When we were growing up, we were taught that being part of a family means participating and investing ourselves with love for our family. Because we are all baptized in Christ and adopted by God the Father as His children, we are God’s family. As His family living here in the Parish of Saint James, this is where our local family gathers and where we participate in - and invest ourselves into - the life of our family.
Besides the regular living out of our faith life (weekly Mass, attending religious education and attending all Holy Days of obligation), as are called to take an extra step in supporting our parish family life.
There are three ways that we can make then investment of fraternal love for God and each other:
Time: When we gift our time, we offer our service to the parish through volunteering to assist in the many activities in the parish. These could include teaching religious education, serving at the altar, being a lector at Mass, serving as an extraordinary minister of communion, or helping out at our parish fairs. If you have the time to volunteer, please feel free to jump in and make our family life here that much more pleasant.
Talent: So many people have such a diversity of gifts. Every gift given by God is for His glory and the upbuilding of each other. Some are gifted at music and can join our choir, others are gifted skilled workers and can assist in maintenance, we may even have people who can sew to help maintain vestments and altar clothes. No matter your talent, there is always a way to use it for the glory of God, the upbuilding of our neighbor and the beauty of our parish.
Treasure: When God blesses us with financial blessings it’s always a good thing to use this blessing for the good of our family. Although the Kingdom of God is not of this world, it does exist in this world. That being the case, the parish is always in need of financial assistance. Bills such as heat, electric, insurance and water are a constant burden to a parish. Then there are the extra events like broken boilers, broken water pipes, unexpected roof leaks. A parish always needs to be financial ready for the unexpected expectations of life. Finally, there are other financial gifts that can beautify the liturgy like new priest vestments, candles for Mass and other items to be used for the sacred liturgy.
We all are called to pray and ask the Lord for the way He wishes us to serve the Church, our neighbor and the Lord. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we seek to be an active member of our family here at Saint James.
Peace,
Father Anthony Mpagi