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20. Summary
Jesus established the Catholic Church to evangelize, and he gives us his Great Commission in Matthew’s gospel to make disciples of all nations, to baptize them, to teach all he commands us, and to trust that he is with us always. The reason we exist as a Church is to evangelize. To evangelize is to welcome people into a personal relationship with God that will transform them completely inside and out. Living out the Great Commission of Jesus is both personal and communal. Each of us is called personally not only to witness to our faith but also to accompany others in faith. Each of our parishes, schools, and ministries have the same mission, and it should be fostered each time the community comes together.
To answer the Great Commission of Jesus, our parishes, families, schools, and ministries will need to shift from a maintenance orientation to one of mission. This means we need to train our people, starting with leadership, on how to be companions in faith (how to accompany others in faith). This begins with listening to others and telling our story of faith. All of our ministries, organizations, and activities need to have disciple making as a goal. If an activity does not contribute to forming disciples, it needs to be examined to see if it can transition so that it does fulfill the mission of forming disciples or if the activity needs to continue.
In order to make the shift in our parishes, schools, and ministries, each need to have a clear, concise vision, which is known by all members. There also needs to be a process for people to move through the Thresholds of Conversion and Faith, and they need to be accompanied in that movement of faith. Small groups have proven to be very effective in enabling people to grow in discipleship. The leaders of our communities need to be trained disciple makers that embrace the clear vision of fostering discipleship, accompaniment (Ananias training), and forming disciple makers. In truth, everything in our parishes, schools, and ministries needs to be aligned with the vision of Jesus, which is his Great Commission.
Forming partnerships within our families, parishes, schools, and ministries will enable us to have a Faith Formation Plan for each child, youth, adult, RCIA participant, and family. Partnerships will ensure accompaniment and enable small group Faith Formation, thus providing the kind of support each person needs to move through the Thresholds of Faith – to become disciples and disciple-makers.
To make the shift in our parishes, schools, and ministries, from maintenance to answering the Great Commission of Jesus will mean we are all, as a Church, committed to accompaniment, individually, in small groups, and in faith communities. My prayer is that we will be able to hear the words of Jesus to make disciples, baptize all nations, teach what he commanded us, and to trust that He is with us always, to the end of the age.