Small Christian Communities

Why Small Christian Communities?

Small Christian Communities (SCC) are a way of being church to each other, not just on Sunday but every day. This is not a new concept: early Christians met in small groups in each other's homes to share faith and break bread.

"Where two or three come together in my name, I am there with them." Matthew 18:20

Development of small Christian communities is part of the overall pastoral direction set by the Pastoral Council and the Pastoral Staff. This direction envisions Good Shepherd parish as a "community of small communities," centered in the Eucharist and committed to ministry.

The move towards small Christian communities grew out of dramatic increase in the number of families at Good Shepherd parish during the late 1980's. From a small church community, where most families seemed to know each other, the parish grew to over 1,200 families (and now exceeds 2,900 families).

A group of parishioners, along with pastor Fr. Michael Foley, began to study how other parishes were meeting the challenge of creating a truly supportive community of service with such a large church membership. Following a Parish Vision Retreat and many months of meetings with parishioners, the first SCC groups were formed.

Today, numerous SCC exist at Good Shepherd, gathering parishioners together to share faith and support each other.

Unlike a small group, Small Christian Communities usually emphasize social change by the power of Christ's gospel. SCC is focused on "Christians coming together for prayer, Scripture reading, catechesis and discussion on human and ecclesial problems with a view to a common commitment. These communities are a sign of vitality within the Church, an instrument of formation and evangelization, and a solid starting point for a new society based on 'civilization of love.'" (Pope John Paul II)

Life in a SCC is simply our baptismal brotherhood and sisterhood lived out practically with a few people. Together, we share God's word, the Eucharist, prayer, our posessions, our gifts, time and meals. In an SCC, we share daily life by sharing:

• Prayer - the element of prayer emphasizes the centrality of God's presence and action in each small Christian community member's life, and in the life of the community itself.
• Sharing - sharing means talking freely about God and about life experiences and reflecting on these in the light of Scripture and Tradition.
• Mutual Support - in a society in which Gospel values are all to frequently ridiculed and rejected, the follower of Christ needs a community which is supportive of these values. The SCC encourages fidelity to the Gospel and also challenges itself and its members to a more profound and authentic commitment to Christian living.
• Learning - because SCC are part of the wider Church, they are called to an ever-fuller knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, the Catholic Church and its teaching on faith and morals, and of the relationship of that teaching to the circumstances and issues of their lives.
• Mission - authentic Christian communities are, like Jesus, commited to a life of mission or service. As a group and through its individual members, the community will work for the compassion, justice, reconciliation and peace within the group, in the family, in the workplace, in the neighborhood and within the wider society.

There are basically three types of SCC, which can be found at Good Shepherd parish:

1. Seasonal Groups - groups of 8-12 people who meet seasonally. The schedule is six weeks and new groups are formed prior to Lent (early Spring) and prior to Advent (early Fall).
2. Ministerial Communities - groups of 5-12 people who meet to share faith and support each other in their chosen ministry (e.g. Pastoral Council, Worship Core Community, etc.). These communities typically stay together for 2-3 years, depending on the ministry commitment.
3. Small Church Communities - groups of 8-12 people who meet to share faith and support each other in living out the Gospel values in every aspect of their lives. Each group incorporates the elements of prayer, faith sharing, mutual support and mission. These may last indefinitely, though the group may spin off subgroups as it grows. Groups usually meet twice a month in each other's homes, but groups can meet more frequently and in other locations.

Registering for FORMED is FREE to Good Shepherd Parishioners and is easier than ever:

1. Go to formed.org/signup
2. Select your parish (if you type in “32309” you will see our name/address in drop down menu)
3. Register with your name and email address
4. Check your email account for a link to begin using FORMED

Access to FORMED gives parish members 24/7 access on the web using your computer, tablet, or smart phone to entertaining, interesting, and educational Catholic specific content such as videos, audios, books, Bible studies, and programs for all ages!