4
March 11, 2014
in the diocese
The Valley Catholic
‘Catholic on Purpose’ initiative convenes parish staffs on ‘forming disciples’
By Roberta Ward
“Telling the Story” was the theme
for the Feb. 27 Training on Forming
Disciples, following the ‘Forming Intentional Disciples” session of last fall
which dealt with simple conversations
to move people to closer personal faith
in Jesus Christ.
The latest session was facilitated by
Father Michael Fones, OP, co-Director
of the Catherine of Siena Institute
which aims at the transformation of
parishes into centers of formation for
lay apostles.
Utilizing many Scriptural references, Father Fones moved through
a progression of helping people to
evangelize based on a more personal
sharing of faith, which encompasses
Curiosity, Openness, Seeking and
Discipleship.
“Accepting the new life of God and
the Kingdom that Jesus came to give
us,” Father Fones said, “requires faith
in Jesus Christ as God with the intention to follow Him. This becomes the
work of the Holy Spirit.”
After initial Curiosity, Openness
and some Seeking, he said “this is
where the Life of Discipleship enters,
where we begin a lifetime of following
Christ through the power of the Holy
Spirit in the midst of His Church for
the sake of the world.”
The Holy Spirit “inspires us to share
our faith,” Father Fones said, and to go
beyond mere “motions” of only going
to Mass and receiving the sacraments.
“The Crucifixion is integral to the Jesus
story,” he said, “and we are all called
to witness to the Cross so that we each
emulate Jesus as obedient servants.”
He said that “everybody has the
right to hear the Gospel and the Holy
Spirit calls believers to “go o