Now it is time to make a list and decide what we will take with us on this exciting venture.  St. Luke Union Church has taken stock of its religious heritage, its roots, and is checking out what core values are grounded in the teachings of Christ and have stood the test of time.  We are examining which we will pack up and take with us and which we leave behind.

As with any trip, it's necessary to check the list to see that everything is in order as we prepare to leave.  We look around at where we are.  We look at ourselves.  We see that there are forces and circumstances that will be affecting our trip.  If we were going to the North Pole or headed to the tropics, the weather would be a factor.  A lengthy journey would require adequate time to travel and a sound vehicle with space for our passengers and luggage would be needed.  

In our discernment journey we find that the climate of society, the force of man-made pressures and stresses, time or lack of it, and priorities affect our journey and relationship with our church.

We currently are addressing the forces of our culture that are shaping St. Luke Union Church.  The Profile Panel has scheduled cluster meetings for the purpose of discussing these issues in an informal, relaxed and non-threatening atmosphere.  The meeting times and dates are varied to fit in with busy schedules, making it easy for you to participate. 

We encourage you to come to one of these gatherings and share thoughts with your church friends.  We are convinced you will come away with fresh insights and a new sense of community.

This article is used with permission from the August 2000 issue of New Directions, a monthly publication of St. Luke Union Church, Bloomington, IL, the Rev. Dr. Mark L. Hamner, Pastor.  Visit their website at www.stlukeunion.org. 

by Sandra Chmielewski

"We are a young parish in an old Church. Nevertheless, we are called to do some of the very things the first members of the Church did--and one of those is to seek together what is God's vision for us as a church." (Fr. Tim Power, Pastor)

Pax Christi is beginning a parish visioning process that will take us into the next millennium. In discerning a vision for the Pax Christi community, together we are trying to understand what God wants us to do. We gain understanding through prayer, listening, study, questioning and discussion within our community. It is our hope that through the process we will encounter Jesus and be transformed into more faithful participation in the activities of God.

The visioning process is designed to engage the entire Pax Christi Catholic Community. The commitment and support of the community--from the start and every step of the way--is essential for success. Members will be provided with multiple opportunities to pray, reflect, discuss, study, and analyze; invitations to participate and information about the process will be announced as each phase unfolds.

Phase Two--Building a Profile--is under way and will continue through the summer (i.e., 1999, editor's note). In order for the visioning process to achieve its goals, four panels of community members will gather and analyze information and then provide opportunities for the community to react to this information. 

The four panels will profile religious heritage, context, community and organizational analysis. Although these areas are interdependent and interrelated, each panel will focus upon important aspects of the life and mission of Pax Christi.

The community will be invited to participate in data gathering in each of these areas through activities such as focus groups, interviews, prayer groups, discussion groups, etc. Some opportunities will take place before and after weekend Masses.