Vine and Branches initiative inspires Church of the Little Flower
Like many parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark, Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights has been keeping busy in recent weeks with events that tie into an initiative launched recently by the Archdiocese of Newark called Vine and Branches.
The initiative was launched on Sunday, Oct. 10, to inspire Catholics in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, and Union counties to return to Mass now that most pandemic-related restrictions have been lifted. The initiative will see parishes host numerous special events and online engagement throughout the year to reconnect with congregation members who stopped attending Mass due to COVID-19. Additionally, the initiative will attempt to build relationships with non-parishioners through outreach efforts inviting them to join the Church.
Following Little Flower’s Feast Day Mass and Picnic in a local park, volunteers of the parish’s “Welcome Back” team coordinated a parishioner meet and greet event called “Hello Sunday!” These social events were planned to create new parish community connections and rekindle old ones following the absence of in-person gatherings and celebrations of Mass during the height of the pandemic.
“It was a good way to start,” said Father Andy Prachar, pastor of the parish. “This is about Vine and Branches. It’s about reconnecting with each other, most importantly, reconnecting with the Eucharist.”
A week later, the parish offered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The service placed a particular emphasis on ministering to those experiencing depression and anxiety resulting from the pandemic, explained Father Andy. Still, anyone who may be dealing with mental, emotional, or physical illness was encouraged to receive the Sacrament.
“People are hurting,” he said. “As I was anointing the faithful, I was seeing the tears in people’s eyes. It was a very powerful experience.”
Father Andy, a co-leader of the Vine and Branches initiative along with Bishop Michael A. Saporito, the archdiocesan Auxiliary Bishop of Bergen County, made clear that the parish is looking at any possible means of connecting with people, whether it’s sacramental or social.
He explained how the parish’s strength is in social gatherings and hospitality but hopes to improve missionary outreach.
“It’s a learning experience,” he said. “We’re trying to keep our eyes open.”
To expand outreach efforts, Father Andy and members of the parish plan to meet with members of the Neocatechumenal Way at St. Mary’s in Plainfield to discuss and share community outreach practices.
“They have a large community, and they seem to just keep growing, and their outreach is tremendous,” he said. “We’d like to learn how they do it.”
Recently, Church of the Little Flower rebranded its website and communications ministry, called the Sienna ministry. Father Andy shared that the new website and branding are attracting people. Additionally, the parish is highly active on Instagram and other social media platforms, but successful communication goes beyond technology, he explained. “Neighborly interactions in the community are essential for Little Flower’s parish outreach.”
He acknowledged that personal touches are also important. When Father Andy picks up the weekly collection envelopes from parishioners who have not yet returned to in-person Mass, he sends back a hand-written “thank you” note letting them know they are missed.
Many new families have been attending Mass at the Church of the Little Flower, thanks to a growing community with an influx of new residents from nearby cities.
However, Father Andy recognizes that “there are still people who are not coming back. Our missionary team is reaching out to them and to see if they are okay. We want to let them know we’re thinking about them,” he said.
He explained that the Vine and Branches initiative is meant to inspire parishes beyond 2021. He’s already planning future events such as gatherings for the parish’s teens and young adults, including the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick for youth.
“They’re just suffering tremendously right now,” he said.
Click here to learn more about Vine and Branches and how other parishes in the Archdiocese of Newark are participating in this “Back to Church” initiative. For more information, visit the Vine and Branches webpage. The Archdiocese of Newark has been sharing Vine and Branches parish-related happenings on its Facebook page.
Featured image: Church of the Little Flower in Berkeley Heights held a Feast Day Mass and Picnic in a local park as part of the “welcome-back” phase of a new initiative launched by the Archdiocese of Newark called Vine and Branches. (Photo courtesy of Church of the Little Flower)
