By Deacon Michael Eash | For On Mission
ALLOUEZ — What do you think of when you hear the words “small group?” Does it conjure up images of close friendships and sharing or did you have an awful experience that led you to say, “Never again!”
If your image is the former, then you are blessed and you will, hopefully, be open to a new experience. If your image is the latter, we hope that we might be able to convince you to give it another try.
The Evangelization and Discipleship Mission Team of the Diocese of Green Bay is working to help build up parish communities by offering small group leader training. We are also assembling a library of small group resources for parishes.
The goal is to help create opportunities for parishioners to disciple each other and to provide a space to invite friends, family and acquaintances to form a deeper relationship with Jesus.
The vision is to provide an entry path to the parish for those new to the faith and those who may have been away from the faith for a while.
We have rolled out two resources for spring 2025.
The first is a four-part video series on the Mass from the Diocese of Mobile, Ala., titled “The Mass: An Introduction.” This series is produced in conjunction with 4PM Media and includes the topics:
- Why worship on Sundays?
- Why a meal?
- Why do we worship the way that we do?
- Why does the extraordinary come to us in extraordinary ways?
A study guide is available for small group use. This series is great for inquirers about the Mass as well as lifelong Catholics.
The second resource is the book “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory” by Matthew Kelly.
The book is available free of charge to all parishes in the diocese thanks to a benefactor to the Matthew Kelly Group. The book is available in English and Spanish and there is also a children’s version. Study guides are also available for use in small groups.
We are excited to see the fruit that develops from parishes implementing discipleship-based small groups.
The mission team is already working on resources for the fall! All of this is possible through support of the Bishop’s Appeal.
Thank you to everyone who helps support the work of evangelization and missionary discipleship through your contribution.
For more information, email disciplesontheway@gbdioc.org or call 920-272-8306
Deacon Michael Eash is the Director of Evangelization and Discipleship Mission Team, Diocese of Green Bay