The Wednesday Experience: Worship, Formation, and Community for All

“So many of the struggles in religious education in recent decades have been the product of attempting to catechize young people who have not been evangelized. Think of it this way: discipleship is best considered as mentorship in the Christian life, but we’ve been seeking to coach people in a way of life they have not chosen to live, to deepen their understanding of a worldview they have not decided to hold.” – Bishop James Powers: May 2023 Pastoral Letter

We are on the cusp of October and as a parish we are still rejoicing in all the good that God is doing in our midst. We look back with gratitude at a smooth start to the academic year at our parish school. We look back with fondness on the fellowship and fruitfulness of our Blessed Solanus Casey weekend. And we find hope in the future of our Diocesan church under the leadership of Bishop Powers as we partake through prayer and financial generosity in the transforming work of Christ through our Catholic Services Appeal (CSA).

These are exciting times at Saint Patrick Parish.

Another exciting bit of news that has been shared with many parish families but perhaps not all in recent weeks are the changes coming to our religious education offered on Wednesday nights.

The schedule, emphasis, and reach of what we offer on Wednesdays are undergoing some significant changes. First, our Wednesday parish Mass is moving from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. This is a change that begins this coming Wednesday, October 1^st and will continue moving forward. Beginning on Wednesday, October 15^th, the Mass will be an opportunity for our youth and other parishioners who perhaps can not make it to a morning daily Mass to encounter the Lord in worship and community. Second, our director of worship Sari Althoff is starting a youth choir to cultivate young voices who can lead us in music that supports our celebration of the Mass. The choir will practice most Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and will sing once a month at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass. 

Lastly, after the Mass we will have opportunities for large group formation and activities as well as small group time and a concluding experience of communal prayer. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available as has been the case on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and throughout the evening upon request. The Youth and Family Discipleship team will continue with their focus on middle school and high school youth. All members of the family are welcomed to participate in The Wednesday Experience by taking time for reconciliation, Mass, large group formation, and Eucharistic Adoration.

Our hope is that The Wednesday Experience will be a place to grow as a disciple of Jesus through real conversations, prayer, and the sacraments—while building a close community in small groups that can feel like family. We look forward to this change and seeing how more of our parishioners – young and old – can build upon their experience of God on Sunday and find more ways to integrate their faith during the week.

Gracias a Dios.

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