I was struck by Simms' comment about planting the seed:
“We need to become less attached to reaping the harvest,” Simms said. “God will do that in his own time. And I think a lot of times the obedience we’re called to is being okay with not seeing the fruit of what we do.”
St. James is, hands down, the most beautiful church in the Diocese of Cleveland! The parishioners are also beautiful -- after the parish was closed by a former bishop in a "consolidation" effort, they petitioned the Vatican and were able to reopen. Quite a love story!
This evangelization program is even more evidence of the Holy Spirit alive and active in our neighborhood.
Awesome story and awesome event. Seems to be great for downtown urban parishes; I'm trying to think how this would work for those churches in the suburbs that get no foot traffic.
I reckon that, although there is not as much difference between two parishes as there is between two people (because of what a parish is), at the extremes we might still say that they are like comparing parts of a body, if we are comparing a hand to a foot (and not a hand to a kidney), or a left hand to a right hand; I can write well with my right hand, poorly with my left, and very badly indeed with my toes, but if the body wants to go for a long walk then it's all about how the feet are feeling, whether they are up to the task, and the hands have to content themselves with tying the shoelaces. The things that work for a suburban car-centered parish will look as different as that.
But, also, events that already exist, like a parish festival with carnival rides that everyone in the neighborhood is drawn to, do create a sort of temporary foot-traffic, and we could think in terms not only of revenue but also "how do I make a space for the possibility of an encounter with God". I would enlist young people (perhaps VERY young people) to think about that, because older people are used to This Is How We Have Always Done It and are also very steeped in Avoiding Liability.
My (suburban) parish sent people door-to-door a few years ago to invite neighbors to our annual fall festival a few days ahead of time. Many of them did end up stopping by. I don't remember if there was anything specifically geared toward newcomers once they arrived... it would have been great to have had something like Light for Love going in the sanctuary during it.
This is a fabulous idea for a church located on a pedestrian street with foot traffic. I have been to two Nightfever events -- they were beautiful and profound, but require A LOT of people and, I'm sure, a lot of training and planning. This seems to me to be well within many parish resources.
Having received the sacraments of baptism, penance, holy communion and confirmation in that parish it brought tears to my eyes knowing that the flame of the Spirit still glows there.
Thank you for all your kind and encouraging comments! If anyone is interested in bringing something similar to their parish, I’d be happy to chat with them! You can find my contact info on the St. James Light for Love web page: https://www.stjameslakewood.com/lightforlove. And if you could pray for our ability to overcome logistical hurdles to continue Light for Love, I’d be grateful!
Lovely! Lord bless the parish of St. James.
I was struck by Simms' comment about planting the seed:
“We need to become less attached to reaping the harvest,” Simms said. “God will do that in his own time. And I think a lot of times the obedience we’re called to is being okay with not seeing the fruit of what we do.”
What trust! Thank you for this article.
St. James is, hands down, the most beautiful church in the Diocese of Cleveland! The parishioners are also beautiful -- after the parish was closed by a former bishop in a "consolidation" effort, they petitioned the Vatican and were able to reopen. Quite a love story!
This evangelization program is even more evidence of the Holy Spirit alive and active in our neighborhood.
Awesome story and awesome event. Seems to be great for downtown urban parishes; I'm trying to think how this would work for those churches in the suburbs that get no foot traffic.
I don't think it would. But I wonder what might work instead in parishes like that.
I reckon that, although there is not as much difference between two parishes as there is between two people (because of what a parish is), at the extremes we might still say that they are like comparing parts of a body, if we are comparing a hand to a foot (and not a hand to a kidney), or a left hand to a right hand; I can write well with my right hand, poorly with my left, and very badly indeed with my toes, but if the body wants to go for a long walk then it's all about how the feet are feeling, whether they are up to the task, and the hands have to content themselves with tying the shoelaces. The things that work for a suburban car-centered parish will look as different as that.
But, also, events that already exist, like a parish festival with carnival rides that everyone in the neighborhood is drawn to, do create a sort of temporary foot-traffic, and we could think in terms not only of revenue but also "how do I make a space for the possibility of an encounter with God". I would enlist young people (perhaps VERY young people) to think about that, because older people are used to This Is How We Have Always Done It and are also very steeped in Avoiding Liability.
My (suburban) parish sent people door-to-door a few years ago to invite neighbors to our annual fall festival a few days ahead of time. Many of them did end up stopping by. I don't remember if there was anything specifically geared toward newcomers once they arrived... it would have been great to have had something like Light for Love going in the sanctuary during it.
Sherri Waddel's "Forming Intentional Disciples" is a wonderful book! Thanks for mentioning the Facebook page!
This is a fabulous idea for a church located on a pedestrian street with foot traffic. I have been to two Nightfever events -- they were beautiful and profound, but require A LOT of people and, I'm sure, a lot of training and planning. This seems to me to be well within many parish resources.
Having received the sacraments of baptism, penance, holy communion and confirmation in that parish it brought tears to my eyes knowing that the flame of the Spirit still glows there.
Inspiring for sure!
I love reading about this in my home diocese of Cleveland. There is such genuine faith there and I hope more parishes can replicate something similar.
And thank you, Pillar, for covering this story. Very encouraging and edifying. Thank you!
Thank you for all your kind and encouraging comments! If anyone is interested in bringing something similar to their parish, I’d be happy to chat with them! You can find my contact info on the St. James Light for Love web page: https://www.stjameslakewood.com/lightforlove. And if you could pray for our ability to overcome logistical hurdles to continue Light for Love, I’d be grateful!