I
recently returned from the Rebuilt Conference. I heard about the book called Rebuilt
for the first time early in 2012. I remember it came as a relief when I read
it. My own priesthood, needed a spark that would produce a new way, a new
focus, a new path. I read the entire book that night.
It
told the story of a priest and his lay associate who did just that: they
rebuilt and reawakened their parish. It combined humour with relate-able
difficulties for any who find themselves in parish life, but it did more, it
also offered doable next steps that resonated with me and made faith relevant
for my own parish family.
The book — and three others Father Michael White and Tom Corcoran have written
since — have influenced my ways of serving and leading. From introducing a
small-group ministry, to having screens in church, to focusing on hospitality
teams, (including a Café after Mass) to a social-media presence, to an
insistence on cleanliness in our facilities (that one was easy, I hate dust), to
the importance of mindful parish communications — from the homily to the
website— including weekly podcast, all started that night.
I
have visited Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland numerous times and over
the last six years count many there
(including Father White and Tom) as friends. My encounters with them at other
events, and even in the process of having them visit my own Diocese during a
clergy seminar, have always left me encouraged, inspired and energised to keep
moving forward, but the recent Rebuilt Conference in their newly built church
(they literally rebuilt it), strongly impacted me!
Whether
it was the amazing energy of the place, or the inspiring keynote sessions.
Whether the insightful breakout sessions or impacting networking. Whether
it was a humble but competent professional
staff or the hundreds of parishioner volunteers who would not stop smiling as
they shared a vision of making disciples and not letting people become passive
consumers of faith. I found myself re-embracing principles which have led my
ministry, and my parish, to become about one thing – offering every person in
our community a life changing encounter with Christ.
At
the Rebuilt Conference, I re-learned the importance of committed volunteers as
the key to guaranteeing the quality of the programs, avoiding always the
temptation to be a silo; something isolated from the rest of the parish (a
clique one might say). The idea that parishioners are not consumers or clients,
but rather people called to a mission of evangelization. These building blocks,
along with keeping the message, music and ministers (meaning the parishioners)
as first priorities on the weekend, are keys to the rebuilding
Church
of the Nativity, and the Rebuilt Parish Association, is part of the Amazing Parish initiative, as we are, and it is a privilege now to not only learn
from the best, but now to also share best practices (and some failures along the way on
our part) with other local, and event some distant, parishes that will help all of us
as we continue rebuilding our families of faith.
At
the opening session Father White told us that `Right Now` was the time to have
an impact and make a difference. At the closing session, Tom Corcoran told us
how to do that - by being letting the voice of God be instilled in our hearts, and thereby
what we hear, and permitting His vision of us to be what we see, and thereby
what we become. That we become re-committed in a renewed way (one might say a
rebuilt way) into being faithful disciples with the mission Jesus entrusted to
us, making our parishes places where people can become and grow as disciples of
Christ and offer every person in our community life changing encounter with
Christ. Let’s Keep Rebuilding!