Book extract
A parish, by nature, is missionary. It opens out. It does not fold in upon itself. Jesus sent his disciples: ‘‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation’’ (Mark 16:15). A parish is expected to look out in a dynamic way for what it can do for Christ.
It does not settle down to a type of ordinary management, pastoral activity, to a type of “business as usual” method. Rather, it is called to launch out into the deep. There are in most parishes people who have not yet been reached with the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ in a way that changes their lives.
