Steps to Being More Mission Focused

HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS

Pope Leo XIV often stresses the importance of having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ as the foundation for evangelization. That allows you to share His love rather than simply sharing intellectual knowledge.

• How to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger shares thoughts in this episode of the podcast, "Called to Serve with Kathy Barrans." (Recorded May 2025) 

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUR PARISH NETWORK

Coffee Hour & Hospitality: It does more than fill your belly. It fills your spirit, and builds community. As you get to know others in your faith community, you can learn about needs that exist in your own parish and then work together on ways to meet those needs. That is being mission-focused in your own parish community. 

• St Margaret of Cortona, Rotterdam Junction hosts coffee hour every Sunday after the 10am Mass. Click here to see more.

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

• The Alpha Program: St. Peter's Parish in Saratoga Springs launched the 11-week program on June 21, 2025. Click this link to read all about it.
• The Cathedral Hosts Ice Cream Social to Meet Neighbors: On July 2, 2025 from 3:30pm to 6:30pm, the Cathedral invited state workers and neighbors to come, enjoy FREE ice cream and get to know each other. They teamed up with the city to use a little park by the Cathedral, and with Stewarts to donate the ice cream. Team up with businesses and organizations in your area to build community outside of your church walls. Click here to see pictures
• Brainstorm with others in your faith community: Fr. Rendell Torres, Rector at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, invites members of his staff and parish network, to share their ideas, he listens and learns, and he's already moving forward with some. You can hear that conversation on the Called to Serve Podcast (click "play" button below).

IDENTIFY NEEDS & FIND WAYS TO SERVE

• Ginny's Lunch: St. Margaret of Cortona Church, Rotterdam Junction, teams up with Woestina Reformed Church, and Christ Church of the Hills Presbyterian Church twice a month to host a free lunch for seniors and retirees. Click here to read more about it.