Dear Parish Family,
I hope you’ve been following the wonderful “Year of the Family” videos that our Diocese of Lansing has been releasing each week. They feature a different family in our diocese every week, who strive to live out their Catholic faith in their imperfect family life. Week 3 focused on being part of the larger family of which our nuclear family is an integral part, our family of faith.
What we do each Sunday is a familial act by which we gather as one family of God. Notice how, during Mass, we refer to God as “our Father,” and we call each other “brothers and sisters.” For example, after the sign of the cross and greeting, we often begin Mass with, “I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters….” Together we make up the one Body of Christ. That makes our parish our spiritual home, Bishop Boyea said, “and as every homeowner knows, maintaining the home is a constant labor of love. That means we are called actively to engage with our parishes, participate in parish ministries, and be contributing members of the home.”
Engage. Participate. Contribute. These are the ways we show God that we desire and are grateful to be a part of His Family, how we move forward, growing together in a spirit of unity. As Laura Angus, the mother of week 3’s featured family expressed it: “We don’t have to support our parish; we get to support our parish. What a special thing that is!”
In these pages of this year’s “State of the Parish,” you’ll find ways to do all three: engage, participate, and contribute.
- When we come together, don’t be passive, but rather engage in our worship of God and in prayerful support of one another.
- In our very special parish mission coming up, “Into the Fire,” on Oct 18, 19, and 20, participate…preferably all 3 nights! You won’t want to miss Fr. Patrick Gonyeau share about how to live in intimacy with God and tap into the power of the Holy Spirit to live a transformed, mission-driven life! As animated as Fr. Patrick is, this parish mission would also be a wonderful time to invite that friend of yours who has asked questions about God and/or your Catholic faith!
- And of course, review the revised 6-3-1 model of stewardship, and contribute to building up the Kingdom of God here in Jackson, of which all of us have a part!
We’re family…God’s family, and St. John Church is our home! As Bishop Boyea put it, “God’s Church…our forever home!” As our forefathers in the faith have done for us, let us support our church on earth, so as to be welcomed in the Kingdom of heaven!
In a spirit of unity, yours in Christ,
Father Chas
