Missions

The Redemptorist Mission Prayer

mssion _logo - jpg

Father,

Pour out you Spirit upon us.

Grant us a new vision of your glory,

a new experience of your power,

a new faithfulness to your Word,

and a new consecration to your service,

that your love may grow among us

and your Kingdom come through Christ our Lord.

Amen

For further information on our parish missions contact Kieran Brady

Fr Kieran - Where now for Parish Missions

Where now for Parish Missions?

An article written for a Catholic newspaper (some time ago but still has resonance today)

Have you ever found yourself speaking a foreign language? I have. Recently I was speaking to a small group of Catholics, the conversation was in English but we were coming from very different perceptions of reality. I quickly learned that some on the parish council had never experienced a ‘Redemptorist parish mission’, while a couple of older members thought we had stopped conducting them all together. Of course parish missions have been the mainstay of parish renewal for many years in Britain. They have evolved with a changing church, yet people have widely differing views and expectations from them.

The recent calls for renewal, from John Paul II, among others are not a new phenomenon. Any group that engages in evangelisation is at the service of the church which is missionary by its very nature. I am aware that there are some new movements springing up and hopefully they will be co-ordinated by the development of an agency for evangelisation. I am sure that they will bring new energy and vigour to the life of the church. As a church in search of vision for evangelisation, I believe we should use all the gifts the Spirit gives us. That means investing in the new as well as continuing with the tried and tested ways of communicating God’s love.

phoca_thumb_l_alphonsus13 The order I belong to was founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori to reach out to the poor and abandoned. Since then we have been creative in leading parish missions and retreats for over 270 years, gaining much experience and insight into the life of ordinary Catholics. Missions by their very nature have developed over the years, honed by the life of real people in real life situations. I am reminded of a comment made by Pope Paul VI about the Redemptorist work of parish missions. ‘The great joy you have is to be the witnessing church in people’s homes, in their kitchens and in their hearts’. This could also apply to all those engaged in this specialised ministry of parish renewal. This is where we begin to understand what church is, and what it can be. The building blocks of our church remain the parish communities, the people of God.

There is no doubt that parishes are in constant need of spiritual renewal. There are many different ways of achieving this. Some dioceses have been working on assemblies and pastoral plans. The new agency will encourage and support groups of committed Catholics to become evangelisers. Yet I truly believe that the ordinary parishioner needs to be supported in a more immediate way from time to time. A parish mission is about creating a space for God in the day-to-day life of a worshiping community. It is about being touched by the Word of God through a time of grace. This sort of experience should not and cannot involve targets, as it is simply immeasurable.

Fr. Paul Billington, formerly of CMS would describe the experience of a Parish mission as working on many levels. “An individual spiritual renewal, calling the community to be co-responsible for the life of the church, while inculcating in people a spirituality of mission in it’s widest sense”. As a Redemptorist also engaged in renewal, I am saddened at the decision to move what was CMS away from its fine tradition of parish missions. As I said earlier missions are not incompatible with other evangelisation strategies.

phoca_thumb_l_cssr window Missions have great strengths but I accept they also have weaknesses. In my experience as a Redemptorist, we have not yet devised a viable follow up strategy for parishes that we work with. Perhaps a mission then, could be seen as a launching pad for a pastoral plan. In setting up small groups to work on the parish mission liturgies, a parish may then have an indication of how these groups could work on evangelising projects at local church level.

The initiative for evangelisation cannot be imposed by a remote group or committee. It needs to come out of a desire for renewal at a local level. I believe that parish missions are a vital part of this renewal, speaking as they do, to the people in the pew in a language that they can understand.

