COME! LIVE IN THE LIGHT!!!
SHINE WITH THE JOY AND THE LOVE OF THE LORD
WE ARE CALLED, TO ACT WITH JUSTICE
WE ARE CALLED, TO LOVE TENDERLY
WE ARE CALLED, TO SERVE ONE ANOTHER
TO WALK, HUMBLY WITH GOD!

St. Joan of Arc: Who Are We?
September 17, 2000

Give me a C!!!! Give me another C, and another!!!! What are all the C’s about? Norine Larson, former Parish Council President, kicked off SJA’s Collaborative Ministry Campaign at Sunday’s (September 17th, 2000) mass. She spoke of the top-notch ministry that SJA offers to the community and compared it to a 5-star hotel, except she said, “SJA is a 5-C Parish!” Here’s how Norine described St. Joan of Arc’s collaborative ministry and our commitment to making a collective impact in this world:

We’re Courageous - Norine sighted example after example of how SJA courageously stepped outside the box, beginning with Harvey Egan and followers, by committing to a lively church experience that: celebrate with music (and lots of clapping), welcomes everyone wherever they are on their journey, and challenges each of us to do the work we’re called to do in the world. Other examples included how SJA changed our rectory into a hospice for individuals (and their families) living with AIDS (and reminded us how we are still the only Catholic parish to do so), and applauded the way in which we embrace diverse lifestyles and honor women as priestly people.

…..Jesus is our model of courage, and collaborative ministry requires us to look beyond our own individual need of our church community and expand our collective energies to make a real difference in this world.

We’re Comitted - Our mission statement at SJA has been carefully tailored to specifically and intentionally claim the difference that we as SJA parishioners intend to make in the world. Justice, education, creation centered spirituality are some themes, and Norine challenged us all to read our mission statement often and put action to the words.

…..The intentionality of our mission requires us as a joint body of Christ, to commit to building God’s reign of peace and justice on earth, each and every day.

We’re Catholic - Those of us who’ve been brought up in the Catholic Church describe SJA as a very different experience. Many of us get up an hour early on Sunday, drive ½ hour to get to church in time for a good seat, talk about the mass and the learnings of the day with our friends, and feel uplifted and ready for our week’s work. This is the new Catholic experience that SJA brings and even though many of us are incredibly frustrated with ways in which Catholicism is taking steps backward, we resist giving up and continue to live in the experience while challenging the status quo. As Father George stated, “The priest today is called to be a herald of the future, not a preserver of the past.”

…..SJA challenges us to create inclusive partnerships and to foster healing from past pains in ways that spur growth, truth and justice in the Catholic Church, and our local and global community.

We’re Caring - Warm Hands, Warm Hearts; Sock Angels; Prison ministry; Small Christian Communities, etc.. etc… The way that SJA shows it cares is through ‘being with’ vs. ‘doing for’ one another. We truly do reap the benefits of giving and by focusing outward, we gain riches beyond our comprehension.

…..SJA is a caring community that joins in solidarity with those around us struggling, isolated and lonely. We create a larger community of care that brings hope into the world.

We’re Collaborative - At SJA, we may not know the answers, but realize that dialogue and collective courage is needed to ask the right questions. We do not rely on traditional hierarchical and linear thought to guide us, but embrace complexity. As Norine stated, “SJA has found a better use for pedestals in our church - they make great plant stands!”

…..At SJA, we have utilized a circle of support to get our work done in the community - we use the gifts, talents, interests and abilities of our parishioners to mobilize our mission.

MarySue Hansen
Sunday’s kick off was much more than a pepfest. It was a challenge for us all to be change agents. As Ghandi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” If any parish can commit to building a better world for all of our sisters and brothers - it’s St. Joan of Arc.
I'm Convinced !!!

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