Yes, we are Catholics, but did you know that only about one third of Roman Catholics who live in our Parish service area regularly attend Sunday Masses? And, worse yet, that fewer than one in four Catholics really believe in the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist? The Catholic Church is the largest group within 'people with religion', but the second largest group are the ex-Catholics. And by that we mean baptised Catholics who no longer go to Church, who no longer have an honest understanding of what is right or wrong.
Discipleship, Leadership and Stewardship is needed now more than ever. All Catholics are called to Evangelize their Catholic Faith. It is time we begin to take this mandate seriously. There are 66+ Service groups that meet at St. Helen Parish and they take their faith seriously. But there are many more who are just waiting to be asked. They don't want to be told, but they need to be asked to join us, the Lay leaders within our Parish, to Evangelize and Lead. To become Disciples in the true sense of the word, and to be active Stewards of St. Helen Church. There are many ways to be a Steward, and it isn't all about money, although the Parish has many debts that need to be taken care of.
We are living in difficult times, times of economic uncertainty. We need to PRAY and PRAY MORE. Unlike in the past (pre-Vatican II times) there are more people in our congregations, fewer Priests, and although there are three Deacons at our Parish, overall there could be more. In the old days, Catholics did what they were told to do by the Priests, but we are in a different situation now. We need to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit in our lives, in order to discover how we can help as a Lay person. The Parishioner is now more responsible for ministry and apostolates, perhaps previously done by Priests, and we need to pitch in.
We need more Priests, because only Priests can preside at Holy Mass (that is Consecrate the Sacred Species) and forgive us our sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Deacons often assist at a Mass, or they may be gifted preachers, but ultimately, theirs is a ministry of Service to the Catholics in a Parish in such areas as Weddings, Funerals/Burials, Retreats, Days of Recollection, Baptisms, and Eucharistic Services. We are very blest to have three Deacons at this point.
Lay Ministers are important in what they do also. Here we're talking in terms of Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, folks who bring the Body of Christ to Hospitals, Nursing Homes, etc., etc. We have Prison (Jail) ministers, Choir cantors and singers, Instrumentalists, etc. Some who provide Bible Studies and/or are gifted in other areas such as Engaged Encounter, RCIA, etc. There is plenty of ministry/pastoral work around that is being staffed by lay ministers, but we cannot do it with the people we have. Some of us get older, and feel the need to retire, we need younger and enthusiastic people, people of Faith, who will step in when others retire, move, have financial or job changes, and just aren't as available anymore as we had hoped.
So lets PRAY about this thing. WHERE DO YOU FIT IN? How can you be of assistance? Some of these tasks are very rewarding, it will bring you closer to God. Your relationship with Jesus and Mary, His/our Mother, will intensify the more you TITHE and Tithing isn't ONLY dollars and cents - it is what you do for the Body of Christ. Come help us! Come be Disciples, Leaders and Good Stewards at St. Helen Church in Vero Beach, Florida!
Thank You! May God bless you and Keep you!
Fred Schaeffer, SFO
St. Helen Webmaster and Catechist
