By Sadie Smith

As we continue in the Sacred Heart Parish our study of the fabulous exhortation from Pope Francis, I never cease to be amazed at the way he is speaking to us TODAY. 
We have now reached Paragraph 87 and this is what he has written …
 
“Today, when the networks and means of human communication have made unprecedented advances, we sense the challenge of finding and sharing a “mystique” of living together, of mingling and encounter, of embracing and supporting one another, of stepping into this flood tide which, while chaotic, can become a genuine experience of fraternity, caravan of solidarity, a sacred pilgrimage. Greater possibilities for communication thus turn into greater possibilities for encounter and solidarity for everyone. If we were able to take this route, it would be so good, so soothing, so liberating and hope-filled! To go out of ourselves and to join others is healthy for us. To be self-enclosed is to taste the bitter poison of immanence and humanity will be worse for every selfish choice we make”.
 
What could be more relevant to us than this paragraph? Clearly the time has come for us to make greater use of social media and be more in contact with each other. We can no longer go it alone – we need the companionship and support of each other. Our humble contribution has the power to inspire and encourage. I suspect that every parish is having the same problems and communication between us will without doubt bring consolation and grace so that together we will find ways of closer encounter with Jesus and with the Holy Spirt we will be enabled to share the Joy of the Gospel.

Pope Francis spends the first 17 paragraphs talking about the Joy of the Gospel. He stresses the need for all of us to be evangelised – to grow in our love and knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Gospels before we can reach out to others. “Rejoicing in the Lord always, again I say REJOICE”.  (Philippians 4:4)
Then he proceeds to tell us that we must "GO FORTH". We must change and come out of our comfort zone and get involved. We should make conscious effort to  reach communities in need of the light of the Gospel.  “Taking the first steps, being involved and supportive, bearing fruit and rejoicing.”
The Church’s Missionary Transformation is the heading of CHAPTER ONE of the Evangelii Gaudium.
The Sacred Heart Parish is running two courses on this very important document. It is exactly what is needed at this time as we face the “new world” after Covid-19. The whole world has to make changes, equally so he Catholic Church has to make adjustments. We cannot continue as we are and we cannot say “we have always done it this way” any more. We have to move on into a new era in our way of being Christian – we have to address our Missionary Transformation.
The course  consists of over 20 of us (including our priests and chaired by Sadie Smith). The book is loaded with ideas and scriptures and pray fully meditate upon. It certainly is not comfortable reading in Paragraph 26 when Pope Francis says: “The Church must look with penetrating eyes within itself, ponder the mystery of her own being…This vivid and lively self-awareness inevitably leads to a comparison between the ideal image of the Church as Christ envisaged her and loved her as his holy and spotless bride (Ephesians 5:27) and the actual image which the Church presents to the world today.” So it goes on.
We are certainly finding it challenging, rewarding and sometimes overwhelming. I just wish the whole of the Pastoral Group with all their Parish Priests would prayerfully and diligently study this document – so that we could all move on together. I will write more as we progress very slowly with the course.