Our Parish Mission Statement is:  Like our Patron, Saint Joseph, the Husband of Mary, we are called to foster the presence of Christ in all that we say and do.  Our mission is to grow disciples for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

   The Parish Advisory Council has been working very diligently in developing a Vision Statement to help us live out this Mission.  I am very pleased to launch our Vision Statement this weekend:
SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A GROWING COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE TO THE LIVING PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST.  AS DISCIPLES SENT TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD, WE COMMIT TO WORSHIP, GROW, SERVE, CONNECT AND GIVE.
 

   So, WHY A VISION STATEMENT?  A Mission Statement focuses on what has to be done.  The Vision Statement focuses on where we are going as a parish.  Authentic mission is always about going somewhere, not just about what we ought to be doing.  Think of it this way:  Our Christian life is meant to be a journey.  To use a metaphor: We disciples of Jesus are all on the “bus.”  The Mission Statement (fostering the presence of Christ; growing disciples for the Lord Jesus) is the bus we are on.  The Vision Statement is the SIGN on the bus, telling us where we are going.  In his book, Divine Renovation, Father James Mallon states: “Only when we have a crazy passion about the future will we have a vision that inspires others.”  “Crazy passion about the future…”  Are we passionate about our future?  Do we see a day when the Kingdom of God is growing right here on earth because we are reaching out in love, sharing the hope and healing that come from Christ?  Imagine it… Imagine a day when each of us plays a part in transforming lives by introducing people to the Living Presence of Jesus.  Wouldn’t that be the answer to our prayers for loved ones?  Wouldn’t it be the answer to our prayers for this parish and our community?  Couldn’t it transform the world?  This is our Vision.  It’s a future to be excited about!  And our future has a roadmap.  We will live out the parish Vision in 5 ways: Worship, Grow, Serve, Connect and Give.  During the next few weeks we’ll take a look at these 5 components and provide clear expectations for what it means to Worship our God together, Grow with each other in Faith, Serve inside and outside this community, Connect with fellow Saint Joseph disciples and Give generously.  We will discuss what the parish must do, and what each member must do, to help build the Kingdom.  We are on the bus together!  Having clear expectations will ensure we are all doing our part to keep the bus on track!  This will be our focus over the course of the Lenten Season.

   In the meantime, our Parish Stewardship Prayer helps give voice to fulfilling this Vision.  Please pray it for yourself, your loved ones and everyone who is blessed to be part of Saint Joseph Parish:
 

Stewardship Prayer
My parish is composed of people like me. I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am. It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work. It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes, if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship, if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a place of loyalty and love, of fearlessness and faith,
of compassion, charity and mercy, if I, who make it what it is,
am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God, I now dedicate myself to the task
of being all the things that I want my parish to be.  Amen.