Just thought we would share a few tidbits from the Pastoral Study Days with you. The theme was “Reclaiming lost holiness”:

-Keeping in mind that we received our souls at conception and will live beyond our physical death: the importance of reclaiming holiness.

-This idea of reclaiming our lost holiness starts with realizing that we are sinners, but also, brother/sister of our Lord Jesus Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. His forgiveness is for the asking, as such it is a joyful asking. We are exalted.

-Prayer is our fuel to holiness.

-Prayer is not about length, but rather depth.

-All we have is a gift from God and we need to reclaim that sense of extraordinariness. Don’t let your prayer life become so routine.

-Prayer is a process of ‘theosis’, becoming more like God(Matthew 5:48).

-The role of family in holiness:
-our church was born at Pentecost, but also at the foot of the cross, in a filial way. when Jesus entrusts his mother to his beloved disciple.
“When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’. Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’” (Jn 19:26-27)
-in the family is the pattern of life set.
-nurturing/promoting a sense of holiness in our homes is important. They are our domestic church.

-If God has given us a vision for our church community we need to make it visible, making a list of meaningful roles people can become involved in.
-We need to be prepared to share our vision; that all know they are welcome and will be honoured.
-We need to look to Jesus’ example in the gospel of how he recruited. He didn’t do all of his ministry himself, but deemed his apostles/disciples as being worthy of the highest work.