Live Deep Relationship
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LIVE DEEP RELATIONSHIP CONTENTS A Note from Our President 2 SPO’s New Look 4 Our Way of Life 8 ASCEND Conference 12 Our Mission Model 14 God is Moving 16 Mission Impact 20 Financial Overview 21 New to SPO’s Leadership Team 22 The Faith Alive Campaign 24 A Message to Our Donors 26 National Leaders 28 New Board Members 30 2019 Donors & Corporate Sponsors 32 — A NOTE FROM ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL OUR PRESIDENT — When a couple of us on the people to Christ and helping form them to staff of the Archdiocesan Youth be missionary disciples for life, we must be close to the Lord. It is out of necessity that we Center in St. Paul, Minnesota rely upon Him and His grace for ‘‘His power at were tasked with developing an work in us can do immeasurably more than evangelistic outreach on local we could ask or imagine’’ (Eph 3 : 20). university campuses, our first I have learned in the past year that for a act was to pray. I remember mission-driven evangelistic organization, clearly those early times of communicating who we are as a brand prayer and two passages requires an act of discerning what God has called and anointed us to do. It’s being emerged as key themes that clear about our charism; the particular call have been foundational for our and grace the Lord has given us from the work to this day. beginning. From the beginning, the Lord has called and equipped us to build Catholic communities of missionary disciples in the heart of what are often thoroughly secular The first was Psalm 127 : 1, ‘‘Unless the Lord and godless university environments. In builds the house, the laborers labor in vain.’’ an age characterized by what Saint Teresa The second was John 15 : 5, 7 - 8, ‘‘I am the of Calcutta called ‘‘the real poverty of the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in west,’’ namely loneliness, the invitation to me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; live in deep relationship with the Lord and our apart from me you can do nothing. If you brothers and sisters in the body of Christ is remain in me and my words remain in you, at the very center of the Gospel call and SPO’s ask whatever you wish, and it will be done way of life. for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be This last year in SPO was marked by some my disciples.’’ significant initiatives which are positioning 2 us to raise up more Catholic leaders on It is the Lord who takes initiative. We more college campuses around the country. always stand in the place of response. If Alongside our efforts to renew and refresh we are going to be fruitful in bringing our understanding of our call and charism, — SPO — we completely restructured our training programs for missionaries and students, advanced our strategy for starting new chapters, added Florida as our latest regional center, and continue to build strong board and staff leadership to carry SPO forward as we grow. + Being an organization that is now approach- + ing 35 years, we have the opportunity to see + if our efforts are producing fruit that will last. It is humbling and encouraging to see alumni + emerging as leaders in the Church and mar- ketplace. As well, so many children of early + + missionary staff are arriving at adulthood as GORDON DEMARAIS committed, faithful Catholics and some even + becoming missionaries in our work. + We could not have imagined the ‘‘house’’ the Lord would build (Psalm 127 : 1) with our ‘‘yes’’ to Him and countless more added from students, missionaries, church partners, donors and board members. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel. In Christ, 3 Gordon C. DeMarais SPO President & Founder — SPO — — SPO’S NEW LOOK ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL — Over the last year at SPO, we worked to better define our brand position in the New Evangelization across the United States and align our ministry strategy with our communication efforts. Our investment in marketing and communications has borne numerous fruits, including our new visual identity. Check out some of the exciting work we’ve done to refresh our brand. THE STORY BEHIND SPO’S NEW LOGO The progression of the logo represents the transformation that happens within community. Each line shows the steps someone takes as they move away from isolation and towards deeper relationship with God and others. The triangle is the final stage of the progression and holds a dual meaning of community. It represents the Trinity, God 4 in Himself as Father, Son, and Spirit, and also us living deep relationship both horizontally with brothers and sisters, and vertically with God. — SPO — 5 — SPO — A NEW VISUAL IDENTITY — ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL — FIND YOUR LIVE DEEP WAY Feb 1st — Feb 3rd OHIO Damascus Catholic Mission Campus RELATIONSHIP 6 February 1st February 3rd Damascus Catholic spo.org Mission Campus spo.org/fifoh — SPO — PODCAST WHAT TO DO WHEN YOUR PRAYER IS DRY EP.6 7 — SPO — — OUR WAY OF LIFE God has called us to be a transformational ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL people who live deep relationship — with Him — and with one another. Our charism values support our mission, characterizing the transformative way of life that God has given us and called us to share. 