Our Values
 
Seeker-sensitive Approach
We are loyal to the Holy Father and the magisterium of the Catholic Church.  We are also sensitive to the work of God´s grace that attracts the lost sheep to the flock.  We take each person where they are so as to bring her gradually towards Christian maturity.
 
Gradual Commitments
We believe that Christian maturity is achieved through the development of Christian virtues.  Now, these virtues are shaped when we are moved by commitments made with  conviction.  Hence, we invite people to taken on increasing commitments that will lead them to walk through the narrow gate with love.
 
Team Life
We establish small groups as a way to live our faith.  We invite people to love one another, pray for one another, support one another in the context of small communities meeting in homes during the week.  By growing together in the faith they move each other to become apostles of Christ.
 
Each member, an apostle
We believe that every lay person, in view of his baptismal commitments, participates in the mission that Christ entrusted his apostles to work so that the divine message of salvation be known and accepted by all men everywhere. (Cfr. Vatican II, Decree on the apostolate of lay people n.3).
 
 
Our Strategy
 
Currently one in three Catholics are no longer connected to the Catholic Church. Our strategy is to creatively reach out to disconnected Catholics in our Yonkers community with a fresh and relevant presentation of the life-changing message of the Gospel to make fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
 
Our weekend experience is central to our strategy and the weekend message is central to the weekend experience.   Music, message and ministers work together to create an irresistible environment of energy and excellence in which newcomers feel welcome and want to come back.  Equally important strategically are excellent weekend programs for kids and students where the messages usually parallel the adult message.
 
Newcomers are encouraged to come back.  Regular weekend attendees are encouraged to take the next step and become a member.  Members are challenged to take their next steps: serve in a ministry, join a small group, worship through their tithe or offering, support our missions, spend daily quiet time with God, and increasingly honor God in all areas of their daily lives. Members are also encouraged to invest in and invite their unchurched friends to our weekend experience.
 
Our strategy is to try and meet each person exactly where they are in order to challenge them to take their next step.  Every member is invited to grow in the following areas:
 
Worship
We believe in Orthodox Christianity, as taught by the Roman Catholic Church. The Eucharistic celebration is the source and summit of our faith which we seek to live and serve with the whole of our lives in vibrant and creative ways. We value this “dynamic Orthodoxy.” Excellence in our worship honors God.  We value excellence.
 
Discipleship                                                       
We believe the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. Our preaching and  messages strive to break open the relevance of the Bible for our daily lives. Changing and growing into the likeness of Christ is not just greater knowledge of our faith, but doing what God’s Word says. We value life-change.
 
Fellowship                                                                                                                      
We believe that our Baptism makes us one family in which we learn to love one another as Christ loved us. We strive to build a church culture through small groups where people are open and authentic, especially about their need to grow and change. We value community life.
 
Service                                                                                                                           
We believe that the Holy Spirit has prepared works for us to do that will advance the kingdom of Christ. We recognize God’s call on our church to serve both within our parish and also beyond: in our city, our country, and in the world.  In the service of the Lord we can always do more.
We value that challenge.
 
Evangelization
We believe that Jesus came to seek and save the lost.  We heed God’s command to share his name with the world. We look for the opportunity to invite disconnected Catholics to join us. As a church we want insiders to reach outsiders. We value growth.