If you feel your parish would benefit from a Redemptorist parish mission, contact us

Fr. Kieran J. Brady CSsR

St Vincent de Paul's Parish Mission

St Vincent de Paul Parish

Golden Jubilee of Church 1960-2010

Redemptorist Parish Mission

18^th September – 24^th September 2010

Building on the success of the inspirational Papal Visit to Scotland, Fr. Gerry Hill of St Vincent de Paul parish invited the Redemptorists to lead a Parish Mission in Thornliebank leading up to the feast of St. Vincent de Paul on Monday 27^th September. This week of Renewal was also part of the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Church.

As well as an early morning Mass and a reflection given at a later Mass, there was a Mission service each evening covering a different aspect of faith and life. The people were especially touched by a service of Healing on Monday evening which proved a gentle reflective time for a packed church.

The family celebration of Wednesday attracted a large congregation of young and old. Both St Vincent’s and Our lady of the Missions Schools were also involved in this Mission event with masses being celebrated for both school communities. The excellent choir of Our Lady of the Missions sang part of their “St. Ninian Cantata” which they proudly performed at the Papal mass at belahouston park. Some of the families attending the event said it was a great boost to their faith coming on the back of the Pope’s Mass. Each family was blessed at the end of the night with the Blessed Sacrament, and reminded that we are all called to witness to a broken world through the grace of our Baptism.

mission_6 The parish event has been lead by two Redemptorist Fathers. Fr Thomas MacCarte CSsR who is based in the Redemptorist Monastery, Retreat and Spirituality centre in Perth. Many parish groups can also spend a few reflective days retreat there. Fr. Kieran Brady CSsR is based in St. Patrick’s church on the Cowgate in Edinburgh, the home of the National Shrine of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair. In fact Fr Kieran began this Mission just after a National pilgrimage to the Shrine attracting people from all over the UK.

A Mission is a special time of Renewal for the whole parish. St Vincent’s and associated schools certainly feel they have been given a spiritual boost by the occasion. Other parishes are also preparing for this celebration of faith, Fr Kieran said the Redemptorist team were now heading to St Quivox in Prestwick to organise an event in November.

If you would like information on parish missions or becoming a ‘friend of Margaret Sinclair’ contact Fr. Kieran Brady CSsR, St Patricks Church, South Grays Close, Edinburgh. If you would like to find out about the work of the Redemptorist retreat centre or to book a few quiet days, contact St Mary’s, Hatton Road, Perth.

Province Mission Team

Province Mission team – working in collaboration with the laity

phoca_thumb_l_redeemer6 “Our present parish missions are about putting new heart into the disciples already present, affirming and encouraging them to be witnesses to a broken world. They are also about outreach to those on the margins, and to those within the faith communities who are unsure of the road ahead. Depending on the type of mission employed within the parish, the emphasis may rest more heavily on building up or outreach. One thing is certain however; the Holy Spirit works in a special way during a mission experience, touching people in a way that I believe no parish programme can.”

The experience of a Redemptorist renewal in a parish is a powerful experience for all concerned. It is a time of celebration and growth, a time to deepen faith and share the Good news. It is a time to reach out in the Spirit and unite parish communities.

To quote one confrere;

'Redemptorist missioners stand on holy ground, we see early morning mystics paging through tatered prayer books, the promise of thier prayers gives us confidence. We see the teenager smiling at old church jokes she has never heard. We see families coming to church, parents having worked eight hour shifts, prepared the meals and fed the dog, and still getting to the mission. We counsel people who witness to a holiness they are unconsious of.'

Each of us is evangelized by the experience of a mission.

A Redemptorist Missionary

Listen to what many people have experienced:

“The Mission was a wonderful experience; the people found it enjoyable and uplifting. I certainly feel the parish has benefited from it.”
Parish Priest, Sunderland

“What a blessing the Redemptorists have brought to our Parish Community. The Mission celebrations enkindled our faith and enabled us to reach out to others. Each evening was so special and unique.”

Parishioner, Poplar, London’s East End.

“I only planned to come to the Youth Service, but attended the whole week. I can tell this experience has touched many people here. God has brought us together. Come back and see us soon!”

A Parishioner, Mansfield