“So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)
In the Eucharist we enter into communion with Christ, but also with every member of the Heavenly Choir… and all those around us who receive the Sacrament! We are, in the deepest and most real way, connected with one another during the Mass. If we are so fortunate to achieve Eternal Life, we will be permanently united with the Lord and with one another.
So while we journey on this Earthly pilgrimage, it is incumbent upon us to connect with one another. An important aspect of the “Holy Comforter 2020” initiative is to strengthen the bonds between members of the parish, and with the parish and the broader community as a whole.
Potential events and projects
– Create a nursery and/or develop an environment to help parents of very young children. It is important to make it as easy as possible for parents to attend Mass, grow in the Faith and pass it on to their children. In some cases, this means creating and maintaining a separate space for young children. For others, it means creating an atmosphere that is hospitable and welcoming to children and their parents. Forming the next generation of Catholics is all of our responsibility!
– Host a parish picnic offsite that includes food, games for children and a discussion of parish history.
– Parishwide dinner with raffles that would help fund physical reminders of anniversary like plaque, statue or other art.
– Another/regular welcome receptions for new parishioners. Catholic churches have, at times, found themselves at a “welcome deficit” compared to our Protestant brothers and sisters. Developing a program that helps quickly make new parishioners feel at home at Holy Comforter is critical to keeping people in the church and improving engagement.
– Host a dance or other social event. This could be inter or intra-generational in nature, depending on the event’s goal.
– Invite guest speakers to discuss history of parish. Fr. Gerald Fogarty could discuss our connection with other area churches including St. Francis, Incarnation and the now defunct African-American church.
– Add history facts and interviews about Holy Comforter to the bulletin in the lead-up to 2020.
– Reinstitute the “Ministry Minute,” but to be given once per month.
– Festival in 2019 or 2020 as the “crowning event” to celebrate the anniversary of our parish and the Diocese.