All scriptural reflections are offered as a way to help reviewers of this and future drafts pray with and for this process and have a faith context for the plan. The Futuring Team has suggested scriptural reflections for each goal area.  Readers are encouraged to pray with the specific passage before considering the particular goal and objectives.

II.                THEME & SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION

Theme of the 50th Anniversary Planning Process:

Looking back with Gratitude. . . Looking forward in Hope

Scriptural Reflection for the St. Mary Magdalen Parish Plan:

"I thank my God every time I remember you,  constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.  I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.  It is right for me to think this way about all of you, for all of you share in God's grace with me, in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel.  And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God."  (Philippians 1:3-7, 9-11)

St. Mary Magdalen Parish values . . .

What will St. Mary Magdalen Parish look like once its mission is fully realized?  This is a longer statement, usually more poetic, and written in the present tense as if the vision has been accomplished.  This is also a “seeing” statement and expresses the hoped for results of living out a Mission and the achievement of multiple goals. 

Scriptural Reflection for the Parish Vision:

 “My soul finds rest in God alone” (Psalm 62:1)

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL I

And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them.  With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.  Then they said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning (within us) while he spoke to us on the way and opened the scriptures to us?"  So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the eleven and those with them who were saying, "The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!"  Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24: 30-35)

 SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL II

That is why I kneel before the God from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name, and I pray that God will bestow on you gifts in keeping with the riches of God’s glory.  May God strengthen you inwardly through the working of his Spirit.  May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith, and may charity be the root and foundation of your life.  Thus you will be able to grasp fully , with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love, and experience this love which surpasses all knowledge, so that you may attain to the fullness of God.  To God whose power now at work in us can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine – to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations, world without end.  Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL III

 Train children in the way they should go; even when they are old, they will not swerve from it.  (Proverbs 22:6)

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL IV

For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek the same Lord is Lord of all enriching all who call upon him. And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, " How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news! (Romans 10 12, 13 & 15)

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL V

Let no one look down on you because of your youth, but be a continuing example of love, faith and purity to believers.  (1 Timothy 4:12)

 SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL VI

Everything in the Heavens and Earth are yours, O Lord, and this is your Kingdom. We adore you as being in control of everything. Riches and Honor come from you alone, and you are the ruler of all humankind; your hands control power and might and it is at your discretion that all are made great and given strength.  (1 Chronicles 29: 11-12)

SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL VII

Then the just will ask him: “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or see you thirsty and give you drink?  When did we welcome you away from home or clothe you in your nakedness?  When did we visit you when you were ill or in prison?”  The king will answer them: “I assure you, as often as you did it for one of my least brothers or sisters, you did it for me."  (Matthew 25:37-40)   

 SCRIPTURAL REFLECTION FOR GOAL VIII

We are servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)