This document summarizes talks given at a retreat for Our Lady of Lourdes & Sacred Heart. The talks focused on knowing Christ, deciding for Christ, and growing in Christ. They discussed assessing a parish's "spiritual composition" and moving people to higher thresholds of faith. Developing discipleship pathways was presented as one way to help parishioners encounter Christ and progress in their spiritual journey. The talks also addressed issues like declining Mass attendance and ways parishes can evaluate their efforts to evangelize.

1. OUR LADY OF LOURDES
&
SACRED HEART
• June 4 -5 , 2021
• St.-Joseph-In-The Hills
• Malvern, Pennsylvania

2. KNOW CHRIST
DECIDE FOR CHRIST
GROW IN CHRIST
• Fr. Charles Zlock
• (Pastor, Church of St. Monica)

3. TALK #1:
KNOW CHRIST
Where Are WE?
Where AM I?

4. TALK #2:
DECIDE FOR CHRIST
Helping Parishioners Encounter Christ -

5. TALK #3:
GROW IN CHRIST
Spiritual Journeying
Discipleship Pathways
Accompaniment

6. TALK #1:
KNOW CHRIST
If you don’t know where you’re going…
..any road will get you there.

7. OPENING PRAYER
Lord, you have entrusted us as stewards of your creation.
As we begin this gathering, we come to you asking
for your guidance, wisdom and support.
Help us to engage in meaningful discussion.
Fill us with your grace as we make the decisions that affect the people
of Philadelphia, the people in our neighborhoods,
our brothers and sisters in the wider world.
Remind us that all that we do here these days - all that we accomplish -
is for your greater glory,
and for the people to whom you send us to serve,
Amen.

8. • Who’s in the pews,
• … and who’s not.
• If “God doesn’t have any grandchildren,”
• …what are the implications?
• What To Do?
• Where To Start?

9. WHOSE IN THE PEWS?
• 30%
• 38%
• 32%
• ----------
• 100%
• Americans raised Catholic & are “practicing”
• (Attend Mass once/month)
• ½ of these are at Mass any given weekend
• Hold on to their Catholic Identity but seldom/never attend Mass
• No longer consider themselves Catholic 

10. AND WHOSE NOT …
• “32% No longer consider themselves Catholic “ =
• 3% - Part of a non-Christian faith
• 14% - Unaffiliated
• 15% - Part of some Protestant faith tradition
• An example, 15% = 600 St. Monica Parishioners
• Compare: 800 at Mass/weekend

11. PROTESTANT / EVANGELICALS:
• Highly attuned to spiritual
mobility of postmodern
Americans
• Constantly consider how to reach
out to them.
• Conviction: every person has a
personal decision to make!
• Personal relationship with Christ
• i.e. “Getting Saved”
• Assume religious identity is
largely inherited.
• Faith can be passed down
through Catholic Schools, PREP,
youth programs, etc…
• Assume religious practice
remains stable throughout
one’s life.
CATHOLICS:
ISSUES:
Where does this
come from ?

12. ISSUES:
• Since Renaissance, Catholic Church highly Influenced by power of education.
• Strategy:
• Childhood Catechesis
• Sacramental Initiation
• Problem: CCD, Youth Groups, Catholic Grade- High School make little/no
difference whether teen stays Catholic.
• “Eucharist” will not bring them back.
• Sacraments for “their children” will not bring them back.
• Implications for current practices & investment of resources at parishes?

13. IT’S ABOUT “THE” RELATIONSHIP …
• Mass attendance - possible and a personal relationship with God.
• 48% of Catholics: “I don’t have personal relationship with God I believe in”
• More pronounced with younger vs. older Catholics
• Millions of Americans:
• Do not know that explicit, personal relationship with Christ – personal discipleship – is normative.
• Need to be evangelized first – then sacramentalized - then catechized
• We’ve done it in reverse!
• Are seeking a religious identity, OR …
• Are Catholic - yet not sure about a personal relationship with God, OR …
• Are not Catholic but potentially open to Catholic faith, OR …
• Self-Identify as “Catholic” attending Mass, though not baptized / confirmed.
The Bad
News
The Good
News

14. III. THE CONVERSION OF THE BAPTIZED
(CATECHISM, PART 2, SECTION 2, CHAPTER 2)
1428 Christ's call to conversion continues to resound in the
lives of Christians. This second conversion is an
uninterrupted task for the whole Church who, "clasping
sinners to her bosom, [is] at once holy and always in need
of purification, [and] follows constantly the path of penance
and renewal."18 This endeavor of conversion is not just a
human work. It is the movement of a "contrite heart," drawn
and moved by grace to respond to the merciful love of God
who loved us first.19
1427 Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the
proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the
kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."16
In the Church's preaching this call is addressed first to those
who do not yet know Christ and his Gospel. Also, Baptism is the
principal place for the first and fundamental conversion. It is by
faith in the Gospel and by Baptism17 that one renounces evil and
gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of
new life.

