OUR ST. BRIGID PARISH IDENTITY (LOGO)

In the new logo of St. Brigid Parish, the circle and the cross come together as one symbol. These two universal icons signify our Christian belief in eternal life with God. This representation also respects the heritage of our two parish churches with the round circle connecting us to the well-known image of Our Lady of Humility at OLH Church, and the natural wooden cross at St. Patrick Church. The colors are fresh and modern, yet timeless and natural. They might also reflect the shades of blue and green of the patrons of our individual churches of Our Lady of Humility and St. Patrick.

The image of the cross in the center of the logo reflects the primary symbol associated with the cross of St. Brigid of Kildare, Ireland. Woven by her from the green rushes that formed the “carpet” on the floor of a chieftain’s house as he lay dying, she explained the life and death of Jesus. When he listened to her story, he asked to be baptized before he died. We too, are called to lead people to Jesus.

Our mission, given by the Master, is to spread the Good News to all the world. HOW we do that is by being witnesses to our faith in the way we live, what we say, and what we do. This is expressed in the textual words of our logo, which also reflect the themes of Renew My Church: Come and See, Follow, Remain in Me, Go and Make Disciples.

EVANGELIZATION – by virtue of our Baptism, we are called to invite others to discover or grow in their relationship with Christ. Just like St. Brigid and many other saints, we share through our words and actions, all the time. This leads others to Come and See.

SACRAMENTS - are the very heart of our relationship with God. The more we experience these direct encounters with our Lord, the more we are moved to Follow him more closely. As followers, we are not just “fans,” but true disciples.

COMMUNITY - As human beings, we have a need to belong, and to know that we are accepted. This can be a starting point for participation in parish life, even well before specific faith-related activities. Then that bond of friendship and spiritual family can lead to developing a stronger bond with Christ, and understanding of his invitation to Remain in Me.

CHARITY - When we have charity, we have love. And this love fills us up, spills over, and needs to be shared with others in the very many ways that our parish is present and active. In gratitude, we give of ourselves, and are energized to care for those in need, and to Go and Make Disciples in the world around us.

Each of us can relate better to one or more of these words and phrases that lead us to be a Christ-centered community. Our situation in life affects which of these concepts take priority, and that can change even daily. By seeing these words on a regular basis in our logo , we can form a stronger foundation and identity of who we are as Catholics and as a parish family.

COMMUNITY

Summertime - filled with festivals, parades, farmers markets, picnics, etc. These are all things that reflect who we are as family, or as a community. We have a sense of belonging, of inclusion, of unity. To put it in Christian terms, as a community, we care about one another, we serve and we share, we identify with others, and we are building up the kingdom of God.

How is the concept of community present to you and your family in parish life?

• Do you simply “go to church” on weekends when it is convenient, or are you a registered parishioner which can give you a sense of belonging and identity? When you register, it also gives the parish a way to welcome you, to know you by name, and to be able to connect with you. Registering in the parish is your commitment to practice your faith. It also is a chance for you and your family to be counted and heard in the parish. It also helps us in planning for the needs of the parish. Registration forms are available at the back of each church or through the parish website.
• Do you continue to stay involved in learning more and growing deeper in your faith life? There are many ways to do that as an individual or in your family life. Most people who participate in our various Bible Studies or discussion groups or parish events, discover that they meet new people, gain new insights, and again find a new way of belonging, which strengthens their commitment to their faith. If you have children K-8 who do not attend Catholic school, have you registered them for Religious Education classes? That is another level of community for your kids to discover that sense of belonging, as well as for you as their parents. Through the graces of community and service, we belong first to Christ and secondly to one another.
• Now back to those summer festivities!! Do you have our parish outdoor Mass and Picnic on your calendar? We will come together on Sunday, August 11 at the OLH grotto at 11:00 AM to worship and share the Eucharist as well as picnic food, games, fun, and fellowship. Come and be the St. Brigid Community!

SACRAMENTS

Jesus gave us the Sacraments to call us to worship God, to build up the Church, to deepen our faith, to show us how to pray, to connect us with the living Tradition of the Church, and to sanctify us for eternal life. Yeah...the sacraments do ALL those things! They are at the very center of our Catholic faith life, and therefore must also be central to our life as a parish. This is why the word Sacraments is included in the “tag line” of our St. Brigid parish logo, along with Community, Charity, and Evangelization. These elements are foundational to our identity.

Here is a quick summary of the 7 Catholic Sacraments:

• The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.
• The Sacraments of Healing are Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick.
• The Sacraments of Service are Holy Orders and Matrimony.

