A Diocese Awakening to Mission

^{Source: Diocese of Nottingham}

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A renewed passion for evangelisation is aglow in the Diocese of Nottingham, following the launch of Bishop Patrick’s McKinney’s radical ‘Mission Plan.’

The Mission Plan, which was launched in January, focuses on the three themes of Encounter, Discipleship and Mission and how to realise the vision of a truly missionary diocese.

The Department for Adult Formation for Mission has already begun to engage parishes with the bishop’s plan by helping to outline practical ways, in which they can make their communities more missionary.

On Saturday January 31^st, the department organised an inspiring day on evangelisation at St Mary’s Church in Derby, with Abbot Hugh Allan, Mission Director for the Bishops’ Conference as the keynote speaker, former Apostolic Administrator of the Prefecture of the Falkland Islands and Ecclesiastical Superior of the Mission sui iuris of the islands of Ascension, St Helena and Tristan da Cunha.

The day began with Mass, celebrated by Canon Andrew Cole the Parish Priest. Abbot Hugh Allan preached on the importance of how our actions should match our words, when we evangelise.

He shared an anecdote about a Norbertine priest, who used to preach very strongly on the evil of foul language, who when preaching during Midnight Mass, fell down the pulpit’s stairs and issued a different profanity as he hit each step.

Abbot Hugh reminded the congregation that God’s words must fully permeate us, otherwise when we share the Gospel our own words will be empty.

Mass was followed by further talks on the themes of Encounter, Evangelisation and Mission, which were also led by Abbot Hugh.

The Abbot explained how during his previous role as Apostolic Administrator, each of the islands which he served taught him something new about evangelisation, including making decisions and sticking to them; really listening to those we are trying to evangelise, that small actions bear great fruit, and one person can make a big difference.

The day also involved two workshops on relational and spontaneous evangelisation, led by Georgia Clarke (Alpha in a Catholic Context) and Joe Hopkins with Fran Hazel, respectively.

In his capacity as Director of the Department for Adult Formation for Mission, Joe also led a morning on Encounter at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Arnold (part of the parish of St John Paul II), on Saturday February 28^th.

Reflecting on this first theme of evangelisation, outlined in Bishop Patrick’s Mission Plan, Joe highlighted how encountering Christ leads to a relationship, Christ desires to know us and to be known. Examples he gave were of Matthew and Zacchaeus the tax collectors and the woman who touched his cloak, hoping to be healed.

Joe pointed out that it was only once Christ had formed this relationship with those who He encountered that they went on to receive other graces from the Lord, healing, acceptance, repentance.

Following this powerful reflection on Encounter, those attending were inspired to talk about what helps them to encounter Jesus, such as pilgrimage, Mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

They also reflected on what they could do as a parish to foster Encounter and draw others closer to Jesus. Joe will return over the next to months to explore with the parish Discipleship and Mission.

"This is an exciting time in the Diocese of Nottingham," Joe commented. "We know from the wider national picture that there is an increasing hunger to know God in our church communities and beyond.

"The bishop's Mission Plan is empowering parishes to take those first steps in meeting others where they are and revealing the true face of Christ, through their words and actions."

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