• on 6th February, 2023

Balally Parish Mission & Vision

Balally Parish Mission & Vision

 

The path taken to define the Vision & Mission

  • Archbishop Farrell called out to the diocese in late 2021 that there is a need to revise how the church is supported with the significant reduction in the number of priests in combination with a reduction in the numbers of people attending Mass. He stated that there is a need for a paradigm shift.

                                                                   A sense of urgency

  • Announcement of the new phase of the Building Hope programme 13 April 2022.
  • Balally Parish Building Hope Team formation 25 April 2022.
  • Parish Assembly 29 May 2022 – presentation of the mission concept by Fr Jim and discussion with parishioners about the mission under the categories of FAITH, WELCOME, SERVICE, SOCIAL JUSTICE using the Building Hope framework.
  • Balally Parish Building Hope submission 15 June 2022 with letter sent to Archbishop Farrell – receipt confirmed.
  • Introduction of the Balally Building Hope focus areas to the parish at the 40th Anniversary Mass on 22 October 2022.
  • Parish Vision and Mission approved by the PPC on 26 October 2022.
  • Fr. Jim, Fr. Dermot & Martina (PPC) invited to a meeting at Archbishop’s House on 18 November 2022 to review the parish vision and mission with Fr Gareth Byrne , Chair of the Archdiocese Building Hope Pastoral Strategy. Balally was given the green light to proceed with our mission.

Vision

To become a monastery without walls working together in serving the mission of Jesus and the Balally Building Hope journey

Implementation

 

  • The Parish, during this time of ‘radical change’ (Archbishop D. Farrell), will put the person of Jesus Christ at the centre of its words and deeds.
  • Inspired by the Spirit of Christ the parish will seek to bring good news to the poor, release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom to the oppressed (Luke 4:18).
  • As a monastery without walls, the parish will welcome all who are in need, especially those who are spiritually searching or physically hungry.
  • The parish will open its doors to young and old, rich and poor alike, outsiders and insiders, and all who feel alienated from the structures of the church.

Mission

To become disciples of Jesus through meditation and service and the Building Hope journey

Implementation

 

  • The mission of the parish will be in the words of Jesus “Go make disciples of all nations” (Mt.28:19).
  • To do this the parish will bring together into a dynamic unity
    • Meditation and Service
    • Contemplation and Action 
  • Contemplation will lead to action and the service of others will inform the rhythm of contemplation.
  • The creative relationship between contemplation and action will lead into our weekly celebration of the Eucharist around the table of the Lord as “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Vatican II).
  • An essential part of the mission of the parish will be to care for the gift of God’s creation so that together we can hand on a more habitable and healthier planet to the next generation.

Faith – The Person of Jesus Christ

Teaching Christian meditation to children and adults as supported by the World Community for Christian Meditation. Formation of lay people to lead Liturgies and Prayers. Faith program for young adults, youth development with local schools. Desert days on Tuesdays.

Promoting Contemplative Elders, Pilgrimages and Retreats.

Social Justice – The Person of Jesus Christ

Justice for the poor and the earth.

Outreach to the disadvantaged, through Peter Mc Verry SJ, SVP & Ukraine collections. Promoting the teaching of Pope Francis on the environment through the recent screening of The Letter and taking actions for our common home as a Lenten pledge.

Service – The Person of Jesus Christ

Formation of new PPC, Vision, Mission and logo for Meditation & Service, realigning the parish pastoral centre with the new vision and mission for the parish. Leadership formation in Christian meditation, formation of lay ministry and supporting volunteers in all aspects of parish activity in the light of our consultation at the Parish Assembly in May 2022.

Welcome – The Person of Jesus Christ

Welcome to all in and outside the parish (a monastery without walls), a new mission and  logo for meditation and service. Improving communication tools on the website and social media to reflect the new mission of the parish, a family fun day on parish feast day in 2023, developing relationships with our local Catholic parishes (Ballinteer, Dundrum, Meadowbrook) and local sister Churches (Church of Ireland, Methodist).

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