The 72

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Luke 10:1-2

Small Group Leader Training Dates

Archbishop Hebda has asked each parish in our Archdiocese to encourage parishioners to step forward in faith sharing thru small group ministry. This Fall, MMOTC will offer a series on small group leadership. This is a seven-week series that will help you to learn how to effectively share our faith with a group you're already a part of or even begin a new small group. Archbishop Hebda wants to ensure that in each parish ministries and small groups meet these three criterea; " ministry that fosters personal relationships, builds community, and provides formation to help parishioners grow as joyful missionary disciples of Christ.”

Please prayerfully consider becoming one or our 'seventy-two' at Mary, Mother.

If you'd like to talk to someone from our Synod Evangelization Team about this more, please email Bob Nicholas (nicholas.bob@gmail.com), Vivian Rogers (vivian@fivestarprofessional.com) or Rebecca Schmid (schmidra163@gmail.com).

An exerpt from Archbishop's Pastoral Letter You Will Be My Wittnesses; Gathered and Sent From the Upper Room

Part II: Sowing the Seed Through Small Groups

July 2023 - June 2024
5. Prospective Small Group Leaders Attend Formation Series (Fall 2023)
I am directing each parish or cluster of parishes to host a 7-part Small Group Leader Formation series in fall 2023, using materials developed by the Archdiocese. This formation is intended for Evangelization Team members, those whom they have identified as potential small group leaders, and other parishioners interested in discerning small group leadership. There will be a capstone Small Group Planning Day in early December for Pastors, Evangelization Team members, and participants in the Small Group Leader Formation series. If a parish has an existing small group ministry, those small groups can continue to meet. Nevertheless, the parish should also host the Archdiocesan Small Group Leader Formation series and the Planning Day.
6. Parishes Begin Small Group Ministry (Winter/Spring 2024)
I am asking each parish or cluster to aim to begin its small group ministry by February 14, 2024 (Ash Wednesday). Each of the three Upper Room Goals – Foot-washing, Eucharist, and Pentecost – should be included as components of that ministry. My hope and prayer is for these small group ministries to be a fruitful part of parish life for years to come.

Part III: Synod Implementation Checklist by Group

I direct each parish to:

Offer parishioners the 7-week Small Group Leader Formation series, sometime between September 17 and November 19, 2023.
Host a Small Group Planning Day for the Pastor, Evangelization Team members and participants in the Small Group Leader Formation series on December 2023.
Aim to begin your small group ministry by February 14, 2024 (Ash Wednesday). Small groups can take many forms and be as simple as general faith sharing groups. I do ask that some of those small groups fulfill goals related to the three mysteries of the Upper Room as noted below.

PART III: Synod Implementation Checklist By Group

Fulfilling the Foot-washing Goal: Each Parish’s small group ministry offerings are to include one or more small groups that reach the marginalized and the poor. Examples would include, but not be limited to:
- Small faith sharing groups at nursing homes.
- Small groups whose members have an apostolate with the poor.
- Small groups that provide corporal and spiritual works of mercy for those in need.
- Small groups whose members focus on Catholic Social Teachings and putting them into practice.
Fulfilling the Eucharist Goal: Each Parish’s small group ministry offerings are to include one or more small groups that teach about the “beauty, form and meaning of the Mass,” beginning in Lent 2024. Examples would include, but are not limited to:
- Use of a video series or other resources specially created for the Eucharistic Revival (eucharisticrevival.org).
- Small groups for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion to grow in their charism.
- Small groups that meet before or after the Sunday Mass to meditate on the readings/preaching of the day.
Fulfilling the Pentecost ‘Praying in the Spirit’ Goal: Each Parish’s small group ministry offerings are to include one or more small groups that promote a prayer ministry for those in need. Ideas include, but are not limited to:
- Invite the Evangelization Team and other members of the parish to participate in the Archdiocesan “Charismata” apostolate under the direction of the Vicar for Charisms.
- Pray for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
- Connect with the Archdiocesan Healing Prayer Team ministry or Cor Jesu, the First Friday young adult outreach of the Saint Paul Seminary.
- Welcome a charismatic prayer group in the Parish.
Fulfilling the Pentecost ‘Going forth’ in the Spirit Goal: Each Parish’s small group ministry offerings are to include one or more small groups that are in the service of evangelization. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- With the help of the Evangelization Team, cultivate small groups based upon common interests and bonds (oikos cells/groups). Such groups are not directly attached to the pastoral or sacramental ministry of the parish but can serve as bridges to the community of faith. These faith sharing groups may be open to including non-parishioners and even non-Catholics.
- With the help of the Evangelization Team, form parish-based ecumenical small groups.
- Train members of the Evangelization Team on how to plan and host “open” cells/groups that welcome neighbors, friends, extended families and co-workers to meet the merciful Christ and hear testimonies. Recalling the example of the Apostle Matthew, these open-cell meetings are often called “Matthew’s House.”