Fr. Mike. No, not Mike Schmitz. I want to tell you about this other Fr. Mike. Montreal. Last week Monday afternoon through Wednesday. I was able to brainstorm and make plans with a small group of leaders from Divine Renovation, a few people from the business world and Fr. Mike. The question: how to change the paradigm of vibrant parishes and Church organizations that have a „growth mindset“ rather than a „multiplication mindset„.
In other words, many vibrant parishes and church organizations think something like this: „We want to grow.“ And that’s not a bad thing. As long as the motivation is right. As long as it’s not about „growth“ for the sake of growth, but about people. More power to growth, if the aim is for more people to experience God’s saving love. And yet. Fr. Mike has shown me that there is another way. They have a different benchmark.
Not how many people sit in the pew, but how many people does the Church send on mission? That is the real question for Fr. Mike and his team. It is an attitude of „open-handedness“: we want to give instead of to keep for ourselves. „Raising up an army“. Apostles for the kingdom of God. Fr. Mike seemed a little incospicuous at first. He didn’t say much. He just listened. But I quickly realized: something special is happening here. As far as I know, his parish is the first in the world to put „multiplication“ into practice by means of „Church planting“.
Two years ago, 35 of Fr. Mike’s parishioners discerned to leave and become parishoneers of a dying parish in another part of the city. But that’s not all. Fr. Mike’s parish not only sent these 35 parish missionaries. They also sent paid staff. And they helped with finances. And with coaching. And, God willing, in a year’s time, they are doing it all over again with another dying parish. The biggest task here is to create a culture of multiplication. For both the sending and the receiving parish. The „receiving parish“ sets itself the goal as soon as it is ready to themselves invest in another dying parish.
Very inspiring. Yes. It’s true. We also are planning to use the new John Paul II. location as a platform for Church planting. And there are already a couple of peopleconsidering a possible call to be sent or to help build. But it was very inspiring to see this „live“.
This Sunday we will hear in the Gospel about the woman at the well. She came to draw water. And Jesus‘ answer? „Give me a drink“. A bit like Elijah when the widow of Sarepta was starving and wanted to prepare the last meal. And Elijah’s answer? „Before you prepare the last meal for yourself and your child, make me a cake first.“ You think to yourself, „What, did someone not understand something? I’m the one who needs water and is hungry.“ And yet. It is what St. John Paul II. would call „the logic of the gift“: you will find water, even become a „spring that wells over into eternal life“ (Jn 7:38) if you are willing to give. This applies to a church community. It applies to the Christian personally. „It is more blessed to give than to receive.“ (Acts 20:35).
God’s blessing!
P. George LC
