ARCHDIOCESAN SYNOD

SYNOD EVANGELIZATION TEAM AT SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST IN JORDAN

  • Father Neil (Pastor)

  • Mitch Dorr (School Principal)

  • Tina Goetz (Director of Religious Education)

  • Karen Kreuser (Trustee)

  • Luke Jenkins

  • Mark Lewis

  • Shannon Kolar

  • Karen Umphress

Contact the SET by emailing us at set@sjbjordan.org.

WHAT IS A SYNOD EVANGELIZATION TEAM?

The parish Synod Evangelization Team is to be the catalyst within the parish for renewed discipleship, fruitful evangelization, and assisting the pastor in evangelistically implementing the Synod Priorities that will be given in Archbishop Hebda's pastoral letter.

The team works in close collaboration with the Parish Pastoral Council, parish staff and other parish leadership, but has the unique purpose of building missionary disciples within the parish, not only for Synod implementation, but also to fuel a vigorous proclamation of the Good News beyond the parish.

Presently, the SET team at Saint John’s is going through the 7 week School of Discipleship program presented by the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute. After this, in June, we will embark on our “Year 1 Priorities” (see below).

Parish Synod Formation Day, April 2023

If you are a member of your parish’s Synod Evangelization Team and did not attend Parish Staff Synod Formation Day 2023, please be sure to watch the videos below prior to your Small Group Visioning Day.

 
 

Videos from Clergy Study Day, April 2023

 
 
 
 
 
 

SCHOOL OF DISCIPLESHIP

The Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute invites you to a 7-part experience unlike any other that will not only teach the basics of discipleship but will provide an ongoing initiative to put what you learn into practice! Led by Jeff Cavins, Catechetical Institute instructor and former director, this course is not just a teaching, not merely a class— but an experience! Jeff will help you create the life you've been longing for as a modern-day disciple. If you've ever wondered what it was like to be a disciple 2,000 years ago.

Tuesday, Feb 7 — Fan or Follower?

 
 

Tuesday, Feb 14 — Imitating God

 
 

Tuesday, Feb 28 — Who's Choosing Whom?

 
 

Tuesday, March 7 — Going All In

 
 

Tuesday, Mar 14 — Study, Prayer & Faith

 
 

Tuesday, Mar 21 — Cup of Keurig-ma

 
 

Tuesday, Mar 28 — Covered in the Dust of My Rabbi

 
 

SYNOD PRIORITIES

Year 1 Priority (June 2023 - June 2024) - Small Groups

Proposition 19  

Create or grow a small group ministry at every parish that fosters personal relationships, builds community and provides formation to help parishioners grow as joyful missionary disciples of Christ. 

Goals corresponding to the Upper Room Mysteries: 

  • Foot-washing: establish one or more small groups that reach the marginalized and the poor  

  • Eucharist: use newly formed small groups in spring 2024 as a vehicle for teaching about the “beauty, form and meaning of the Mass” (Proposition 9) 

  • Pentecost:   

    • Praying in the Spirit – create small groups that can offer a prayer ministry for those in need 

    • ‘Going forth’ in the Spirit – create small groups that are in the service of evangelization (see Proposition 15) 

Saint John the Baptist in Jordan has many opportunities for parishioners to get involved in parish small groups. Currently, we have the following small-groups:

If you have suggestions on what other small groups you may be interested in starting here at Saint John’s, feel free to email the Synod Evangelization Team at set@sjbjordan.org.

Year 2 Priority (July 2024 - June 2025) - The Mass

Proposition 9 Education for the Mass:

Educate God’s people on the beauty, form and meaning of the Mass, with special emphasis on the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

Proposition 10 Reverent Liturgies with Active Participation:

Celebrate prayerful liturgies that inspire the faithful to offer their very selves in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass.

Goals corresponding to the Upper Room Mysteries: 

  • Foot-washing: work to show radical hospitality before and after the Sunday Mass especially to the newcomer, the disconnected and the stranger

  • Eucharist: formulate a plan for educating about the Mass and for celebrating beautiful liturgies with active participation 

  • Pentecost: help the faithful to live Sunday not only as the day of the Eucharist but also as the day of fire60  

    • Praying in the Spirit – introduce some expression of Pentecost on Sunday (e.g., small group prayer ministry before or after Mass, praise and worship)

    • ‘Going forth’ in the Spirit – plan an “easy entry” event, perhaps even off church property, with the hope of building a bridge to the Sacraments for those presently outside of parish life (see Proposition 3). 

Year 3 Priority (July 2025 - June 2026) - Parents as primary educators

roposition 28

Form and inspire parents to understand and fulfill their responsibility as the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith.

Goals corresponding to the Upper Room Mysteries: 

  • Foot-washing: equip parents with the resources to teach the faith in the home

  • Eucharist: help families to prepare together for the Sunday Eucharist and to reclaim Sunday as a day of worship, fruitful leisure, and solidarity with others (see Proposition 23)

  • Pentecost:   

    • Praying in the Spirit – teach parents how to make their home a “school of prayer,” with special attention to the gifts of the Holy Spirit in each child (see Proposition 31)

    • ‘Going forth’ in the Spirit – encourage and assist parents to find ways of going forth to share the faith that involve their children