Get involved in your parish
Monday, September 22, 2014
Fr. Michael W Davis
Our institutional calendar looks amazing. No one can say there aren’t an abundance of ministries, activities, and services at Little Flower. It simply now becomes incumbent upon Church-going-Catholics to find out what the parish does, and then to get involved and find blessing as the Spirit prompts us.
Most of you see what happens at one of our beautiful weekend liturgies. For many, the Sunday Mass may well be the sum total of their experience of the parish, perhaps even the sum total of their discipleship. People often come to Mass and then simply go home. Yet Mondays through Saturdays here are filled with activities, educational opportunities, youth and ministry programs, pastoral and social services, and a vibrant process of planning for parish events yet to come, perhaps some that are six months, even a year, from now. This is over and above the many weekly liturgies, funerals, weddings, baptisms, hospital visits, and Communion calls to our elderly and homebound parishioners. So much is done. Yet there is so much to do.
As the pastor of this parish, now in my fourth year, I know the names of those of you who are active and involved in the life of our community. Of you, especially, I am so very proud. There are, however, countless hundreds who are still as mysterious as strangers, who never afford me the opportunity for a greeting at the door, or even the pleasure of welcoming you into a ministry or service in our very active parish.
Needs here are great. Much can and should be done. If you are wondering why we don’t have a children’s Liturgy of the Word, why we don’t have more people (and instruments) in our choir and music ministry, why the distribution of Communion takes so long with so few extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, why we don’t have Communion under both species, why we only have three or four ushers at a given Mass (who are always searching for additional help), why some Masses don’t have altar servers, why more teenagers are not attending Mass with their families, why there is not more outreach to the needy, why we don’t have more potluck dinners, dances, and social events to build friendships and social cohesion, why repairs of the marble floors in the church are still not addressed, why the Sunday attendance and collection is so low in the summer months, why people don’t know what is happening in the parish, why members of the Church don’t know their faith better (enabling them to live it with conviction and impact value), why some don’t even know the names of fellow worshipers, even our names: It is because many have not yet taken their rightful and dutiful place in the life of the parish.
Church is something personal. It is also something communal. Everyone is needed. All links of the chain-link fence are important and of value. There’s not a category of parish life that doesn’t need the benefit of caring individuals to assist. Many hands always make light work. Fear and insecurity often hold lots of us hostage. Yet the work of the Gospel is in the balance.
Can you step forward and offer to share your gift of time, talent, and treasure? Can you at least begin by re-engaging yourself in the faith and in your parish a bit more this year?
The Gospel tells us of the story of Jesus walking on the water, calming the tempest storm, and reaching out to rescue the faltering and frightened Simon Peter. The Lord is always interested in saving us, reaching out to rescue us, and empowering us to do things that we never realized we could do.
What would prevent us from reaching out to hold Jesus’ hand? What gets in the way of our commitment to serve His Church? What is it that our Lord may be asking of you?
Faith is never something static and private. It impels us to take action, to be involved in the cause of the Gospel, to form community in the name of Christ. Many of us have done this. Our lives are especially blessed. All are invited. Be not afraid.
This blog is adapted from Father Davis’ weekly message to his parishioners at Little Flower in Coral Gables.
Comments from readers
Great reflection. I have been ordained a Deacon for almost 20 years and serve with Fr Paul at St Louis Parish. I never understood why more folks are not involved in their church activities. I graduated from the Little Flower in 1955 and my wife in 1957. At St Louis I was an usher, lector, Eucharistic Minister, Mens hard hats, Emmaus, etc. My wife is a Sacristan now and we serve together. I spend time talking to folks and ask them to serve as usher, Eucharistic minister, or anything they feel they can do. I preach Stewardship and have been to a number of parishes to help with Stewardship. I pray that more folks become involved at Little Flower and other parishes. God Bless you Father Davis.