February 2025: Moving Toward Our Parish Discipleship Goal

In April and May of 2024, Fr. Jerry identified a key strategic goal for our parish: By 2027, we will identify and double the number of missionary disciples in our parish who are discipling at least two others.   Below is one of the steps the parish has outlined toward how we will work to achieve that goal.

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At the end of Mark’s gospel, Jesus sends his apostles to,

“Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them it the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 28:19) 

With in this great command I find two questions: 

• What is a disciple? 

• What is the identity of the one who makes disciples? 

These are questions that we need to ask ourselves in light of the Bishop’s goal of calling forth and forming 1,000 missionary disciples who will disciple two others, and for my goal for the parish to identify and double the number of missionary disciples in our parish who are discipling at least two others.

Bishop Ricken describes a disciple as an apprentice in faith to the master, Jesus Christ. A disciple is a friend and follower of Jesus who has discovered Jesus and chooses to follow Jesus, worship Jesus, and share Jesus. 

He describes a missionary disciple as one who emphasizes the importance of following and sharing Jesus with others and inspires, equips, and forms others to be disciples and disciple makers. They introduce others to Jesus. They accompany others on the way. They invite and accompany others to Sunday Worship and the Sacraments. 

In Bishop Ricken’s document entitled “Disciples on the Way,” he included information about the Ten Habits of Discipleship, and what each habit looks like for a disciple and a missionary disciple. 

I would invite you to reflect on that document and consider which of these characteristics we find in our lives and which might be lacking. Which of them we might be weak at and which strong. I share this with you to help you discover where you are and where God is calling you to grow.

I also share this with you to help you participate in both the Bishop’s goal and our parish goal. On the weekends of Feb. 8-9 and 15-16, I will once again be sharing these characteristics with you.

On the weekends of Feb. 22-23 and Mar. 1-2, you will be invited to take a discipleship survey. It will help us build a broad picture of the spiritual needs of the parish, assess our progress toward our goal, and allow us to tailor our offerings to meet parishioner’s needs.


Thank you for all that you do to help others live the Gospel, encounter Jesus in the eucharist and bring others to Christ.

Peace, Fr. Jerry