Nazareth promotes the building of personal human relationships and fosters a deeper learning of the spiritual teachings of the Gospel.

Familial

Nazareth’s spirituality is modeled after Jesus’ closest interpersonal relationships, both with His own Holy Family and his Twelve Disciples.

Jesus first experienced true community within His own family. Later he chose the Twelve, and within that he established his own hand-picked community.

Combining these experiences of Christ, the ideal Nazareth group consists of twelve individuals committed to growth in friendship with Jesus in the context of a literal home. In this setting, they can receive His revealed identity as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

To reflect this, Nazareth’s motto is both a call to discipleship and an invitation to participate in the domestic life and love of the Holy Family:

“Find A Home in the Church”

Incarnational

God is found in the ordinary. Just as Jesus was found in a stable and changed water into wine, He is found in ordinary people. Nazareth’s purpose is not based upon the person’s contribution or mission, or the learning taking place. It is to create an environment which fosters them discovering who they are and beginning to see themselves as God sees them. The group members respect, reflect, and become His Presence to each person. In that light, they trust that the Holy Spirit will ignite them for His purposes, in His timing and way. Jesus takes the stuff of our lives and transforms it.

Contemplative

The gaze of God is upon the Guests as they share and are listened to for a sacred moment by the entire group. The group’s attention is an experience of the gaze of God, transfixed on the smallest detail of our lives as well as the biggest or most painful. Nothing is too big or too small for God in our relationship with Him. The sharing of the small details in the group highlights how God has created each of us individually and uniquely. As we shine for a moment before others in the group, we become more lovable and sacred. The group becomes an instrument of God’s loving gaze upon this child of God as He speaks “You are My Delight!” This mirrors the experience of contemplative prayer, as the Guest receives the group’s quiet attention, listening, delight and care regarding who they are at that moment.

Evangelical

Anyone, from unchurched to fledgling to mature Christian, can participate and feel at home in this group. Beyond this, members of Nazareth groups are encouraged to grow in their skills and, if they desire, lead their own groups.

Shepherding

The format is easily reproducible, and almost anyone can assume leadership of a new, mission group. The format of round robin and no cross talk relieves the Host from having to negotiate arguments, or to keep members from “fixing” one another, talking too long, or never talking. It helps to include everyone on an even playing field. The Hosts can then focus their energy on loving, being present, and listening to the Holy Spirit. It makes it possible for almost anyone to assume a leadership role and experience the responsibility and joy of shepherding others. Also, each member experiences the same responsibility and joy for each other. They can become a family within the Church.

Communal

The group can stay together as long as they desire–for years and years! They can send out e-mails to pray for another’s need and invite other members to social or church events. But they are equally included, whatever their choice. Each member can freely be involved at whatever level he or she feels comfortable - from taking on a new group as a Host to simply attending even sporadically if that works for them

The Blessed Mother

We invoke the intercession of the Blessed Mother, and look to her example of love and generosity within the Holy Family. Within Nazareth groups, we hope that Innkeepers will emulate Mary’s love for Jesus as they welcome others into their home as they would their own family.

St. Teresa of Calcutta

St. Teresa of Calcutta observed, “If I had known how spiritually poor the United States was, I would have started there.” In this spirit of serving the spiritually poor, we hope that Nazareth answers a particular need among Catholics in the U.S., namely the need for close-knit community within the larger parish structures of the Church.

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Catherine of Siena’s life powerfully influenced the Church and helped to reform deep corruptions that existed within it. Her sense of mission and zeal was unparalleled, and she famously stated that, “If we knew who we were meant to be, we would set the world on fire!”

Nazareth puts special emphasis on the first part of this: knowing and finding who we are meant to be in Christ through discussion and community. But Nazareth also recognizes that “knowing who we were meant to be” is not the ultimate meaning of life. Rather, our primary calling is also to set the world on fire for the Lord through discipleship and a bold witness of love.