Mentors for Reconnecting
The Treasures Mentoring Program
Developed by Good Shepherd Parish in Frankfort, Kentucky
Treasures gets its title from Matthew 13:44: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.” (NAB)
It is an approach to Evangelization that combines an evangelical thrust of hospitality activities across parish life with pairing Disconnected Catholics, Sometimes Catholics, and Returning Catholics with a team of commissioned Catholics who become their Companions as they journey from the edges of faith to the center of the Eucharist. The process includes both individual and group activities. See Chart A for a diagram of the “Big Picture” of how Treasures works and Chart B for a listing of Hospitality Activities that are options within the model. Click the following links for a more thorough description of the various hospitality activies for disoconnected Catholics, sometimes Catholics, and returning Catholics, as well as instructions on commissioning active Catholics for outreach.
When a person expresses an interest in returning to the Church, he or she is paired with a member of the Returning Catholics team. This person becomes a “Companion.” A Companion emails, calls, accompanies, literally walks and talks, helps network, helps problem solve, and generally befriends the person wishing to return. Sometimes there are three or four meetings. Sometimes there is regular contact for several months. Level of contact depends on the needs and wishes of the person returning. Two or three times a year a series of seven classes present 'treasures' of the Catholic faith. If there are not enough people to have a class, Companions discuss the concepts in the Treasures curriculum one-on-one (or two-by-two) with those wishing to return. As the program grows, those who have returned often become Companions for the next round of journeying together.
Who: Treasures targets four levels of commitment in a parish: Disconnected Catholics, Sometimes Catholics, Returning Catholics, and Commissioned Catholics. Commissioned Catholics reach out and act as Companions to the other three groups.
Cost: Treasures is a local project developed by Good Shepherd Parish in Frankfort and the Diocesan Evangelization Commission. Individual activities chosen may have costs, but the program itself is free.
Target Audience: Those who have some thread of connection with the parish, either through attending an event or worship, having a friend or relative who attend, attending sometimes, or actively seeking full, commissioned participation.
Measureable Goals:
1. Treasures moves Disconnected, Sometimes, and Returning Catholics closer to the Eucharistic center of the parish through Hospitality Activities that are an integral part of parish expressions of worship, moral life, community, and creed.
2. Treasures provides group and one-on-one companionship and instruction that helps Disconnected, Sometimes, and Returning Catholics return to full communion in the Church.
Resources & Links: Chart A gives a picture of the Treasures program. Chart B outlines suggested Hospitality Activities. A parish may begin with one or two Hospitality Activities, adding additional ones as people and needs arise. An outline of the Treasures curriculum is available here. For information about implementation, contact Fr. Charles Howell, Sr. Lenore Thomas, or Mary Ortwein at Good Shepherd Church in Frankfort, 502-227-4511. Mary, Coordinator of the Good Shepherd program, can also be reached at [email protected].
Developed by Good Shepherd Parish in Frankfort, Kentucky
Treasures gets its title from Matthew 13:44: “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys the field.” (NAB)
It is an approach to Evangelization that combines an evangelical thrust of hospitality activities across parish life with pairing Disconnected Catholics, Sometimes Catholics, and Returning Catholics with a team of commissioned Catholics who become their Companions as they journey from the edges of faith to the center of the Eucharist. The process includes both individual and group activities. See Chart A for a diagram of the “Big Picture” of how Treasures works and Chart B for a listing of Hospitality Activities that are options within the model. Click the following links for a more thorough description of the various hospitality activies for disoconnected Catholics, sometimes Catholics, and returning Catholics, as well as instructions on commissioning active Catholics for outreach.
When a person expresses an interest in returning to the Church, he or she is paired with a member of the Returning Catholics team. This person becomes a “Companion.” A Companion emails, calls, accompanies, literally walks and talks, helps network, helps problem solve, and generally befriends the person wishing to return. Sometimes there are three or four meetings. Sometimes there is regular contact for several months. Level of contact depends on the needs and wishes of the person returning. Two or three times a year a series of seven classes present 'treasures' of the Catholic faith. If there are not enough people to have a class, Companions discuss the concepts in the Treasures curriculum one-on-one (or two-by-two) with those wishing to return. As the program grows, those who have returned often become Companions for the next round of journeying together.
Who: Treasures targets four levels of commitment in a parish: Disconnected Catholics, Sometimes Catholics, Returning Catholics, and Commissioned Catholics. Commissioned Catholics reach out and act as Companions to the other three groups.
Cost: Treasures is a local project developed by Good Shepherd Parish in Frankfort and the Diocesan Evangelization Commission. Individual activities chosen may have costs, but the program itself is free.
Target Audience: Those who have some thread of connection with the parish, either through attending an event or worship, having a friend or relative who attend, attending sometimes, or actively seeking full, commissioned participation.
Measureable Goals:
1. Treasures moves Disconnected, Sometimes, and Returning Catholics closer to the Eucharistic center of the parish through Hospitality Activities that are an integral part of parish expressions of worship, moral life, community, and creed.
2. Treasures provides group and one-on-one companionship and instruction that helps Disconnected, Sometimes, and Returning Catholics return to full communion in the Church.
Resources & Links: Chart A gives a picture of the Treasures program. Chart B outlines suggested Hospitality Activities. A parish may begin with one or two Hospitality Activities, adding additional ones as people and needs arise. An outline of the Treasures curriculum is available here. For information about implementation, contact Fr. Charles Howell, Sr. Lenore Thomas, or Mary Ortwein at Good Shepherd Church in Frankfort, 502-227-4511. Mary, Coordinator of the Good Shepherd program, can also be reached at [email protected].
