Renewal of spiritual faithfulness, ministry, and service
Post-COVID renewal is something for which our world and specifically, the Church, is still seeking. We need a renewal of spiritual faithfulness, ministry, and service. I have been thinking about some of this for our parish. Here follows some of my thoughts. I look forward to hearing of your thoughts, too.
Our retreat ministry called “Emmaus” needs renewal among the women and men, both English speaking and Spanish. Our Charismatic prayer group needs to review its commitments and decide about leadership. The Cursillo movement has been helpful to many over the years and needs to continue offering its inspirational work. Our parish youth have suffered on many levels, including their engagement in the parish. We need some youth ministry volunteers. In general, we need everyone to do some soul-searching and discernment and step up to help others in their faith life. Catechists as well as door and parking lot monitors are much needed.
We have some liturgical and prayer ministries that need attention. Our parish Disciples of Mary have begun a ministry of sending a statue of our Lady of Guadalupe to a different family each week. That family is committed to pray for the well-being of all of our families. We hope they will add a vocation prayer ministry to their list of things to do. I mentioned in another recent article that we hope to engage the whole parish in this prayer ministry for vocations.
Additionally, we need people who are willing to take Holy Communion to the homebound and the elderly. We will train you and assist you in this important prayer and accompaniment ministry. The Touch Group is a ministry group in the parish that concerns itself with our elder members. Perhaps you may want to be involved with their on-going outreach.
There are some new needs as well. There are more and more asylum-seeking families arriving in our area. They often have no local connections. They are seeking stability. Many of the most recent families have arrived from Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador. Most do not want handouts, but rather someone to befriend them and to help them feel welcome. Ultimately, they are looking for hospitality. Will we give it to them?
A few other services we can provide are the feeding of the hungry through our “sandwich ministry,” and meals prepared and served at N.E.W. Community Shelter. We have not done it yet, but St. John’s Ministries need meals prepared for the men’s and women’s shelter from November through April.
Finally, we will be searching for a new custodian and maintenance person as Miguel Sanchez will be retiring in March 2023. We are preparing an updated job description and will be seeking applicants.
Peace, Fr. Andy