The Four Commissions

Every ministry, committee, and event in the Parish falls under four Commissions: Faith Formation, Worship, Mercy & Justice, and Community.

Faith Formation works with lay leaders preparing children and families for First Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation and instilling them with a spiritual tool-kit they can grow with, as well as adult Faith Formation through lectures and retreats. Worship works with lay leaders supporting and guiding the liturgical arts of music, liturgical environment and liturgical ministry to create welcoming and beautiful liturgies. Mercy & Justice works with lay leaders creating opportunities for parishioners to enact the corporal works of mercy and participate in Social. Justice work, and Community lay leaders to organize and host events such as Home4Dinner and post-Mass hospitality.

The lay leaders on each of the four Commissions:

• Make sure that each of the ministries that fall under its purview has the resources and help it needs to accomplish its goals.

• Act as liaisons between the Commission and one or more ministries, checking in with the ministry lead each month.

• Meet together quarterly for short- and long term-planning and, as importantly, to engage in prayer and discernment about where the Holy Spirit is leading our community.

The four Commissions have between six and 10 members, who serve three-year terms. Terms are staggered to maintain consistency. Terms begin and end with the August meeting, giving the new members some time over the summer to ramp up before the new year starts. Winter begins the process for selecting new Commission members.

Are you called to serve on a commission? Or do you know someone who might be? In the next few weeks, you will hear from current Commissioners about their experiences serving our Parish. Our hope is that you will think about nominating yourself or someone you believe has experience in any of our ministries and leadership skills. On the next page is a link to make a nomination online. We are blessed with a vibrant and dynamic Parish, and that is the result of the generosity and hard work of so many. It is also a function of the understanding that we all bear some responsibility for creating that parish. Please keep this process in your prayers.

Summary:

• Community Commission works to create a welcoming and inclusive community where parishioners can build lasting relationships. It introduces parishioners - new and old -to one another by providing a balanced calendar of simple, accessible activities, events, and opportunities to serve and celebrate with one another.

• Faith Formation works to establish a comprehensive formation vision for the parish. It fosters collaboration across all groups and individuals involved in the sacraments, as well as prayer and spirituality groups.

• Mercy & Justice Commission works to empower and direct the energy and financial resources of our community to serve those in need. This is achieved by assessing the needs of our community and creating pathways for parishioners to serve the people and local agencies most in need.

• Worship Commission gives direction to the liturgical life of the Parish in the celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgical celebrations. They strive to engage as many parishioners as possible in this work to ensure that liturgy a the work of our community's hands, is joyful, beautiful, rooted in tradition and casts a vision for what is yet to come. The Parish Council is the top-level lay leadership group within the Parish, providing a vision and long-range planning framework for the Parish and establishing goals and directions for the Parish as a whole.