“Our group shared the good news coming alive through the witnessing of each member who gladly shared their experiences of how God helped them in their hour of need and the mysterious ways in which God answered their prayers.”

That’s how Mona Braza, a member of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Vallejo, described her faith-sharing group at St. Catherine, formed during Lent last year as part of the Disciples in Mission evangelization process now beginning its second year in the diocese.

More than 30 parishes in the diocese will conduct faith-sharing groups during Lent this year and thousands of parishioners signed up at their parishes during February to participate, according to Mercy Sister Susan McCarthy, director of evangelization for the diocese.

Disciples in Mission is a process to implement the U.S. bishops’ document, “Go and Make Disciples,” in parishes throughout the country.

The process focuses on energizing parishes through small group sharing of Sunday Scripture readings during Lent and creating a more welcoming atmosphere at Sunday liturgies together with activities for teens, families and multicultural evangelization efforts. Bulletin inserts are also provided to explain evangelization.

The goal of the process is to instill in parishioners an enthusiasm for their faith that will be communicated to family, friends and co-workers, according to Sister McCarthy.

Thirty parishes participated in Disciples in Mission last year. Four more parishes are beginning their first year in Lent: Immaculate Conception, Sutter Creek; St. Patrick, Jackson; Sacred Heart, Ione; and Holy Family, Citrus Heights.

Parishes that participated in 2002 were: St. John, Dunsmuir; St. Anthony, Mount Shasta; Holy Family, Weed; St. Joseph, Yreka; Immaculate Conception, Corning; St. Thomas the Apostle, Oroville; St. Thomas More, Paradise; St. Isidore, Yuba City; Sacred Heart, Susanville; St. Patrick, Placerville; St. James, Davis; St. Peter, Dixon; St. Anthony, Winters; St. Dominic, Benicia; Holy Spirit and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Fairfield; St. Joseph and St. Mary, Vacaville; St. Catherine of Siena, Vallejo; St. Rose, Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, Immaculate Conception, Sacred Heart, St. Anthony, St. Philomene and St. Mary, Sacramento; St. John the Evangelist, Carmichael; St. John Vianney, Rancho Cordova; Vietnamese Catholic Martyrs, Sacramento; and St. Joseph, Lincoln.

Last year more than 5,000 parishioners participated in small faith-sharing groups, Sister McCarthy said.

At the conclusion of last year’s Easter season, 25 of the participating parishes evaluated their experience with Disciples in Mission and faith-sharing groups in particular. Their findings included the following:

• 90 percent of small group participants said their overall experience was either very good or excellent;

• 88 percent indicated that being in a small group either somewhat or very much encouraged them to pray regularly;

• 83 percent said being in a small group either somewhat or very much encouraged them to read the Sunday Scriptures before going to Mass;

• 83 percent said being in a small group encouraged them to continue meeting after Lent and 83 percent said participating in a small group increased their ability to share their faith.

For more information about Disciples in Mission, contact your local parish or call the diocesan Office of Evangelization at (916) 733-0153.

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