Worship and Community

Inspiring Community

A thriving mission has its source in liturgical worship and aims towards the flourishing of life in community. As the Second Vatican Council notes, “the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life." The Eucharist is the source of thriving together and inspires the embodiment of values and practices that express life in Christian community. Bridge Builders for a Thriving Mission provides resources for the Eucharistic revival and the Sunday Celebration of the Eucharist, as well as training and support for leaders and caregivers within communities.

Pastoral Planning

Planning on Firm Foundations

In order to build new relationships across parishes, Diocesan leaders need to meet people and listen to their stories, as they do in synodal listening sessions, pastoral visits, and in Area Catholic Communities Council Training. A thriving mission is dependent on pastoral planning that is rooted in prayer and discernment as well as accurate information so that decisions are fair, transparent, and grounded in the Church's mission. Bridge Builders for a Thriving Mission supports these commitments with resources and processes that have been developed and well-tested for pastoral planning.

Bridge Builders

Bridge Building Starts with Relationships

Building the vitality of an Area Catholic Community requires teams of leaders who together have oversight for liturgical, catechetical, community care, and justice ministries. Our parishes are collaborators, bridge builders that ensure the mission of the Church. Building relational bridges within an Area Catholic Community is much like building physical ones - it requires innovation, investment, and an eye toward structures that will stand the test of time. We listen to the needs of ACCs and empower people to test their 'Big Ideas'.

There are four qualities essential to this relational building:

1. respect

2. cultural humility

3. trustworthiness

4. love