15. SPIRITUAL COMPOSITION OF A
CATHOLIC PARISH
So how do we move
people up the
thresholds?

16. WHAT DOES YOUR PARISH
REALLY LOOKS LIKE?
“Spiritual Thresholds”

17. SPIRITUAL THRESHOLDS:
PARISHES & PEOPLE
Pre-
Trust
Trust
Curiou
Open
Seeking
Discipl
Apostl
+ - 70% of
Parish
+-70% of
Church-Go-ers
3% - 7% of Church
Go-ers ??
Catechesis Only
Effective Here
Actively
Seeking God
Passive
No Connection,
Semi-Hostile,
Hostile
Actively Seeking
Others

18. SPIRITUAL THRESHOLDS
Pre-Trust
Trust
Curious
Open
Seeking
Disciple
Apostle
+ - 70%
of Parish
+-70% of
Church-Go-
ers
3% - 7%of
Church Go-ers
??
Catechesis Only
Effective Here
“Small Groups”
Effective Here
Implications for the
parish?

19. ISSUE:
FAITH JOURNEY
Pre-Evangelization
Evangelization
Faith Formation
Catechesi
s
In Religious Education: WE’VE REVERSED THE ORDER!
We Catechized FIRST –
THEN Sacramentalized –
THEN Evangelized (maybe?)
We Should Evangelize FIRST –
THEN Sacramentalize –
THEN Catechize

20. TALK #1:
KNOW CHRIST?
Do You?
If So… How Much?

21. TALK #2:
DECIDE FOR CHRIST
Helping Parishioners Encounter Jesus

22. TALK #3:
GROW IN CHRIST
Spiritual Journeying
Discipleship Pathways
Accompaniment

23. • Canvas Church Watch Party

24. • Fresh Life Watch Parties

25. SOME KIND
OF PARISH
ANALYSIS

26. EXAMPLE …

27. SOME KIND
OF PARISH
ANALYSIS

28. SOME KIND
OF PARISH
ANALYSIS

29. OTHER APPROACHES

30. Other
Approaches
Dave Nodar

31. • Session Topics
• What Is the Meaning of Life?
• Why Does Jesus Matter?
• What Does Jesus Want Us To Know?
• Why Do We Need a Savior?
• Why Is the Resurrection Important?
• Retreat
• Who Is the Holy Spirit? (retreat)
• The Holy Spirit and You (retreat)
• New Life in the Spirit
• Our Need for the Church

32. TALK #2:
DECIDE FOR CHRIST
Helping Parishioners Encounter Christ

33. TALK #3:
GROW IN CHRIST
Spiritual Journeying
Discipleship Pathways
Accompaniment

34. SOME KIND
OF PARISH
ANALYSIS

35. SOME KIND
OF PARISH
ANALYSIS

36. •A FOURTH APPROACH

37. GROWING DISCIPLES:
ONE MODEL
• Help Parishioners in Formation Through:
• Individual Prayer
• Spiritual Direction
• Personal Guidance/Mentoring
• Community Worship (Small Groups)
• Community Worship (Sacraments & Mass)
• Catechesis
• Individual Leisure
• Group Socializing
• Service & Pastoral Outreach

38. INQUIRY PHASE:
PRE-TRUST,
TRUST
 Alpha
 Walking With Purpose,
“Opening Your Heart”
 That Man Is You
 Family/Youth Discipleship &
Formation
ONGOING
FORMATION:
Seeking, Open,
Beginning Disciple
SEEKING PHASE:
TRUST, OPEN,
CURIOUS, SEEKING
A “DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY”
IS NECESSARY !
DISCIPLE PHASE:
Mature Disciple for
Ministry & Mission
 Symbolon / RCIA
 Formed
 Walking With Purpose,
“Touching the Divine
(Gospel of John)
 That Man Is You II
 Family/Youth Discipleship
& Formation II
 Called & Gifted 1
 Walking With Purpose,
Beholding His Glory,
(Old Testament)
 That Man Is You III
 Family/Youth Discipleship
& Formation III
 Called & Gifted 2
 Parish Missionary
Disciples
 Ananias Training
 Youth Missionary Team
 Youth Small Group
Leaders & Catechists

