Parish communities often need a time for spiritual renewal. Parish Missions provide an opportunity for the whole parish to experience together a renewed sense of community and mission. This will deepen our awareness of God in our personal and family lives.

The parish retreats or missions are not based on particular themes, but they emerge out of three principles in consultation with each parish.

First, the preaching will be shaped by the biblical readings of the season, whether it is Advent, Lent, Easter or Ordinary time. This will enable the people to listen to and wrestle with the Word of God and discover its deeper meaning for them as individuals and as a community.

Second, the preaching will unfold within the context of the new story of creation and enable to help parishioners to integrate Christian tradition with the new cosmology. This story will be told in ritual fashion as a cosmic journey through the universe. A background for this story will be found in two recent books by Cletus Wessels: The Holy Web: Church and the New Universe Story, 2002; and Jesus in An Emerging Universe, 2003. Both were published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll, NY.

Finally, the preaching will weave a web of rituals in which the people will actively respond to God's presence in the Word and in creation. There could be a ritual of healing, a ritual of reconciliation, a ritual of water or whatever emerges from the readings and the needs of the parish.

"Many thanks for being here with us as we enter into this holy season. You were terrific and your words touched many people deeply. You were inspired. God bless you in your ministry."

A typical mission schedule includes preaching at all weekend Masses, daily Mass with preaching, evening prayer with preaching, reflection, conversation, and ritual. Times can be arranged for other daily activities.

If you are interested in any of these options, please contact:

2833 32nd Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-724-3644
cletuswe@aol.com