5 Steps to Building Strong Catholic Community...

[Michie]

While still newlyweds, my wife and I moved to a different city, which necessitated joining a new parish. We struggled to make friends and find a community. Nobody intentionally welcomed us in. Nobody reached out to us. Nobody initiated a relationship with us. We tried to get our foot in the door and were pushed out. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon experience for those trying to crack into a new Catholic parish. Even so, after a year of waiting for others to welcome us and help us, we decided to take the initiative ourselves.

We found and gathered a few other young couples and started to build relationships. We decided to meet regularly as a newly-married couples group. We didn’t really know how to do it well, but knew something needed to be done, even if very imperfectly. At the same time, we grew as disciples, by being challenged to live out our faith. We started to learn about an authentic Catholic community and just how hard it could be.

BROKEN AND REDEEMED

Humanity is broken, wounded, sinful, and messed up. It is also beautiful, redeemed, and loved by God. This means that every single community (this side of heaven) will be the same. Mixed up in both human failures and God's grace. This comes with good and bad attached, with no way to do it differently.

God is a communion (or community if you like) of persons. Father, Son, and Spirit. The lover, the beloved, and the love between them. We are made in God’s image and likeness. Part of this imaging of God that we are called to includes living with others in community. Authentic human relationships. But, unlike God, we mess it up ALL THE TIME!

So, what does a strong Catholic community look like? A big mess, with Jesus in the middle.

But, that isn’t the end of the story. We shouldn’t just settle for dysfunction.

In and of itself, the word “community” means several things:

• A group who live near one another or who share common goals.
• A fellowship with others who share common interests, goals, or beliefs.

The second is closer to what we are aiming at, in regards to a Catholic community. Still, community can be found in clubs, gyms, neighborhoods, schools, politics, etc. We don’t need Jesus to have community, do we? Yes and no. Christian community is supposed to be something more than just gathering with like-minded folks. More than just friendships.

STRONG CATHOLIC COMMUNITY



Continued below.

https://catholicmissionarydisciples.com/news/catholic-community