During this season of Lent, parish leaders of the various ministries of St. Peter Parish in Merchantville have been meeting once a week, taking classes that will aid them not only in their individual ministries, but help them work collaboratively, increasing opportunities for the St. Peter faithful to more fully live out the Gospel.
Linda K. Robinson, the director of Lay Ministry Formation and associate director for Family Life Formation in the Diocese of Camden, is teaching the five-week Saturday morning course, called “Spiritual Exercises for Church Leaders,” and based on the insights of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuit order, and Father Bernard Lonergan, considered one of the most important Catholic theologians of the 20th century.
Leaders from 20 different parish ministries are participating in the Lenten series, which begins with Mass each week.
During the current liturgical year, St. Peter Parish is focusing on the diocesan pastoral priority of “lifelong faith formation,” and the classes, through presentation, prayer, reflection, faith-sharing, and discernment, will provide parish leaders a vision and a method for collaborative ministry.












