We Believe, Part Two

As you begin your next mission, be sure you have your Travel Journal. Let your Disciple Power guide you on your virtual pilgrimage. Here is your second Mission Assignment…

Phase 1: Prepare for the Pilgrimage

Recall what you learned about each of the Disciple Power habits in Unit 2 of Be My Disciples. Using your Travel Journal, write your own description for each of the four Disciple Power habits. Let your descriptions be your “signs” to point you toward your destination.

• Humility (Chapter 5)
• Mercy (Chapter 6)
• Counsel (Chapter 7)
• Peace (Chapter 8)

Phase 2: Select a Destination

1. Choose one of the following destinations based upon what you learned from The Church Follows Jesus pages. Then explore more about that destination by clicking its links. Record in your Travel Journal three new unique facts you learned about that destination. Be sure that these facts reflect your “terrain” as you approach your destination. Use the suggested links to help you survey your terrain.

• Ein-Karem [Ain Karim], Israel (Chapter 5)
  1. Learn about this village in the hill country of Judah from the Franciscans who serve in the Holy Land.
  2. Read more about the Church of Saint John the Baptist, the traditional site of Saint John the Baptist’s birthplace in the suburb of Ein-Karem, five miles southwest of Jerusalem (cf Luke 1:57-66).
  3. View some amazing images of the Church of the Visitation in Ein-Karem, Israel. This Church was built on the site traditionally held as the site where Mary had visited Elizabeth when she was pregnant (cf Luke 1:39-56).
  4. Read this homily of Pope John Paul II from December 21, 1997. Give attention to the Pope’s emphasis on Mary’s anticipation of her mission.
• Passionist Retreat Centers in the U.S. (Chapter 6)
  1. Tracing the Way of the Cross can happen during a retreat, so review this list of retreat centers and learn more about a Passionist retreat center near you.
  2. Learn more about the life of Saint Paul of the Cross from the order he established, the Passionists.
• Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas (Chapter 7)
  1. Learn about this college’s campus ministry programs and how Saint Benedict’s rules continue to strengthen the faith life of young adults in the United States.
  2. Check out the OSB Geographic Search to find out where the Oblates of Saint Benedict are in the world.
  3. Read here the Daily Reading from The Rule of Benedict.
• Sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial, France (Chapter 8)
  1. Watch this video from GloriaTV on the Sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial in France—the Church where Saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque had her visions of Christ and Mary.
  2. Read section 4 of Pope Pius XI’s encyclical Merciful Redeemer Miserentissimus Redemptor, a Church teaching about the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

2. Now re-read the corresponding The Church Follows Jesus pages to surface information about your destination. Using your Travel Journal, answer the questions that correspond to the destination you selected.

• Ein-Karem, Israel (Chapter 5)
  Considering the habit of humility, how might a journey on animal/foot from Nazareth to Ein-Karem be a humble path for Mary who was motivated by love for God and family?
• Passionist Retreat Centers in the U.S. (Chapter 6)
  What about receiving God’s mercy during a retreat allows one to experience a sense of being on holy ground?
• Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas (Chapter 7)
  How do the five areas of Benedictine College’s Faith Life (Youth Outreach, Youth Ministry, Spiritual Growth, Sacramental Life, or Social Mission) relate to the gift of counsel?
• Sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial, France (Chapter 8)
  How might reflecting on Jesus’ Sacred Heart bring a person a sense of peace?

Phase 3: Arrive at Your Destination

Now go to the corresponding I Follow Jesus page for your destination. And then respond to the activity on that page in your Travel Journal. Notice the difference in responses from when you completed the activity in your textbook versus the response in your Travel Journal. Discuss with a partner that difference using one of the following questions:

• What would you say about your new destination to entice someone else to visit that place?
• How has your faith been transformed by reaching your destination?
• Why was this particular pilgrimage important for you in becoming a disciple?