In our introductory “Carrying on our Mission” post, we shared some details of recent work by our parish leadership team, intended to bring clarity of our purpose to everyone engaged in Holy Family Parish. A key part of this was to consider these six important questions:
- Why do we exist?
- How do we behave?
- What do we do?
- How will we succeed?
- What is most important right now?
- Who does what?
Over the next 6 weeks, we will present and explain this work and our answers to these “clarity questions”, beginning with…
QUESTION 1: Why do we exist?
We might conclude that we exist to feed the hungry, help the needy, and bring hope to those living in despair. Activities like this are very dear to our hearts and are among the many outcomes of living as followers of Christ. Despite their importance however – they are not our reason for existing.
To accurately answer the question, we need to look beyond the many functions, activities and outcomes of our church – and go all the way back to its origin.
A young man approached Jesus and asked Him: “Teacher, which is the great commandment?” Jesus said to them: ‘You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” Mt. 22:36-40. Jesus then gave the early church The Great Commission to “go and make disciples”, to “baptize and to teach others.” Mt. 28: 19-20.
The true origin of this mission is divine, from the Father in heaven, given to us by Jesus, to be carried out by all those who follow Him, including you and I – the Church!, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.” John 6:38.
Therefore, we can say with confidence, conviction, and complete clarity – the reason we exist as a Church is: to love God, love others, and make disciples to fulfill the mission of Jesus.
