# BloNo Catholic - my thoughts going in

*It would be disingenuous to hold my tongue. It is much better to say things openly - share what I see.*

- We cannot promote the Church in ignorance of salvation. Everything is for conversion.

- The goal is that community happens naturally, but we have forgotten how in all levels of society.
	- The primary charged levelled against the Christians was illegal gathering. Christians naturally gather. They naturally get together. So sadly, we have forgotten this.
	- St Peter's in Steubenville has hardly any official parish events. The people do things, they are open and invite people, but ultimately the people drive. "Every barbeque we have is a parish barbeque", to quote AWJ. I've been there, and in the few weeks out there, we did it. If one is open to the Holy Spirit, stuff happens - you don't need to (cannot even) force it.
	- Cor Jesu - Fr. Rory will lead some things but most events are initiated by... I hesitate to even use the word 'members'. People, sometimes people who just show up. There's no box other than "child of God". A few weeks in I had a little event introducing people to the Byzantine rite.
		- There were certain _rhythms_ that helped with this: Wednesday Lectio Divina, Thursday Men's Cabin, and to an extent, First Fridays. 
		- Make a big tent, and then let the connections form.
		- Authentic spiritual benefit; community flows from there.
		- Charismatic, Tradi, Byzantine, Normie - we can all agree on Lectio.
		- Culture, not systems!!! (What was it in Cor Jesu? Adoration, Irish song, dance, hiking)

	- No need to reinvent the wheel
		- Ideas so old they're new
		- Traditions so old they're new
		
	- Tyrrany is simply this: that the people look to the top for anything to be done; that the people look to Pharoah for even a single stone to be lifted (rather than to their fellow man). The freedom we seek is the freedom of the carpenter, who freely invites us to participate in his kingdom. He established his clergy not as another political order like unto the nations, but shepherds as he did - protectors, guides, and gates into the kingdom. The motive force that brings us forwards is not that of the person of the priest - but that of the person of Christ, who is revealed to us in the sacraments through priests by grace.

- Group chats, not web/etc. presence
	- Keeps things open
	- A space to invite into (free from the distractions of the world)
	- Makes one feel special for having found a jewel
	- Where are the people, really?
	- Increased spontaneity
	- Allow everyone to invite - the freedom of the carpenter
	- Can help make connections with existing groups

- Rebrand
	- The term "Young Adult" is ick
	- Any particular saints?
	- Diocese Patrons: St Joseph the Worker, Immaculate Conception, St. Therese of Liseux
	- Actually: _debrand._ Ego-death. Don't slap your brand on things, just give the event. Current anti-authority anti-system sentiment is worth leaning into.

- A bridge into normal parish life while still maintaining youthful zeal

- Get (the right) clerical involvement