A Ministry of Presence Building a Community of Hope Presentation available: www.itinerantpreacher.org 1
Questions about Faith 2
Questions about Faith Reflection questions: I believe everything that Jesus teaches in the Gospel? True False 3
A Question of Faith Reflection questions: I believe everything that Jesus teaches in the Gospel? True False I have a strong and unwavering faith? True False 4
Questions about Faith Reflection questions: I believe everything that Jesus teaches in the Gospel? True False I have a strong and unwavering faith? True False What is the most important attribute(s) of a follower of Christ based on what Jesus teaches? 5
A Question of Faith What got Jesus Killed? 6
A Question of Faith 7
Faith & Doubt Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear. "I have no Faith - I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart & make me suffer untold agony. "Such deep longing for God and... repulsed empty no faith no love no zeal.... Heaven means nothing pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything." 8
Question of Faith: Mother Teresa Jesus has a very special love for you. As for me, the silence and the emptiness is so great that I look and do not see, listen and do not hear. "I have no Faith - I dare not utter the words & thoughts that crowd in my heart - & make me suffer untold agony. "Such deep longing for God and... repulsed empty no faith no love no zeal.... Heaven means nothing pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything." 9
A Ministry of Presence Building a Community of Hope 10
Why this Ministry?- It s in the Gospel There are No * in the New Testament Matthew 25: I was in prison For I was hungry and you gave something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you invited me in I needed cloths and you clothe me I was sick and you looked after me I was in prison and you came to visit me Whatever you did for one for the least of mine, you did for me. 11
Why this Ministry?- It s in the Gospel There are No * in the New Testament Matthew 25: I was in prison For I was hungry and you gave something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me drink I was a stranger and you invited me in I needed cloths and you clothe me I was sick and you looked after me I was in prison and you came to visit me Whatever you did for one for the least of mine, you did for me. Mark 1: A Man with Leprosy A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean. Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean! Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 12
Why this Ministry?- It s in the Gospel Reflection question: Do you believe there are * (asterisks) in the Gospel? Can we exclude a person(s) from our ministry? 13
Charlie s Story 14
Ministry to a Monster: Don t run it is Christ 15
Would this modern day leper be welcome at your Parish? From: Nigh Harry (ONT) [mailto:nighhe@csc-scc.gc.ca] Sent: April 27, 2007 11:16 AM To: ncambre@archtoronto.org Subject: Some help? Good morning Bert, I met this morning with a man on day parole referred by his Parole Office, XXXXXXX. He's 58 years old and a devout catholic. He has a record of offending against pre-teen boys, the last offense occurring in 1990. When he returned to his parish in the west end which his mother has attended for 40 years, he disclosed his offending history to the priest. The priest contacted XXXXXX and indicated that the offender was not welcome any longer to attend services in part because the congregation has an unusually high number of children. I was wondering if you would have the time to meet with him and me to discuss the situation and perhaps even accompany him as an Emmaus Partner? Another option would be to assign one of the deacons as a partner, but I thought, if you had the time, he would really benefit from having your perspective. If worse comes to worst, we could always take him to the Mennonite church! Blessings, Harry 16
Why this Ministry?- It s in the Gospel Reflection questions: What would I be willing to do in this situation if it was my parish? How would I deal with the Pastor & other parishioners? 17
Ministry of Presence Reflection question: Would I exclude an individual from my ministry* for any reason? Why? * Is Your Diaconal Ministry limited to your assignment or is it to all the marginalized? Peter do you love me Yes Lord- Then tend to my flock 18
The Friends of Dismas Ministry What are the most important attributes of a Christian based on what Jesus teaches? 19
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Vision To build a community of hope by enabling people of faith to get involved in creative and healing ministry to persons touched by crime. 20
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Enabling people of Faith Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. Mother Teresa 21
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Ministry of Prayer Provide members of the community with meaningful, low risk level of association that serves as a direct spiritual support and as a parish building block to growing the Friends of Dismas. 22
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Ministry of Works Engage volunteers in works that provide ex-prisoners and others touched by crime with ongoing support and practical reintegration assistance. 23
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Ministry of Friendship Enable and engage people of faith in a high degree of commitment to and involvement with an ex-prisoner through fellowship and 'walking together'. 24
The Friends of Dismas Ministry Friendship Jesus touches the leper (Matt. 8:1-4) Ministry of Listening without judgement Walk together offering love & friendship 1:1/ Emmaus Partners / Circle of Support Works Jesus feeds the multitudes (Matt.14:13-21) Dismas Fellowship Tuesday Community Dinner at Keele Christmas Basket Program for Families Welcome Kits for recently released Backpack program for children Prayer Jesus prays before his arrest (Matt. 26:36-46) Prayer Circles Prayer Partners Pen Pal Support 25
Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom The Friends of Dismas Ministry Small Faith Sharing Meeting Format Opening Prayer Scripture Based Lectio Divina Story on Selected Theme Sharing Circle: Our Stories Announcements Closing Prayer Circle Dear God, In your mercy remember me and forgive me for the wrongs I ve done Set me free of my deep fears and my resentments Melt the hard places of my heart, and Allow me the grace to Surrender this day to your loving care. 26
www.friendsofdismas.ca 27
Get involved as an Individual/Couple 28
Get involved as a Group 29
St. Pat s Dismas Christmas 30
The Ex- Prisoner in the Community & at Church Fears & Concerns of the Church Community Will it be dangerous to have an ex-prisoner in the Parish? How will the congregation react? Will there be sex offenders around the children? Will we be opening our homes to being robbed? Will we be expected to find homes for them? How do we talk to them? Do we mention prison? 31
The Ex-Prisoner in the Community & at Church Prisoner Fears upon Release Reception from family & friends Who will meet them at the gate? Where will they live? How will they get to where they are going live? Where do they go to sign up for benefits? Can they find/ keep employment? What they will do when $ runs out? Will others know they are ex-prisoners? What should they do about and in Church? 32
Why this Ministry?- It s in the Gospel Reflection questions: Would I be willing to bring an active Ministry like The Friends of Dismas into my Church community and lead it as a the Deacon? Why? Or Why not? 33
The Dismas Prayer Dear God, In your mercy remember me and forgive me for the wrongs I ve done Set me free of my deep fears and my resentments Melt the hard places of my heart, and Allow me the grace to Surrender this day to your loving care. Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom 34