I have come to set the world on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! Luke 12:49
All of us yearn for a deeper encounter with Jesus Christ - and He is yearning to set us on FIRE with love! That kind of love allows us to encounter Him more deeply, to be transformed led by Him so that we can set the world ablaze and make a real difference as never before! This is the path of holiness - and it's an invitation for EVERYONE, regardless of age, season of life, or vocation.
THE LORD'S GREAT COMMISSION starts with us recognizing that we have to move from where we once were to where He is leading us: to know ourselves as He knows us and to love others as Christ loves us (what we callSPARK), to help others enter the sacramental life of the Church (what we call BLAZE), to teach others about right worship and how to live the lives for which we were meant (what we call FIRE), and to empower disciples to bring His message of mercy and encouragement out into the world (what we call WILDFIRE)!
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted. Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.
Matthew 28:16-20
Many of Saint Luke's ministries and organizations participate in the GREAT COMMISSION in different ways. That's why you'll see some of the same names under different opportunities.
The world will bless those who fear the Lord, small and great alike.Psalm 115:3
When a person first feels Jesus calling, it can make them feel as if they want to draw closer to the Lord and His Church, but in this very broken world and with all the noise and distraction, it can be a little overwhelming. Where do we find a place to belong? How do we know that we are at the right place?
Saint Luke SPARK ministries and organizations are all about providing that sense of welcoming, of encounter, and of hope. They allow new parishioners to see just how much they've been missed in the Body of Christ, encourage existing parishioners to discover how important they are to the Church, and help everyone draw closer to other opportunities to develop a deeper relationship with other Catholics and the Church as a whole.
SPARK Ministries and Organizations where you can serve are:
Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” Acts 8:26
People who are ready to join the Church (as first time Catholics) or who want to enter more deeply into the sacramental life of the Church (as they pursue other sacraments), are hungry to be taught the first truths of the Faith and need encouragement and mentorship to learn and grow. Saint Luke BLAZE opportunities work hand in hand with FIRE nights, to help people become part of the Church. BLAZE is for children pursuing a new Sacrament of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) or for older children and adults who either have never been baptized or who need preparation to enter into full communion with the Church. BLAZE opportunities include work with OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults - and kids!) as well as work with couples who are getting married.
BLAZE Ministries and Organizations where you can serve are:
Many peoples shall come and say: “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may instruct us in His ways, and we may walk in his paths. For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Isaiah 2:3
Once a person encounters Jesus' love, mercy, and joy, he or she just can't stop wanting to develop a deeper and more beautiful relationship with Him. Saint Luke's FIRE initiative (Family Involved Renewal of Evangelization) is all about allowing individuals and families to continue to fulfill that desire. FIRE nights are for EVERYONE. Whether they are really young or really young at heart, Saint Luke's dynamic faith formation helps grow the Catholic Faith as never before!
FIRE Ministries and Organizations where you can serve are:
I urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:1-3
You've been called by the Lord. You've been welcomed in, inspired to grow deeply in the Faith, granted the graces of the sacraments, formed in proper Magisterium, and... The world needs you!
We often miss the point of the Holy Mass: thinking that Jesus is calling us to come and be fed, and nothing else. But He is calling us to so much more. The sacramental life of the Church exists so that we will have what we need in order to go out and set the world ablaze! It's right there in the last words spoken to us after we receive the Lord in the Eucharist: Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life! We come to the sacraments to gain the strength, the courage, and the joy to transform the world in which we live. We're not just Catholics in the pew: We are Catholics in the world!
There are lots of important situations in our work, in our families, in our communities, and in our friendships where Jesus' great love still needs to be introduced. You know where those are. You know who needs to hear that special message of mercy and of hope, but maybe you've felt uncertain of how to do it. WILDFIRE is about having the power and the help of the Church behind you to evangelize where it's needed most! Unlike SPARK, BLAZE, and FIRE, where existing ministries and organizations are already in place, WILDFIRE is about forming NEW and CREATIVE ways to tackle problems and needs where the Church can do the most good.
WILDFIRE Ministries and Organizations where you can serve now are:
But we also want to hear about a ministry or organization you would like to form: