1. Please comment below about your impressions of St. Gerard Majella Church. What surprised you? What about this church motivates you to want to learn more?
2. Think about your own congregation or parish and offer the engagement prayer for the Church that Jesus first prayed: “That they may be one even as we are one.” (John 17: 22)
1. Comment below on how you understand the phrase, “Belonging Leads to Believing.” How could this phrase be unsettling to some people? When have you seen the dynamic of “belonging leading to believing” played out?
Before listening to this lesson, please complete the StrengthsFinder assessment found in your copy of Living Your Strengths. If you do not have a copy, you may purchase it here. (You may select the Original Edition, the Catholic Edition, the Spanish editon, or the Spanish Catholic edition).
Print out your Top 5 signature themes or write them down themes on a sheet of paper.
Listen to Fr. Dan’s interview with Fr. Vin.
Key points:
1. The StrengthsFinder and Positive Psychology
2. What is meant by “Signature Themes,” “Talents” and “Strengths”
3. Toward a strengths based parish or congregation
Azusa Pacific University in southern California enjoys a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the strengths and engagement movement. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to learn about their God-given talents by taking the Clifton StrengthsFinder, the same instrument contained within the book Living Your Strengths. The dynamics at work at Azusa Pacific are possible whenever people of faith come to appreciate the rich gifts of talent that the Lord bestows upon us. What do you think about the video below?
