Lent has begun and we, like Jesus, are invited to enter into the desert of this season of conversion. Time well spent in prayer and introspection will encourage us to focus on where it is that God is calling me to experience growth and/or to a metanoia (change of heart).

When the apostle Paul was knocked off his horse (both physically and spiritually) the Lord not only was leading him to a major metanoia but also to be open to a journey by which God would use Paul to do great things. In calling us to a "turning away from sin" it is God's way of pruning away the bad and with his grace nurturing the good within us, the gifts we possess to "come and see," in service of our Lord. It is not enough to simply be forgiven, but we must see that in encountering God's grace and mercy, we now are stronger, and better equipped to go forth as a true disciple, an "intentional disciple," as Sherry Waddell speaks of in her book, Forming Intentional Disciples.

Hundreds of folks will join us in full communion in the Catholic Church on Easter at the great Vigil. They have listened well to God's invitation to a deeper walk with him. In our parish where I pastor, two men are discerning. Both Matt Denby and Brandon Stribbling have been inspired by two strong Catholic women, who actively live their sacramental life. Having the blessing of sharing faith and formation with them (formation being one of the four pillars of discipleship/stewardship), each class brings forth new questions, new understandings for them of the Catholic faith. I can already see a true love for this faith tradition in their hearts. At both rituals, the Rite of Welcoming and the Rite of Sending, they beamed with happiness, joy, and pride about what they are being called to. They have listened and they have responded "yes." They also feel so welcomed by the parish family, as I hope all the catechumens and candidates do in their respective parishes.

Hospitality is another of the four pillars of discipleship/stewardship. This month I am going around the diocese to seven deanery meetings discussing this first pillar. I have met with five deaneries so far and we have had some great discussions about the importance of making true Hospitality one of the foundation pillars of a "total stewardship/discipleship parish." We truly believe folks like Matt and Brandon and many of our "elect" have encountered this hospitality and have felt truly welcomed and invited to join us in the Catholic faith.

We also can see a tie between what it means to be a vibrant parish family, and a parish which lives the pillar of Hospitality well. I listened to an excited member of our representatives who spoke of how much he loves his parish (Christ the King in Springfield) and how he felt led to choose this parish as he saw so many great things happening at the parish when he moved to Springfield, and felt so welcomed by and encouraged by the pastor, Father Joe Ring, and the parish family.

Another representative in the Decatur deanery from Sullivan spoke of Bishop Paprocki's homily at the kick-off Mass for Stewardship/Discipleship and how the bishop encouraged the importance to "step out of our comfort zone" and personally "invite" folks to come to church, whether folks with no faith denomination or those who maybe have strayed from the faith. Welcoming and inviting is a call the Lord is asking of each of us to consider. Helping our parish families become more hospitable, welcoming, and inviting certainly will lead to growth in the church, but also will help each parish become more fully alive, as a vessel imitating the "open arms of Christ" reaching out to the flock he loves.

This year I have asked each pastor/parish leader to offer five or six names of folks willing to embrace this ministry of forming intentional disciples, bringing "Discipleship as a Way of Life" to our diocese and its 128 parishes. At present we have 70 parishes on board and over 400 folks in formation. By the end of the year we hope these folks, eventually to number 750, will have spent time in formation in order to become nothing less than "true intentional disciples," like the first Apostles with Jesus. We embrace the journey to make Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service the pillars (foundation) for true discipleship/stewardship at the parish and diocesan level.

We've only just begun (as the song says), but we are on the way to great things, great change, great growth. Talk to your pastor and offer your life and service to this cause. As you spend time in the desert of this Lenten season … listen to his voice; he may be calling you to this next level, this deeper walk. You will hear a call for sure. Pray the Holy Spirit can help you understand it, and with strength and grace be courageous enough, like the apostles, to say … "Here I am Lord, send me."

Father Charles Edwards is the director of the Office for Stewardship and Discipleship. For more information, please call, the Catholic Pastoral Center, (217) 698-8500, extension 103, or email at .