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Our Five Pillars
1. SPIRITUAL FORMATION
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him”
Psalm 28:7
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We draw everything from the grace of God. He is our origin and our goal. Prayer therefore, is essential to our daily life. Our prayer life and spiritual formation includes various liturgies of the Church such as Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Office, the rosary, song and the contemplation of the lives of the saints.
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There are structured moments of community prayer throughout the day, culminating in the Holy Mass, along with moments of personal prayer. If we wish to make the Lord known, we first must know Him ourselves.
2. ACADEMIC FORMATION
“The Catechism is a statement of the Church’s faith and of Catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium and is a sure norm for teaching the faith”
Fidei Depositum 3
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We equip young people for mission by forming them in a knowledge in their Catholic faith. As it teaches the faith in summary form, the Catechism is our primary text for study in Holy Family Mission. We also draw from numerous other Catholic sources for our academic formation including Sacred Scripture.
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Formation is guided by our in-house Core Team and staff, by invited experts, along with the option of distance-learning programs such as the Certificate in Catechesis from Stubenville, Ohio and other formation resources throughout the year, with the intentional goal of preparing our missionaries to know, live and share their Faith.
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After a young person’s first year at Holy Family Mission, a second year may be undertaken in which formation continues but a greater emphasis is placed on mission. Those in second year may assist in leading retreats on-site or off -site or in the practicalities of running the retreat centre.
3. PERSONAL FORMATION
Holy Family Mission provides structures and supports which foster an environment in which community members can grow and develop personally, particularly in the following areas:
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Discovery of personal identity in light of being created by God
Learning to accept oneself
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Growth in virtue and overcoming vices
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Discovery and development of their gifts
4. COMMUNITY LIFE
“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” Proverbs 27:17
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Community life gives community members at Holy Family Mission the opportunity to apply what they have learned in everyday life, which forms character in order to make us more credible Disciples of the Lord. Based on a life of communal prayer, daily tasks include cleaning, cooking, technical set-up, assistance at retreats etc.
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Community life also exposes our weaknesses giving us the possibility, in a familiar and loving atmosphere, to learn to overcome them or control them with the grace of God and the support of friends. The personal growth of each member at Holy Family Mission is of paramount importance. We all strive for holiness together.
5. MISSION
Sincere love for the Lord and the joy of our Faith motivates us to disciple others. Considering the increasing need for radical missionaries in Ireland, Holy Family Mission trains competent, equipped and well-formed young people to serve as youth ministers in schools & parishes. Our young people are trained to engage in facilitating numerous activities for young people: faith formation, parish youth choirs, faith summer camps, outings, Night fever events, drama and other activities according to their individual gifts.
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