GUIDING PRINCIPLES

How does this principle ring true for me as an individual?
How does this principle guide the ministries in which I am involved?
What do I/we need to do to better understand and embrace this philosophy?

Guiding Principle - Committed Belonging - "Abide in me as I abide in you... Remain in my love... Love one another as I love you." (John 15)
As members of the St. Raphael faith community, we respond to Christ's invitation to dwell with him in a community of love and respect. We are disciples gathered around the person of Jesus, empowered by his Spirit,drawn into a circle of committed concern. We embrace our responsibility to maintain an authentic relationship with God, with each other, and with all creation. We pledge our full, conscious and active participation in the life of the Church through prayer and worship, spiritual formation and education in faith, and outreach to those in need, by using the gifts we have received from God to carry out the mission Christ entrusts to us.

Guiding Principle - Life-Long Formation - "Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 3: 18)
Through the circumstances and events of our lives, God offers us the gift of faith and illumines our path with Christ's light. At Baptism, we are called to respond continually to Jesus' invitation, "Come, follow me." Our longing to grow, strengthen, and deepen our relationship with God is a gift of grace. Our response is a journey of on-going conversion as we deepen our relationship with Jesus-learning to think like Jesus, make decisions like Him, and live as he lived. We dedicate ourselves to continual formation in faith, willing to be led where the Spirit directs us. We are called to believe in truths that the eye has not fully seen nor ear fully heard. We listen, we study, we ontemplate, we pray, we celebrate, and we share with one another, so that we may grow in knowledge and understanding of our faith. As disciples, we embrace the call to witness the love of God to our family, our community, our workplace and the world..

Guiding Principle - Shared Wisdom -"It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and of us...." (Jerusalem Council, Acts 15:28)
Shared wisdom, in collaboration and through prayerful discernment, has long been a principle of the St. Raphael faith community. We recognize that all are called through baptism to holiness and ministry. All are given gifts and charisms to be used in ministry and service. Together we are responsible to empower each person for the mission of the church. We are mindful of our scriptural and traditional history. Our Catholic tradition has long recognized the wisdom of the Holy Spirit both in the people ("sensus fidelium"), and in the bishops ("magisterium") in discerning the needs of the Church. We commit ourselves to work together through a council, commissions, and various ministries for the sake of the people. We work communally, making decisions intentionally by consensus. We keep in mind the vision, mission, guiding principles and goals of the parish. Because God speaks to and through all people, the wisdom of the Spirit guides this discerning community to make decisions that are rooted in listening to the divine presence within each member.

Guiding Principle-Unifying Dialogue - "You will have peace by being united in me" (Jesus' Farewell Discourse, John 16:33).
Living in a society with a pluralistic culture, we are a community of diversely gifted people blessed with a broad range of ideas, experience and expressions of the Catholic faith.Vatican II challenges each of us to take responsibility for the Gospel's mission for the Church. As we deepen our understanding of the mission we become better informed about what the Church is called to be.We encourage broader collaboration through thoughtful, open debate with all people of faith leading to nspired pastoral initiatives that serve the common good.A companion principle to shared wisdom unifying dialogue promotes communication, consensus building, assimilation, and participation by more people. In dialogue we deliberately raise up different points of view to enlighten one another through honest listening and discussion.While preserving mutual tolerance, respect, and charity, we discern the movement of the Spirit toward common ground, solidarity, and a deepened commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ.

Guiding Principle - Prophetic Community - "Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?" (Matthew 7:22)
The faith community of St. Raphael is formed to be an agent of God's reign "on earth as in heaven". We are in ongoing discernment of divine inspiration revealed in Scripture and Tradition, in the experience of our people and the works of our community, in the universal church and in the world. Alert to the "signs of the times" we interpret them in light of the gospel's call to discipleship and faithfully uncover the presence and movement of the Spirit of God. Rooted in the living traditions handed down by God's people we cultivate innovative ways to live our faith and form leaders so as to accomplish God's will in our day. Sent forth as bearers of Christ's message we challenge systems, actions and people that hinder the growth of God's kingdom in our midst. Like Christ, we are willing to risk suffering to achieve God's purpose.