January 2017

Dear ACTS Alumni,

The Chapter is now seeking new members to fill up to 6 open positions (4 men and 2 women) on the St. Louis Chapter of ACTS Missions.The Chapter current consists of 9 members (3 men and 6 women). The ideal chapter should have equal numbers of men and women and the chapter can have up to 12 members. Three members will complete their term of 3 years in June of 2017.

The St. Louis Chapter is ACTS Missions’ local representative in the St. Louis Archdiocese. As such we are the administrative body responsible for ACTS local operations here. Communications from the Chancery Office indicate that Archbishop Carlson is supportive of and grateful for ACTS’ evangelization efforts in St. Louis

Ourgoals are:

  1. To help others experience the love of God through the ACTS retreat program
  2. To build community within a parish
  3. To foster intentional discipleship to Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our two primary areas of responsibility are Education and Missioning to new parishes in our Archdiocese. Although we would like to have a wide variety of parishes represented on the Chapter, Members represent the entire St. Louis region, not just their particular parish. There may be no more than two Members from any parish.

In order for ACTS to continue to grow as a vital component of the New Evangelization, it is critical that the integrity, uniformity, theological correctness and reverent simplicity of the retreat be maintained. The Chapter continues to fully support the guidelines and goals of ACTS Missions in San Antonio.

The Chapter has made great progress. Our Lady, Festus, St. Genevieve du Bois, St. Louis and All Saints, St. Peters are currently being missioned. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Dominic Savio recently signed the Letters of Agreement and have their mission retreats scheduled for 2017 – 2018. There are a number of parishes requesting information and many already have seed team members and are looking forward to having ACTS.

Education continues to be a major goal for the Chapter. Leadership workshops and Core Team training have been well attended and a given us a more in-depth understanding of the roles of our Directors, Co-Directors, Spiritual Companions, Team Leaders and Core Team Members.

Serving as a Chapter Member is a rewarding role and Chapter leadership is a very essential and critical element of the ACTS apostolate. Members generally spend about 10 hours per month working on their specific Chapter duties.

We ask you to read the attached Prerequisites for Chapter Members and Chapter Member YES Agreement, and prayerfully consider if God is calling you to be a Chapter Member. If your answer is yes, please fill out the Nomination Form and return it to any of the current Chapter Members or to the address and e-mail on the nomination form.If you wish to be considered to join us before June of this year – return the form as soon as possible; otherwise no later than May 1, 2017.

Peace and prayers – Lois Kruessel(Sacred Heart VP), Steve Lucash(St. Joseph, Manchester), Steve Brokaw(St. Simon), Lorie Madriz(Annunciation), Carole Bernsen(St. Peters), Sue Syers(Our Lady Queen of Peace-House Springs), Chris Blood(St. Gerard Majella), Dona Hannan(Assumption Mattese), and Jim Gissy(St. Joseph, Manchester.)

QUALIFICATIONS FOR CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP:

  • Chapter members must be registered parishioners within the St. Louis Archdiocese or Immaculate Conception Parish in Columbia, IL. The St. Louis Chapter strives to maintain an equal number of men and women on the Chapter.
  • Chapter members must be Catholics in “good standing” and full communion with the Catholic Church.
  • Chapter members must understand that they no longer represent ACTS at their Parish level but now represent ACTS at the Archdiocesan level and that the greater mission of the ACTS Apostolate comes first and foremost before any particular parish issues, concerns or traditions. They must also be committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the ACTS Retreat.
  • Chapter members must have a servant’s heart and a willingness to dedicate time to the Chapter in addition to normal meeting times.
  • Each Chapter must be representative of the Chapter territory as defined in the Articles of Association.
  • All Chapter members shall sign and agree to all requirements within the Chapter “Yes” Agreement.
  • Members must be highly experienced in ACTS:

Have served on a minimum of three (3) teams.

Served in two (2) leadership positions (Core Member, Director, Co-Director, Spiritual Companion or served as a Service or Ministry Lead.