In the interest of space, let’s focus on the Sacraments of Initiation in the context of parish life:

As Christian Catholics, we share a lifetime journey of continued learning about the Scriptures, Sacraments, teachings of the Church, and taking an active part in serving Christ and the Church’s mission to build up the Kingdom of God here on earth. This is what our ministries are all about. What we do as a parish should always be rooted in our Baptismal calling. And Eucharist is the ongoing nourishment that we need to follow God’s plan for our lives.

Think about the Baptisms you’ve seen, or all the First Holy Communions throughout the Easter Season last year. It is not only that person that is changed or has taken the next step in their faith, but all of us are challenged to recognize how we too have become different because of this new life in the community. How were/are you inspired? Have you thought lately about how Confirmation gives us the grace and strength we need to be both a disciple (follower) and witness to Christ? How are you stepping out in this role?

Lastly, an INVITATION! Are you or your children or someone you know ready to learn more about becoming Catholic or completing the Sacraments of Initiation? Sessions for all of the following are offered, with most beginning this month. Please contact the parish office as soon as possible:

• School age children/teens interested in Baptism meet on most Sunday mornings at OLH after 9:30 Mass, with the intent to be fully initiated at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Patrick in April.
• Children/teens who missed the traditional reception of Holy Communion will meet on selected Thursday evenings to be prepared for their First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.
• Adults interested in being baptized or have never made their First Holy Communion meet on most Monday evenings throughout the school year.
• Adults who have made their First Communion and wish to complete their Confirmation can participate in an 8-week program at another Lake County parish. Offered 3 times a year.
• Children under the age of 7 can be baptized anytime throughout the year, after parents attend a Baptismal preparation class.

Come and feel the joy of a sacramental life!

EVANGELIZATION

This is sometimes a scary word for Catholics. But it is not anything new; Jesus was the first evangelist, and the writers of the Gospels are called evangelists. The Vatican letter Evangelization of the Modern World (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 1975) has been called “the greatest pastoral document that has ever been written” precisely because it is focused on the most central reality, on what is essential in the life and mission of the Church: “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize…” (EN, 2). In other words, it was the impetus for Catholics to get their faith outside of themselves and to share it with others. A lot has changed since 1975, yet the need to witness to our faith is just as relevant today as we face the challenges of living in a world of rampant secularism, materialism, individualism, and atheism.

Many Christians today do not prioritize their faith with the same level of commitment as other obligations or their leisure time. As a Church, it is essential that we offer active opportunities for people of all ages to understand and dialogue with the teachings of the Church, and to learn how to integrate the teachings into their lives. If not, other voices and forces within the secular world will continue to influence them to believe and act outside of the faith. We must ask the difficult questions, call one another to deeper conversion, and remind ourselves to put Christ at the center of all that we say and do as a Church, as a society, and as individuals. When we forget this central reality we fall into the danger of either moralism or social work.

See the “St. Brigid Identity” on our website for links with more information on this topic. For now, here are a couple of easy action items:

• Spread your OWN good news, your personal story of how Jesus Christ has had an effect on your life. Here is a simple example: Tell someone why you go to Mass. Perhaps it gives you peace, and carries you through the whole week. Or maybe you have a story of how an addiction, or reluctance to forgive someone, was finally conquered when you gave it to God.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBbRm5C2GcI Watch this 5-minute video that makes it very easy to relate to evangelization as a Catholic. It does not include standing on street corners yelling “Repent!”

CHARITY

Jesus said the First Commandment is to love God, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Mt 22:37-40) In Jesus, God and man have become one. Human-love and God-love are now inseparable forever.

Christian charity is the highest form of love, and the foundation of all we believe, starting with God’s eternal love for each one of us. This is the Good News that we are called to go out and share with all the world. Some of us remember the old song “They’ll Know we are Christians by our Love…” This virtue is essential to our identity as Christian Catholics, and to our parish identity as a community of believers in the real world.

To experience charity is to know God. It’s not just something we say or believe, it is something we do. Especially at this time of year with Thanksgiving and family gatherings, there are many opportunities.

• Do you want to have a stronger sense of God’s loving presence and goodness? Then commit to serving someone today and this week. Bring some donations for the food pantry, spend some time with a neighbor or relative who needs companionship….and know you are doing it because it is the love of Jesus being made present through your actions.
• How we treat our fellow human beings is inseparable from our faith in God. Don’t wait for the love for God to appear in your heart before loving others. Is there someone who God is asking you to forgive? Charity is the selfless love one has for their fellow humans. Jesus never said it would be easy, but He gave us the example of his own sacrificial love as a human being. Pray about it. And know that we’ll have an Advent Reconciliation Service where you can find the strength and courage you need.