AblazeAblaze in the Fire of in the Fire of the Holy Spiritthe Holy SpiritAn OverviewAn Overview

Father Jack Father Jack DurkinDurkin

Merciful Father,In the name of our lovable Jesus,

Of the Virgin Mary,And of the Saints,

I ask You to set me on fire

With Your Spirit of LoveAnd grant me the graceOf making You deeply

loved.Amen.

Prayer of Saint Therese of Prayer of Saint Therese of the Child Jesusthe Child Jesus

Problem:Problem:Hearts of StoneHearts of Stone

Solution: Solution: The Gifts of God The Gifts of God the Fatherthe Father“A new heart I will give to you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances.”

- - Ezekiel 36: 26-27Ezekiel 36: 26-27

Sacred Sacred HeartHeart

Eucharist:Eucharist:Our Hearts ReOur Hearts Re--made of His made of His Flesh and BloodFlesh and Blood

“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”

- Luke 3:16Confirmation:Confirmation:

“I came to cast fire upon the earth.”

- Luke 12:49

Present Moment - The Vision Present Moment - The Vision for Each of Us and for All for Each of Us and for All of Us at Saint Monica:of Us at Saint Monica:Pope Francis: Pope Francis: “I dream of a ‘missionary

option,’ that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 27)(Evangelii Gaudium, 27)

Present Moment - The Vision Present Moment - The Vision for Each of Us and for All for Each of Us and for All of Us at Saint Monica:of Us at Saint Monica:Pope Francis Pope Francis calls for “the approach of

a missionary disciple, an approach ‘nourished by the light and strength of the Holy Spirit.” (Evangelii Gaudium, (Evangelii Gaudium, 50)50)Pope Saint John Paul II Pope Saint John Paul II would say of our parish that it “is not principally a structure, a territory, or a building, but rather, ‘the Family of God, a fellowship afire with a unifying spirit.” ((Christifideles Laici, 26)Christifideles Laici, 26)

Pastoral and Parish Goal: Being Pastoral and Parish Goal: Being Ablaze for Casting the Fire Ablaze for Casting the Fire - Establishing Vision Establishing Vision (Being a Disciple in

Word, Worship, Life, and Prayer)- Making Decisions According Vision Making Decisions According Vision (Being an Intentional Disciple)

- Radiating Christ Radiating Christ (Being a Missionary, an Apostle)

- RevisioningRevisioning (Living in On-going Conversion with Integral Formation)

- Bearing Fruit:Bearing Fruit:- UnseenUnseen (Interior growth in holiness and love)

- SeenSeen (Harvest of those gathered to Christ and His Church)

Pastoral and Parish Goal: Being Pastoral and Parish Goal: Being Ablaze for Casting the Fire Ablaze for Casting the Fire “You did not choose me, but I chose you and

appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name, He may give to you.” – John 15:16