Parishes develop joint mission to set over 600 souls on fire

By Laura Iunghuhn for The Catholic Moment

The large-scale change in organization and distribution of duties called for by Uniting in Heart
has brought many challenges to the parishes across the dioceses. However, most have met the
plan head-on and used its momentum to teach, learn, and spread the Gospel in new and
accessible ways. With Uniting in Heart’s three pillars of Mission, Community, and Witness in
mind, St. Louis de Montfort in Fishers and St. Elizabeth Seton in Carmel have formed a
partnership to set souls and hearts on fire with God’s word.

Mission

The first pillar of Uniting in Heart calls us to missionary discipleship. Jesus calls us each to a
personal relationship with him through the Church, sacraments, and the Gospel. Part of our role
as disciples is inviting others within our parishes, pastorates, and beyond to encounter Christ.

St. Louis de Montfort (SLDM) and St. Elizabeth Seton have collaborated to bring The Rescue
Project to both parishes. The Rescue Project is a gospel-teaching experience developed by the
ACTS XXIX team. ACTS XXIX is a Catholic apostolate founded in Detroit, Michigan, in 2019.
Directed by Fr. John Riccardo, the team works to “renew and transform the Church” through
various missions, including The Rescue Project.

The program has been developed because many believe today’s world is “messed up.” “It is
ACTS’ conviction that most people have not been overwhelmed by the Gospel message,” says
Brian Freyberger, Director of Evangelization at SLDM. “In many cases, we haven’t really
internalized what God has done for us.” The program aims to present the Gospel anew, keeping
current worldviews in mind, so that attendees may reawaken to the hope that is found in God’s
love.

Community

Uniting in Heart’s second pillar encourages and builds a vibrant parish. Renewed efforts in
developing opportunities and education in Religious Education and Adult Faith Formation
increase involvement and excites parishioners about their faith. Through their partnership,
SLDM and Seton are giving over 600 people a new and exciting way to engage with their faith.

Brian is overseeing the program there while also coordinating with the faith formation staff and
various parish ministries and partnering with the Seton Team. Jeff Hess, a parishioner at Seton, is
leading a team of volunteers to make sure the program goes off without a hitch at his parish as
well. Together, they and many volunteers are working to ensure that The Rescue Project is a
rewarding experience for all. “We hope our people are overwhelmed by this message such that
they are willing to truly surrender their lives to Jesus Christ,” Brian says.

The Rescue Project will be presented to parishioners at SLDM and Seton for free over seven
weekly meetings. Each session will begin with dinner served in an inviting atmosphere, complete
with decorations and music. Following dinner, parishioners will watch an episode of The Rescue
Project video series and then participate in small-group discussions or self-reflection. There will,
of course, be time for prayer. Sessions at SLDM began on Monday, September 26, and at Seton
on Tuesday, September 27. “We have seen tremendous engagement on our first nights at both
parishes,” Jeff reflects. “Those who participated were energized by the content but also engaged
by the community building that went on through the night.”

St. Louis de Montfort is also encouraging a parish-wide conversation in conjunction with the
series. Fr. Thomas Haan, pastor, has revised the content of The Rescue Project and recorded new
short videos to make it “age appropriate” for second through fifth graders at the school and in
religious education. Sixth through eighth graders will review specific clips from the original
video series in a multi-media format similar to what they are already used to in the classroom.
High schoolers will watch the videos during the parish youth group meetings on Sunday nights.
The parish has also developed a “Join the Conversation” segment in the weekly bulletin which
suggests discussion questions for both the dinner table and among parishioners. By offering the
content of The Rescue Project and encouraging discussion in these various forms, SLDM hopes
the whole parish will be set on fire through this program.

Witness

An essential part of our faith is spreading the Good News. We have a responsibility to evangelize
and bring others into God’s embrace. We are also called to be disciples and to use our gifts to aid
our parishes and communities in times of need. When we act on our faith, we are giving witness
to it, and it can begin to touch the lives of others.

The Rescue Project video series is presented by Fr. John Riccardo, and he invites participants to
learn and live the Gospel with four questions and four words. He asks, 1) Why is there
something rather than nothing? 2) Why is everything so obviously messed up? 3) What, if
anything, has God done about it? and 4) How am I to respond? These four elements are
simplified into the 4 words – Created, Captured, Rescued, Response – which make up the basis
of our faith. “This is very much an inside-out approach,” Brian says. “We believe our
parishioners need to pray on this message and allow the Spirit to move us to open our minds and
hearts to where God has placed us. He put us here for a reason.”

The program concludes with a half-day joint retreat, and participants from both SLDM and Seton
will gather together. The focus of this last session is the Response, where they will share with
each other how the series has affected them as well as pray about how to continue to live an
active faith after The Rescue Project has concluded. “We believe this is a simple way to show
our parishes the universal Church and get beyond our focus on ‘our parish,’” Brian explains.
“We want them to be mobilized to share the Good News with others.”

After The Rescue Project has wrapped up, the parishes anticipate participants will be ready to
continue the conversation into Advent, carried on by the fire this program has rekindled. A
program hasn’t yet been developed, but the parishes will be eager to Witness the Gospel. “We
are praying on what is possible during Advent and where the Lord wants us to go with this
conversation that is starting,” the SLDM and Seton program team writes in an update on the
progress of the series.
The Rescue Project is named for Christ’s sacrifice – he reduced us by dying on the cross. “But
this is not the end of the story,” Brain assures. “Those who know this story and have been
rescued have a role to play in sharing it with others.”

Join the conversation by starting your own small groups or watching along at rescueproject.us.