SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 2023

9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Day concludes with 4 p.m. Mass in the church
St. John Fisher Parish
120 Summerhill Ave.
Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 2L7

The Liturgical experience: a gift of transformation

Everyday, we are continually transformed by our surroundings, i.e.  the pull of daily commitments, the people we meet, a walk reconnecting with nature, the different media we consume, etc.  Our environment and our routine rituals help give form to our lives. In the same way, our daily/weekly ritual – celebrating the Eucharist – can help sustain, transform, restore us within, as individuals, families and communities.

Faith communities, however, are experiencing the changing face of community engagement, while some share a growing concern for the size and participation of their congregations, particularly in the recent aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the number of people seeking spiritual growth, depth, and connection with God, who sometimes turn to the Church for guidance, presence and support. 

In addition to the accompaniment and ministries parishes have to offer, how can we help make the Liturgical experience become more relevant to one’s personal faith journey and daily life? What would a welcoming and spiritually nourishing environment of hospitality, music, and prayer look like?

Join us as we explore different ways in which we can help foster the transformative power of the Liturgy – how it can deepen our identity in Christ and shape a way of being in the world.

Parish Vitality:
A Timeline …

Here is an overview of Parish Vitality Conferences (and related events) over the years, including their dedicated themes and featured keynote speakers:

2014: DOORS WIDE OPEN
As part of the OEPS’ response to help develop areas of parish life following pastoral visits made by Bishop Thomas Dowd (former Episcopal Vicar to the English-speaking Faithful from 2012-2018).

Keynote: The Rebuilt team, co-founders and authors
Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran on “Making Church Matter”; from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, MD, USA.

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2016: UNLEASHING OUR GIFTS

As part of an introduction to Sherry Weddell’s Forming Intentional Disciples and the Catherine of Siena Institute’s Called and Gifted program on charisms.

Keynote: From the Catherine of Siena Institute,
Deacon Keith Strohm, former Director of Evangelization of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Illinois. 

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2018: LEADING THE WAY TOGETHER

As part of the introduction to the Divine Renovation (DR) program, focusing on leadership and parish renewal based on building missionary communities.

Keynote: From Divine Renovation, founder and author
Fr. James Mallon, former Episcopal Vicar for Parish Renewal of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Also featured: a guest panel of members from the Senior Leadership Team of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a parish piloting the DR program in Montreal.

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2019: EMERGENTSTRENGTHS, a PVC follow-up

An introduction to the Living Your Strengths (LYS) Program:

The first of a series of launches offered at both the diocesan and parish levels. Diocesan launches were held June 10 and Sept. 7. Several Montreal parishes signed up for the LYS Program as formation for their parish teams, including leadership, various ministries, and youth/young adult groups.

Facilitators: From EmergentStrengths, co-founders Barry Koen-Butt and Elizabeth Yorski Butt, Montreal natives residing in Markham, Ontario.

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2020-2023: TRANSFORMATION SERIES 

NOV. 2020: OUTWARD-BOUND: CALLED BY MY NAME,
SENT IN HIS NAME with keynote Archbishop Paul-André Durocher of Gatineau, Quebec.

JAN. 2021: TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP: LEADERSHIP WHERE IT MATTERS MOST with keynote Brett Powell, Archbishop’s Delegate for Development and Ministries in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia.

OCT. 2021: TRANSFORMING LIVES, TRANSFORMING COMMUNITIES with guest panel featuring Alessandra Santopadre (Le Pont), Brent Walker (Communitas) and Judy Wong (Catholic Action Montreal).

NOV. 2021: TRANSFORMING CATECHESIS, in collaboration with the Office for Faith Education, with keynote Dr. Anne Walsh, Director of Partnership in Mission for the Redemptorists of Canada.

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Registration  for this event
is now closed.