One of the most fundamental things Family leaders can do is to pray together. Prayer aligns our ministry with God’s vision and praying unites our hearts and minds with one another through Christ. A prayer resource has been prepared for Family Leadership Teams and other groups of leaders to use each month. The resource draws on the readings for the coming Sunday so that leaders will be especially prepared for and reflect upon the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist. Consider this for your weekly FLT mtg, full staff mtg, pastoral council mtg, or other gathering of parish leaders.
This prayer concludes Archbishop Schnurr’s pastoral letter, Radiate Christ, and is often used to conclude parish meetings.
Links to the Divine Office, Question of the Week, the Pope’s Monthly Intentions, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Prayer.
As Beacons of Light progresses forward, the focus of communication moves from the Pastoral Center to the Family of Parishes. Since each Family will be on different timelines and working with their local community, it is important that the parishes themselves drive the ongoing communication related to Beacons of Light purpose and execution.
One of the best ways to reinforce such important far-reaching changes in parish practice and direction is from the ambo. The Center for Parish Vitality has prepared this Beacons of Light Homily Themes reference document to assist in the homily preparation process.
I am convinced that Beacons of Light, born of great hope, will enable us to form stronger parishes, centered on the Eucharist, that radiate the love of Christ and joy of the Gospel… God has abundantly blessed our first two centuries and will certainly bless the next.
— ARCHBISHOP DENNIS M. SCHNURR