Fr. Kieran J. Brady CSsR

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.

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.

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

Province Mission team – working in collaboration with the laity  

“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