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SHINE Library: DVD's and books available to members

JESUS IS KNOCKING.......
WHAT’S MISSING.......?
Do you find that you’re surrounded by familiar strangers during Mass each week?
Do you feel a sense of disconnection and not belonging to the La Purisima Parish family?
Do you feel that the Church is cold and that your presence doesn’t matter?
Have you ever longed for a Christian environment where you could share your thoughts and feelings about the Lord without rejection or feeling foolish?
Have you found it difficult to focus on the Lord but know you’re being called by Him?
Do you feel like you’re alone and that you have no support to keep your religious life alive?

THE SOLUTION
In accordance with the Pastoral Plan on Evangelization and the needs of our Parish, Father Tom Cook has evaluated several re-evangelization programs including Renew. His decision was to adopt a successful retreat program called SHINE from St Louis DeMontfort parish in Santa Maria. St Louis DeMontfort adopted this successful retreat from a parish in Visalia in March of 1993. What they found was a unique blend of several retreats like Marriage Encounter, Search and Life In The Spirit folded into one powerful weekend. They discovered that God loves us as a loving father, that there is good news in a world that is filled with sin, death and suffering. They also discovered that unlike the other retreats, this one had no end to it. There is “life after” this retreat through formation of Small Christian Communities. This successful retreat began in Mexico in 1979 know as SINE (Systematic Integral New Evangelization) and has since spread across the US and Mexico. We adopted and brought this retreat “home” for the purpose of re-evangelizing, and rekindling the fire in our hearts for Jesus Christ.

The retreat is free, it takes place in our parish hall, you go home at night, and meals are provided. You only need to bring a willingness to be open to Jesus and to each other. The retreat consists of a series of presentations provided by the clergy and laity of our church. There are small group discussions that follow some of the presentations that offer a safe and non threatening environment for reflection, and expression of thoughts and feelings.

Before the weekend is over you will have an opportunity (not an obligation) to join a Small Christian Community comprised of 10 - 12 people from your retreat. The communities meet once per week and develop into a close and caring Christian family. There have been 2 retreats and 5 communities formed these past two years. To know the impact that the retreat has made on our Parish you need only ask Fr Tom. To know the impact the retreat has made on people's lives, you need only ask a parishioner that has made the weekend.

WHO TO CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION (watch for “Sign up Sundays” prior to every retreat)
Deacon Rich and Carol Stalder 805 733-2533
Pastoral Center 805 735-3068

Are you ready to listen and respond to Jesus’ invitation to salvation and new life in Him. If you say yes and commit to the weekend, please know that a special place has been set aside for you. It’s an enriching and spiritual weekend that promises to bring you the joy of Christ and the love of your brothers and sisters of La Purisima Concepcion Parish.

''The Lord’s missionary mandate includes a call to growth in faith: 'Teach them to observe all that I have commanded you' (Mt 28:20). Hence it is clear that that the first proclamation also calls for ongoing formation and maturation. […] Evangelization should stimulate a desire for this growth, so that each of us can say wholeheartedly: 'It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me' (Gal 2:20).''
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, n. 160