If you want to become a thriving, apostolic parish, a good place to start is by inviting the baptized to immerse themselves in the ideas and language of a baptized people on mission to share the Good News.

Starting Conversations is an easy way to begin doing that within your diocesan or parish leadership teams. This series of ten short, provocative essays on parish evangelization is designed to challenge assumptions and spark creative conversation. Each essay is just two pages (and under 1,000 words), making them easy to read before or at the beginning of a meeting, refreshing leaders in evangelical language and ideas. The questions accompanying each essay are designed to generate 10 to 15 minutes of reaction, reflection and application discussion. Then: move on to your scheduled meeting, reminded of your core mission language!

Parish leaders may or may not agree with the ideas and proposals raised in each essay—and that’s okay: the point is to reframe thinking and conversation around what it means for your parish or diocese to prioritize Jesus’ call to go and make disciples.

So what are the topics?

You can see that some of these articles are designed to spur conversation on topics that matter. Reaction and conversation is the key here–using the mission language, valuing evangelization as a norm, and having honest conversation where the parish can go.

You can preview the articles and purchase Starting Conversations for your staff, committee, council, or team below. May God bless your growth and tell us what you think!