  • Members should possess professional skillsets needed to manage the organization at a diocesan or regional level (i.e. managerial, administrative, accounting, logistics, communications, training, computer, organizational and/or evangelizing skill.)
  • Members must have a clear understanding of what ACTS is and is not, as prescribed by ACTS Missions. New Membersmusthave sufficient levels of experience to enable them to work collaboratively to achieve the goals of ACTS Missions as well as to address the challenges that occur in the process of leading a retreat.
  • Members must have attended a Leadership Workshop and a Core Training Workshop within three (3) years prior to joining the Chapter. If not, Members should attend these within the first twelve (12) months of serving on Chapter. The workshops contain new information as of January of 2015 so it is highly recommended that all members have taken the newer version of both.


Chapter YES Agreement

Dear Lord Jesus and Fellow St. Louis Chapter Members,

I realized that I have been called and am committing myself, here and now, to the work of preparing myself physically, mentally, and spiritually for the Chapter position set before me. My mission is to advance the ACTS movement, through ACTS Missions and its St. Louis Chapter. In order to accomplish my mission I commit myself to the following:

1. I will attend all of the Chapter meetings, both regular sessions and any Executive or special sessions. When emergencies arise that prevent my attendance, I will notify the Chapter Director before the meeting, and I will provide any required reports and input. I may be asked to step down if I miss more than three meetings in a calendar year to make way for someone else to serve.

2. To the best of my ability, I will be on time so that the meetings can run smoothly and I do not miss any of the information being transmitted. I will prepare my information and reports for each meeting.

3. I commit myself to service of the ACTS Retreat movement in the Chapter’s area. I will serve with humility and zeal, so that the mission of ACTS continues to flourish. As a Chapter member, I represent ACTS Missions and the St. Louis Chapter. I will follow proper protocol in this service, and I will always follow the River Rule.

4. I commit myself to share my time and my talents to advance the ACTS retreat movement in the Chapter’s area, and I will collaborate with my brothers and sisters in this mission

5. I commit to learn to serve ACTS Missions and the St. Louis ACTS community and the Chapter from the heart, for you Lord and my Chapter members. I will only serve on one retreat team per year and may not serve on my parish core team so that I can concentrate on Chapter activities. The Chapter will be my number one ACTS priority.

6. I will use my business and interpersonal skills with compassionate understanding of other people’s efforts. I will appreciate and respect every request to establish and spread ACTS as a ministry.

7. I commit myself to support all major Chapter activities or special events, to the extent that I am able, given my Church and family commitments

8. I will stay true to the profound nature of the retreat movement and defend it as necessary. I commit to the full length of my term. I will take the big picture view of what is good for the growth of ACTS and not my personal or parish desires. In that service, I will always try to have a true servant’s heart.

You asked and I answered yes, I ______commit to this yes agreement and will serve in accordance with 1 Peter 5:5: “clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: “God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.”

Nominee Information Form – Chapter Member

ACTS Missions Chapter: St. Louis

EMAIL COMPLETED FORM TO:

By Mail: ACTS Missions Chapter, 4560 Emerald View Court, Eureka, MO 63025

PersonalInformation

Full Name:
Last / First / M.I.
Address:
Street Address / Apartment/Unit #
City / State / ZIP Code
Home Phone: / ( ) / Cell Phone: / ( )
E-mail Address:
Fluent in Spanish: / Yes or No / Marital Status: / Catholic: Yes or No
Spouse’s Name:
Employer: / Job position:

Parish Information

Parish / Date of 1st ACTS retreat
# of times on Team: / Teens Retreat: / Yes / No
Parish Activities:
Pastor’s Approval (Print Name)
(Signature) Date:

Special Skill Sets and Qualifications

Please provide a short biographyincluding your leadership experience, the effect ACTS has had on your life and your reasons for wanting to serve on the St. Louis Chapter of ACTS Missions.