missions

Fr. Frank DeSiano's Missions

I would be interested in exploring a mission format as a parish retreat given over a weekend,
from Friday evening through Saturday night, with preaching at the Sunday Masses.

Such a format would allow a much more intense experience of the mission themes of
evangelization, conversion and community, as well as more time for sharing and reflection.

If you are interested, get in touch with me at desianocsp@aol.com

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Mission #1:

Evangelizing Mission

This mission has been presented in dozens of parishes with very excellent reception. It revolves around three evangelizing themes:

(1) Personal Faith

(2) Community

(3) Reaching Out

Here is the outline of the three days. The whole evening is about 1 1/4. Don't worry--we keep the stories coming, and the jokes.

DAY ONE

Purpose: to show that discipleship is a constant growth in faith

Welcome:

Opening Song:

Opening Prayer:

Scripture: Matt. 14: 22-33

Song Response:

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Ritual: A large bowl is brought forth, along with several smaller ones. Fr. DeSiano says a prayer over the large bowl and water is then put into smaller ones. Members of the pastoral council or ministry team then hold these bowls as the congregation comes forth. They sign their foreheads with the water, praying: Lord, I believe, help my unbelief.

Closing Prayer: DeSiano

Announcements:

Our Father, Greeting of Peace, Dismissal

Closing Hymn

DAY TWO

Purpose: To show that discipleship is lived and exercised in communion with others

Welcome:

Opening Hymn:

Opening Prayer:

Song Response

Scripture: 1 Cor. 13

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Ritual: People receive cards and pencils. On the card they are invited to reflect on and write two things: 1) one gift that God has given me to give to the community; and 2) one person or segment of the community that I can reach out to. They bring up cards and put them into a large basket.

Closing Prayer over basket: DeSiano

Announcements:

Our Father, Greeting of Peace, Dismissal

Closing Hymn

DAY THREE

Purpose: To reveal how God sends all of us forth

Welcome:

Opening Hymn:

Scripture: Luke 10: 1-10

Song Response

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Ritual: The congregation is invited to come forth as representatives from the parish (parish council, ministers, etc.) form a line of six people across the sanctuary. People come forth and receive the imposition of hands from these ministers. If possible, people enter the sanctuary and remain there as they listen to a commissioning prayer from Fr. DeSiano

Closing Prayer: DeSiano

Announcements and Thanks

Our Father, Greeting of Peace, Solemn Blessing, Dismissal

Closing Hymn

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Mission #2

Based on "Reactivating Our Catholic Faith" -- an 80 page booklet from Paulist Press -- it addresses the reality of weak Catholic identity and the drop in attendance at Mass. It helps Catholics know why they are active, and gives people a reason to reach out to those who are less active.

Evening 1: "Our Need for Faith" -- the real needs of our human lives and the silly places we go looking for meaning

Mark 9:14-23: "I believe, Help My Unbelief"

Welcome

Opening Hymn

Scripture

Song Response

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Sung Response

Ritual: The congregation comes forward and venerates the Holy Scriptures

Closing events: Lord's Prayer, Greeting of Peace, Announcements

Closing Hymn

Evening 2: "Our Need for Christ" -- why Jesus alone is the one who save us from the mess we make of our lives

Luke 7:36-42: A Woman Washes the Feet of Jesus

Welcome

Opening Hymn

Scripture

Song Response

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Sung Response
Ritual: Guided Meditation

Closing events: Lord's Prayer, Greeting of Peace, Announcements

Closing Hymn

Evening 3: "Our Need for Each Other" -- Christian life, sacraments, spiritual life as a share in the Kingdom

Acts 2:37-48: The Early Church

Welcome

Opening Hymn

Scripture

Song Response

Talk: Fr. DeSiano

Sung Response

Ritual: shared reflection among the congregation

Closing Events: Lord's Prayer, Greeting of Peace, Announcements and Thanks

Closing Hymn

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MISSION #3

Being a Disciple Today

This mission explores the bases of discipleship for Catholics: how we express our relationship with God through prayer and worship; how we grow in that relationship by opening ourselves to God's Word, and how discipleship leads us to others in community and service.

Day 1

Theme: Disciples express their relationship with God through prayer

Opening Song:

Welcome: Pastor or other pastoral leader

Opening Prayer: Fr. Frank

Reading: Matthew 6:7-14

Sung Response:

Talk: Fr. Frank

Song:

Response: Benediction of Blessed Sacrament

Announcements (Fr. Frank)

Closing Song:

Day 2

Theme: Disciples live and grow in the Word of God

Opening Song:

Welcome: Pastor or pastoral leader

Opening Prayer: Fr. Frank

Reading: Matthew 5:1-12

Sung Response:

Talk: Fr. Frank

Song:

Response: congregation is invited to share God’s Word with each other, followed by veneration of the Gospels.

Our Father, Greeting of Peace, Announcements (Fr. Frank)

Closing Song:

Day 3

Theme: We express our discipleship through service

Opening Song:

Welcome: Pastor or other pastoral leader

Opening Prayer: Fr. Frank

Reading: John 13:1-11

Sung Response:

Talk: Fr. Frank

Song:

Response: Laying on hands as a sign of being commissioned as disciples.

Our Father, Greeting of Peace, Announcements (Fr. Frank)

Closing Song:

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Mission #4

The last three days in the life of St. Paul. A dramatic presentation.

Paul is in a Roman Prison. The Christians of the community in Rome are visiting him. He reminisces on his life as a missionary, a former of communities and as a mystic. Each is 45 minutes long. This can be done as a one-day event or as part of a mission.

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Mission #5

HOLY SPIRIT MISSION

EVENING 1

GREETING OF PEOPLE, WELCOME

PERIOD OF SILENCE, STANDING, HANDS HELD ON “ORANS” POSITION

READING: Acts 2:1-4 ( NRSVA )
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

OPENING HYMN:

OPENING PRAYER (FR. DE SIANO)

First selection: Reading 1

Romans 8

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and to deal with sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,
so that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
For this reason the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law—indeed it cannot,
and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh; you are in the Spirit, since the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you.
So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!”
it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

PRESENTATION: FR. FRANK

CHANTS TO HOLY SPIRIT

Second selection: Reading 2

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God;
for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now;
and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family.
And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

PRESENTATION: FR. FRANK

CHANTS TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

Third Selection: Reading 3

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else?
Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PRESENTATION: FR. FRANK

STAND FOR HYMN TO HOLY SPIRIT

GUIDED MEDITATION (Fr. Frank) followed by ritual of lighted Candles. Each congregant has a taper, which is lighted from a small fire in the front of the church. They bring these candles to two ministers who stand on either side of a metal frame with sand. The ministers place the candles into the box. Congregants return to their seats.

PRAYER (Fr. Frank)

OUR FATHER

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLESSING