The Lumen Christi Cohort (formerly Cohort 6) was created as part of Bishop O'Connell's Faith in our Future initiative, an eight-step initiative meant to strengthen and enliven the parishes of the Diocese. It is a process through which the Diocese and its parishes and ministries will plan to meet challenges and respond to new opportunities for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ for years to come. 

Parishes were aligned in groups of three to five neighboring parishes called a “cohort.” Lumen Chrisit Cohort 6 is comprised of five parishes: Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, St. Gregory the Great, St. Raphael-Holy Angels, St. Vincent de Paul,  and St. John the Baptist, Allentown

The Lumen Christi Cohort is a group of COLLABORATIVE PARISHES that enter into formal, collaborative relationships, working together on specific, agreed-upon shared areas of ministry, shared programs, shared staffing, shared resources; parishes remain distinct with their own pastor, pastoral and finance councils, finances, census and sacramental books; collaborative parishes work together whenever possible to do what a single parish cannot do effectively alone.

March 19, 2019 Update

Cohort 6 Family!  This message comes to you as we move forward in our Lenten journey, we just wanted to share this update on our activities.  While still soaring on the wings of our first Mission we still have work to do.  As a family, we depend on each and this is where we strengthen our faith and with another Mission with Fr. David Pivonka, April 27 – May 1, 2019, our faith-enrichment continues to grow and collaborate.
 
Just as a reminder Faith in our Future was commissioned by Bishop David M. O’Connell, to seek to bring about positive change, deepen faith and build a vibrant future of mission and service in the Diocese of Trenton.
 
You, the parish family, along with the core team members representing each parish, are closely involved in helping to support and strengthen the Diocese for the future. Our goals are on task and we feel that we will far exceed some of our goals: 

· Community Outreach, with an emphasis on working with parishes to explore if there are ways that joining forces can enhance existing pro-life activities and food pantry support.
The Pro-Life efforts are making lead-way and doing outstanding things with bringing awareness to educating the cohort parishes. We are very mindful of those in our parishes who are in need of food during hardships.  When we feed others we must remember that we are doing exactly what the Lord has spoken:  For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink... 
This is the work that collaborative parishes do when working together, to do what a single parish cannot do alone. 
 
· Faith Education, with an emphasis on offering supplemental joint faith-enrichment activities that might be added to current RCIA and CCD programs.
The faith education teams are continuing to diligently work with each parishes' RCIA and CCD program coordinators, as well as the parishes that have school principals to assist with improvement in ANY are they have outlined, be it finances, personnel, or assisting with ministry efforts to our Hispanic Catholics. This team has established a collaborative relationship with the parishes and ministries to build on the gospel to support all of these areas.
 
Youth and Young Adult Programs, with an emphasis on strengthening cohort-wide activities that will bring more youth to Christ, while enriching relationships within their families and the community.
Looking toward the future we need our younger generation to be prepared and know that holding the string to their faith reaps rewards to hold the foundation of the church together. We are preparing to build off of already established groups to reach the larger young adult parishioners.
 
Sometime in the future, we will host a Get To Know the Cohort Core Team - meet and greet.  As we want you to meet the “Real Team” to celebrate the accomplishments of the Cohort that we have worked so hard to achieve and know we are all in this awesome collaborative effort together. 
 
Please remember our efforts in prayer:
 
Lord Jesus Christ, you gave us faith to move mountains. We pray that you strengthen our faith, so that every prayer on our lips and every work of our hands may give glory to your name. Walk with us on the pathways of life, illuminated by the light of your truth, so that we may see with the eyes of faith how hope lifts us up and how love always leads us to you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.  - Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M