Instead of being just a church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a church that finds new roads, that is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend Mass, to those who have quit or are indifferent. The ones who quit sometimes do it for reasons that, if properly understood and assessed, can lead to a return. But that takes audacity and courage. – Pope Francis
We have met with so many members of the larger community around St. John, from developers and construction managers, to the schools around us, to the senior center caregivers, to the fitness instructors, to the people who live right across the street in Naples Park. Without exception, every single one of them have praised our plans for bringing persistent arts, wellness, and social activities to our Parish Family and the larger Naples community. They are all excited about it and are looking forward to contributing.
What really caught my attention this past week, however, was the massive set of families and youth that descended on our campus for Vacation Bible School. With over 400 youth, their families, and volunteers here for an entire week of fun activities, games, food, music, and spiritual enrichment, it is a week of joy here at St. John. Many of these faces are here on campus on a weekly basis, if not more frequently, but still more may not be as engaged in this parish and our faithful journey together. This may even be one of the only times they set foot on campus each year. What about this week makes them all excited to be here? How can we translate that to these families and volunteers that there is more for them at St. John, that can fulfill their needs, socially and spiritually? These are the questions we need to ask in order to grow the Parish Family and the Catholic Community in Naples. The answers are found in Father John’s vision. Our parish will have a constant set of programs that will reach all types of Catholics and non-Catholics. Every age group and various interests. A church alive and vibrant, that will draw back (and draw in) those that have stepped away from the Church as well as to introduce our community to those that have not been included before. That is the way we have these 400 children deepen their relationship with Jesus and each other and build the future of the church.
While the money has been pledged in our Build Our Future, Serve Our Past capital campaign to build our Life Center and some of our other urgent needs, we still need our entire Parish Family to give in order to reach our additional goals, including the detailed execution of the above programs. If you have any questions, please contact Joe Lichwalla, the Campaign Coordinator at 239-495-2001 or email: [email protected].
You can also learn more information about the Campaign at: www.sjecc.com/future