bring a Friend” Sunday will be
held following the literature distribution.
The fall mission will be led by Father Luka Sept. 26-Oct. 1. As the
Claretian tries to be available at missions to those experiencing
problems with the church, participants will have opportunities for
individual consultation, prayer and spiritual direction.
Father Luka, a charter member of the National Catholic Council for
Evangelization and the National Pastoral Life Center, has spent the
past 13 years preaching renewal missions, wrote the book “Hang-ups
In Religion” and has written extensively on sacramental
preparation and evangelization. He emphasizes expressions of
hospitality in his ministry such as greeting people entering church
and fellowship following liturgy, and encourages full liturgical
participation.
For additional information call St. Jude’s at (770) 394-4588. |
