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January 23, 2018Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, in Northwest Houston, will begin the Lenten journey together this year with a Parish Mission, Feb. 19, 20 and 21. The theme of the mission, “Responding to the Spirit: In the Soul, In the Church and In the World” invites parishioners and friends to be led and directed by the Holy Spirit. The three days of spiritual renewal will focus on forming missionary disciples according to Pope Francis’ “Joy of the Gospel” and all are welcome.
Fr. Bruce Nieli CSP, a Paulist Missionary Priest will serve as the mission director. Fr Bruce, a dynamic preacher and teacher, has been active in evangelization traveling to all corners of the country proclaiming the Good News of Christ. He is ready to share about responding to the spirit.
“Responding to the spirit is how we deepen our commitment as Catholic Christians to follow Jesus Christ as missionary disciples and spirit-filled evangelizers according to Pope Francis’ ‘Joy of the Gospel,’” he said.
Fr. Bruce participated in the recovery and blessing of bodies at Ground Zero when the World Trade Center was attacked, he offered a healing Mass following the Oklahoma City Bombing, and extended ministry to those in shelters following Hurricanes Katrina and Harvey. Fr. Bruce also participated in welcoming and attending to the refugee children arriving in the United States fleeing gang violence and poverty in Central America.
He is the former Director of Evangelization for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and, in 2016, was invited and commissioned by Pope Francis as a Missionary of Mercy. Fr. Bruce has a great love for people and looks forward to sharing his ministry with the parish community at Christ the Redeemer.
“The parish is the family of families, the domestic church of the home,” Fr. Bruce said. “For example, in Acts 2:46-47, they met in homes breaking bread together. We have to work together as family to bring about change. Families helping families is the core of the parish.”
He will meet the community for the first time when he preaches at all the weekend Masses at Christ the Redeemer, 11507 Huffmeister Rd. Houston, TX 77065, on Feb. 17-18. During his homily he will extend a personal invitation to the people of God at Christ the Redeemer to join in these three days of parish-wide spiritual renewal during Lent.
“Lent an important season for spiritual renewal because in Lent we journey with one another following Christ in our deepest humanity,” he said. “We focus on being more like Christ.”
Each day of the Lent Parish Mission will include morning and evening sessions. The morning session is from 10 - 11:30 a.m. with a continental breakfast provided. The evening begins with a community meal from 5:30-6:45 p.m. followed by the evening session, which begins at 7 p.m. in the church.
The ministries at Christ the Redeemer are collaborating with each other to share their time and talent to make this mission a parish-wide evangelization.
“We want people to know they will be missed if we don’t see them at the mission,” said Mike Jones, mission core team member and parishioner at Christ the Redeemer.
The mission will bring the more than 6,500 families that make up Christ the Redeemer together for renewal. Although our community is large, we are one in heart and one spirit in Christ.
Everyone is welcome to join Christ the Redeemer for this time of spiritual renewal as we begin the season of Lent. For more information, visit our website at www.ctrcc.com/parishmission.