8 — SPO — COMMUNITY ON MISSION BROTHERHOOD & SISTERHOOD We are made for communion: with God and Since we have been adopted in Christ as with one another. Flowing from this conviction, sons and daughters of God the Father, we community is at the heart of SPO. It is both are brothers and sisters. This constitutes the source and the fruit of our mission. We the fundamental basis of how we relate to are a people sacrificially committed to one one another. We respect our complementary another and a common way of life, creating identity and dignity as men and women, an immersive culture that transforms and foster a culture in which healthy lives. Centered around Households and the masculinity and femininity are upheld. We formation community, this culture forms prioritize building strong men’s and women’s potent environments that awaken faith in environments, and support an approach to Christ and bring it to maturity. relationships and vocation that aligns with these convictions. 9 — SPO — — ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL — RELATIONAL EVANGELIZATION RENEWAL IN THE HOLY SPIRIT We share Christ’s compassion for the lost and We invite people to a personal encounter live with a missionary impulse. The primary with Christ, and deep conversion in the way in which we evangelize is relational, by power of the Holy Spirit. We seek to be a getting to know others and inviting them prophetic people, to grow in the fruit and into our lives and our community: person to gifts of the Spirit, and to live fully the call to person, to a people. It is in this context that holiness and mission received in baptism and those we are reaching experience the love of confirmation. In all things, we trust in God and God and the power of the Gospel, beginning rely on his grace. We are part of a movement 10 a comprehensive process of conversion, of renewal in the Church, faithful to the formation, and mobilization in mission. magisterium, and committed to the unity of God’s people. — SPO — WHOLEHEARTED WORSHIP FORMATION TO CHRISTIAN MATURITY We strive to offer God all of our lives for the Learning and living a mature Christian way of life rest of our lives as a sacrifice of worship. is essential if initial conversion is to grow and We are a people of worship with a liturgical stand the test of time. We want those we serve spirituality, including daily prayer and to finish the race well and bring others with the sacraments. Our worship of God — them, so we are committed to forming mission- communally and not just individually — is ary disciples for life. Our formation is oriented essential to our relationship with Him, and towards growth in holiness — the perfection of a natural response of the will to who He is charity — and takes place through relationships, and what He has done for us in Christ. We immersion in our environments, pastoral care, 11 praise and thank Him wholeheartedly and and teaching. It has a depth and quality that pro- expressively, as our duty and our joy, always vides a foundation that endures. for His glory and not our own. — SPO — — ASCEND CONFERENCE ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL — SPO is excited to announce the launch of our new national conference — ASCEND. Happening in January 2020, the conference is purposefully designed to be a place for students from across the nation to come and experience restoration as they encounter the Lord. Hosted at the Wyndham Orlando Hotel and Resort, SPO is creating an environment for young people to gather together in worship of God, allowing space for Him to move powerfully in the lives of all those who attend. Through challenging keynote speakers, dynamic breakout sessions, prayer, and the sacraments, SPO is expecting God to speak boldly and clearly at ASCEND. 12 To learn more go to www.ascendspo.org — SPO — 13 — SPO — — OUR MISSION MODEL ANNUAL REPORT ANNUAL — College campuses are battlegrounds for the minds and souls of young people and many are leaving the Church. Only 10% of Catholic students attend Sunday Mass. Many are lonely, isolated from God, and lacking authentic friendships. Students are hungry for truth, for meaning, and for relationship. OUR MISSION IS TO BUILD TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNITIES THAT FORM MISSIONARY DISCIPLES FOR LIFE.