Sharing God's Good News - Evangelization and Volunteering

Evangelization starts when we announce God’s love through a faith commitment in our family, society, workplace and church. At Corpus Christi everyone has the responsibility to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ. To help us in this responsibility we have an Evangelization Team to provide information, leadership and organization to our efforts. The Evangelization Team generally meets on the second Saturday of the month at 9:30am. Call Rev. Mr. Paul Mueller 313.537.5770 for more information.

Foundation and Goals
Our parish efforts are guided by the document Go, Make Disciples, the National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization in the United States, composed by the U.S. Bishops in 1992. Its stated goals are:

“To bring about in all Catholics such an enthusiasm for their faith that, in living their faith in Jesus, they freely share it with others.”
“To invite all people in the United States, whatever their social or cultural background, to hear the message of salvation in Jesus Christ so they may come to join us in the fullness of the Catholic Faith.”
“To foster Gospel values in our society, promoting the dignity of the human person, the importance of the family, and the common good of our society, so that our nation may continue to be transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ.”

Parish Activities to Achieve Goals
All One in Christ
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves in Christ…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:27-28)

Corpus Christi is a culturally diverse community with representation of over eighteen countries. Each even-numbered year, on the feast of Corpus Christi, the community recognizes its diversity with an anniversary celebration theme: “All One in Christ.”

Usually, the celebration takes place at the 11:00 a.m. liturgy with a focus on one or more ethnic groups. Special effects include: religious dancing, different languages, ethnic attires, and an environment that expresses cultural diversity. The celebration extends after the liturgy in sharing ethnic foods, music and information about how worship is experienced. Call Beryl Harriott 313.537.5770 for more information.

Revival
A parish revival is held on odd-numbered years, usually, Sunday through Tuesday, on the long week-end of the feast of Corpus Christi, the anniversary of the community. The revival is a renewal and conversion experience where all are welcome. A renowned and dynamic Revivalist is retained to lead the meetings which include preaching, songs and religious dancing. Usually one night is reserved for youth. Call Beryl Harriott 313.537.5770 for more information.

Parish-Wide Mini-Retreats
Corpus Christi offers a parish-wide retreat experience based on a modification of the” Living with Christ” model. Usually these retreats are offered in the fall and spring.

The purposes of the retreat: a) to draw closer to the heart of the Lord; b) to allow Christ to grow within; and c) to intentionally open our lives to the action of the Spirit.

The outcomes of the retreat include: a deeper conversion to Christ so as to live with and in Christ more fully on a daily basis.

These parish-based retreats are usually offered at the St. Gerard Center of Corpus Christi and there are space constraints. Call Beryl Harriott 313.537.5770 for more information.

Companions on the Journey
Corpus Christi Parish has an objective to: “Equip and empower active Catholics to evangelize in neighborhoods”. To achieve this objective the Evangelization Team formed Companions on the Journey in early 2009. Several monthly meetings were used to train two-person teams to visit the homes of parish members. The purposes of the visits are to:
• Improve the quality of pastoral care
• Form neighborhood small groups
• Relate the small groups to ongoing parish programs.
Concentrations of parish members were circled on a map and these “circles” have been the first areas to be visited by the two-person teams, a “companion” and a “partner.” Monthly training and home visits are on-going and we continue to seek additional companions and partners. Meetings are at 9:30am in the Rainbow Room on the second Saturdays of the month. Call Rev. Mr. Paul Mueller 313.537.5770 for more information.

Neighborhood summer programs for children
Summer program at IHM Center
Summer program at St. Gerard Center