By the Numbers

We have submitted our 2024 final report to the Lilly Endowment. One of the features of the annual report is baseline data that we collect each year to measure of the work and outreach we do. The signs of the Spirit over the past four years are noticeable. The data gives us the number of people served; meetings prepared to gather people; churches involved; people interested in discerning gifts and strengths and in understanding differences in others. 

This year we have successfully met our five-year goal for gift discernment. In 2024, 187 people participated in the Called and Gifted process, and 178 people participated in CliftonStrengths. Our goal for the five years was 500 people, and we have met 153% of the goal. Over the four years we have more than doubled the number of churches involved in the initiative. While numbers matter in this grant report, I am certain that the real impact comes through the stories told by people and parishes that are reaping the benefits of fostering emotional and spiritual connections in gatherings, of tangible outcomes in new ministry development and big ideas, of fostering community engagement, of building bridges, and of tending to one’s mission in their ACC.

Sacred Reading, Sacred Seeing

By Barbara Sutton

Praying with sacred art holds the possibility of igniting people’s imagination with spiritual, theological, and artistic wisdom as it makes visible God’s story. This practice of praying with visual images is called visio divina or divine seeing. It is adapted from the sixth-century Benedictine practice of Bible reading called lectio divina, using both the text and art to help one encounter the living Word of God. The rhythm of visio divinaignites the senses to “hear and see” the Word of God as one listens, meditates, and prays with the sacred text.

In the excitement of seeing the Word of God with the eyes of faith, people take different approaches in the practice of visio divina. Sometimes they want to know exactly what Scripture meant to the early Christian church and what Scripture scholars say about the particular text. Others move quickly to the visual image, looking for contemporary symbols and meaning. 

Studying a text of Scripture and the illumination or image involves uncovering layers of meaning. One is the intended message of the inspired author who wrote for a particular audience at a particular time. When we have discovered the “voice” of the text, we can bring its images and lessons into the present and discern its significance for our own life situations.

The rhythm of visio divina moves people between

the heart and mind to a warm embrace with God.

Lectio Divina (Listening):

Chose a short passage to read slowly and prayerfully aloud, “listening with the ear of your heart,” as if you are in conversation with the innermost part of yourself and with the divine indwelling within. Listen with your body, soul, memory, and imagination for a word or phrase that emerges or shimmers from the text. Consider this as a word or short phrase God has for you this day. This sacred word becomes the symbol of your intention to consent to God’s presence and action within you. You may want to reread the same text several times to help quiet yourself interiorly. Feel yourself receive the word or phrase.

Meditatio (Meditating):

Stop and rest, gently repeat the word or phrase to yourself. Read the passage again, reflecting on the word or phrase. Something inside of us shifts in a powerful and lovely way when we ourselves shift our attitude from our usual stance of analyzing a text to receiving the text and savoring it. This shift of stance is a profoundly contemplative one. Meditating “engages thought, imagination, emotion and desires to deepen our convictions of faith, prompt the conversion of heart, and strengthen our will to follow Christ” (CCC 2708). So allow the word in your heart, reflecting what it means to you, allowing it to interact with your thoughts, hopes, memories, and desires. In what ways does the word connect to your day-to-day life situation? Be attentive to what speaks to your heart.

Visio Divina (Seeing):

Fix your gaze on the illumination or image, asking God to open the eyes of your heart, enabling you to see what God wants you to see. Return to God’s Word for the purpose of hearing and seeing Christ in the illuminated Word. This process is different than skimming a magazine at the grocery counter. Rather, it is a sacred gaze that notices the entirety of the illumination or image. Moving from a glance to fixing one’s gaze on the visual image takes one into a deeper sense of the symbolic voice and allows one to get to the hidden meaning or inner ways of knowing intuitively. Be open to images, thoughts, impressions, and feelings that come into your awareness. What draws you into this illumination or image? What do you see? Where do you meet God in this illumination or image? Notice how the illuminated Word, for instance, portrays Jesus or how different images create a sense of paradox or evoke emotions. Sacred art draws you into a sacred gaze that deepens, and one can notice a beauty shaped by God’s dream for the world.

Oratio (Praying):

Experience the God-illuminated word and image to bless and transform the thoughts and images that God’s Word has awakened in you. Allow noticing and wonders. What do you want to say to your inner self and to God in response to your noticing and wonder. Give to God what you have found in your heart. This is a transition from talking about God to talking to God. Without prayer, lectio is less divina and more reading, and visio is less divina and more seeing. Enter into a loving conversation that comes from your heart.

Contemplatio (Contemplating):

Now for a few quiet moments you can just let go of all these thoughts about your word or phrase and even about conversation itself. Settle in for a few minutes of just simply being in the moment—being rather doing—and as thoughts come to mind, simply return to an openness to of God within you. Soak in that moment of rest and peace with your innermost self and God.

Missio (Mission): 

Listen to the Word of God for the third time. Becoming Christ-like is a lifelong process of walking in the way of the Lord, a gradual dynamic of external behavior flowing form one’s internalized value of faith. As the Scripture takes root in one’s heart and mind, one notices how this text shapes how one acts, the possibilities it opens up, and the challenges it poses. Intentionally carry the word or phrase that came to you into your daily routine, your relationships, and the world. What difference can this text make in how you act? What possibilities does it open? What challenges does it pose? Our inner contemplative life can inform, inspire, and equip us in what naturally becomes our more and more socially active contemplative life.

© Birth of Christ, Donald Jackson, 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Order of Saint Benedict, Collegeville, Minnesota. Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, © 1993, 1989, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sources

Casey, Michael. Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina. Liguori, MO: Liguori: 1995.

Oakes, Caroline. Practice the Pause. Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2023.

Sutton, Barbara. Believe, Celebrate, Live Eucharist Ages 7–8. New York: Sadlier, 2018.

Sutton, Barbara. "'Holy Seeing': From the Art of the Saint John's Bible." Health Progress 100, no. 3 (May 2019): 16–20.

Sutton, Barbara. “Planning the Program: Using Lectio and Visio Divina.” Sadlier (April 18, 2018).

Sutton, Barbara. Seeing the Word: Program Manual. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2011.

Reflection for Ministry Teams

By Sam Rahberg

Ministry can be a rewarding yet challenging vocation. As Christian leaders, we inevitably face moments of exhaustion, disillusionment, and frustration. When we do, it’s tempting to simply press on without reflection. Doing so, however, can lead to burnout for both the leader and the community. The key to enduring ministry lies not just in perseverance but in a more grounded, grace-filled approach that helps us face challenges with a renewed sense of purpose.

In the preface to Enduring Ministry, I reflect on the story of Benedict of Nursia, whose early community ministry was tumultuous. Rather than succumbing to bitterness, Benedict discerned with composure, allowing the grace of God to guide his next steps. This story reminds us that Christian leadership is not free from struggle, but those struggles can be navigated with a calm mind and an openness to God’s guidance.

The journey toward lasting ministry is not primarily about finding the willpower to keep going. Instead, it involves surrounding ourselves with people who embody God’s grace—mentors, colleagues, and communities that support and challenge us. It also requires daily discernment and a commitment to remaining connected to our calling, even when the path is difficult.

For many of us, the real work of enduring ministry is about embracing more reflective moments within the flow of ministry. By doing so, we practice listening for God's voice and renewal of hope and joy that originally drew us into ministry. Rather than feeling isolated, we are invited to draw on supportive networks that keep us engaged.

Discussion Questions/Exercises:

1. Reflect and Share: What personal experiences have led you to question or reaffirm your calling? How do you stay connected to your sense of purpose in ministry during challenging times?

2. Build Your Network: Identify three people (mentors, spiritual directors, peers) who can help you stay grounded in your ministry. Commit to reaching out to one of them this week to share your reflections and ask for their support.