39. INQUIRY PHASE:
PRE-TRUST,
TRUST
 Alpha
 Walking With Purpose, “Opening Your
Heart”
 That Man Is You
 Family/Youth Discipleship &
Formation
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY

40. SEEKING PHASE:
TRUST, OPEN,
CURIOUS, SEEKING
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
 Symbolon / RCIA
 Formed
 Walking With Purpose, “Touching the
Divine (Gospel of John)
 That Man Is You II
 Family/Youth Discipleship &
Formation II

41. ONGOING FORMATION:
Seeking, Open,
Beginning Disciple
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
 Called & Gifted 1
 Walking With Purpose, Beholding His
Glory, (Old Testament)
 That Man Is You III
 Steward Mission Men’s Gospel Reflection
Groups
 Family/Youth Discipleship & Formation III

42. DISCIPLE PHASE:
MATURE DISCIPLE,
MINISTRY
MULTIPLIER
DISCIPLESHIP PATHWAY
 Called & Gifted 2
 Parish Missionary Disciples
 Ananias Training
 Youth Missionary Team
 Youth Small Group Leaders &
Catechists

43. • Alpha ------------------>
• Walking With Purpose -------------------------------------->
• That Man Is You ---------------------------------------------->
• Symbolon/RCIA ----------------------------------------------->
• < -------------------------------------- Formed ------------------------------------------- >
• Family/Youth Discipleship & Formation --------------- >
• < ------------------------------ Men’s Gospel Reflection ----------------------------- >
• Parish Missionary Disciples ------------------------------- >
 Youth Missionary Team
 Youth Small Group Leaders & Catechists
-- Advent / Christmas -- ------- Lent / Easter ------- -------- Summer -----------
• Alpha -------------------->
• Called & Gifted 2 (Pilot) ----------->
• Called & Gifted 1 (Pilot) ----->
• Ananias Training (Pilot) ----->
Sept ‘18 Oct ‘18 Nov ‘18 Dec ‘18 Jan ‘19 Feb ‘19 Mar ’19 Apr ‘19 May ‘19 June ‘19 July ‘19 Aug ‘19

44. TALK #3:
GROW IN CHRIST
Spiritual Journeying
Discipleship Pathways
Accompaniment

45. HOW ARE WE DOING ?
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Baptisms Funerals Wedding
Funerals
Baptisms
Weddings

46. SO … IS IT WORKING?
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
# of Families Octobe Count New Registrations
Number of Families
(859 – 1097)
People In the Pews or
“October Count”
(3196)
(3521)
(4193)
New Registrations
49 51 41
33
60
65 27
(So Far)
+10%
+28%

47. SO … IS IT WORKING?
$(200,000)
$-
$200,000
$400,000
$600,000
$800,000
$1,000,000
FY2012 FY2013 FY2014 FY20154 FY2016 FY2017 FY2018
Total Collections Net Income
Total Collections
Net Income
+3
%
+5%
This Year
+67%
+203%
This Year

48. HOW ARE WE DOING?
1. Parish Debt
2. Unidentified / Deferred Repairs & Maintenance
3. Capital Campaign Pledged
4. Projected Non-collectable
5. Overall project shortage shortfall
• 2013 = $250,000
• 2015 = $0 (3 years early)
• $1,700,000
• $1,700,000
• $31,000 (0.18%)
• $154,000

49. SO… HOW ARE WE DOING ?
Activity and momentum
evident…
..yet archdiocesan metrics
are lagging.

50. OPENING PRAYER
Lord, you have entrusted us as stewards of your creation.
May your goodness, wisdom and love be present among us today.
As we conclude these days together, we ask for your guidance, wisdom and support.
We prayer for hope – come stir our hearts and renew our faith.
We prayer for vision – may your light reveal how our time here,
can lead to a greater realization, of a Kingdom we cannot yet see.
We prayer for unity – build in us a deep respect for one another,
so that your church may be one.
As we move back to the vineyards from whence we came,
let us recall, that all that we hope to accomplish,
is for your greater glory,
and for the magnificent people, to whom you send us to serve.
Amen.