Called to Serve

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free – and all were made to drink of the one Spirit ….If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together .…God has appointed apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, healers, helpers, administrators, speakers of various kinds of tongues.”   1 Corinthians 12:13, 26, 28

Faith Learning/Faith Sharing

Many years ago as newlyweds and young parents Jean and I were asked to participate in a weekly neighborhood faith-sharing community. We read the Sunday readings ahead of time, shared our thoughts and challenges, and encouraged and prayed with one another. Through our relationship with our neighbors and the Scripture we began to realize that God’s Word was truth. As our family grew, we began to listen to Christian radio broadcasts like Focus on the Family and Family Life Today, and to faithful Bible teachers and preachers. The more we listened, read, and learned, the more we wanted to share.

Our parish is large, extremely vibrant, and multi-cultural. We have been attending Mass there for 19 years, and have been volunteer youth catechists for 13 of those years. We are indebted to the parents of the 300 or so children with whom we have had an opportunity to share our faith over those years. It has been a privilege to have had a small part in their formation, just as they have had a part in ours. Our biological offspring are college-aged and generally worship apart from us on their campus, but one of our joys is to scan the pews (and the sanctuary, which gives us particular joy) to catch a glimpse of our other children, those special young people who have known us as Mr. Nick and Miss Jean for too brief a time over those 13 years. Some now have children of their own, doubtless. We were far from ready when we began, we continue to learn more about the beauty, depth, and truth of the Catholic faith every day, and we look forward to being challenged by our future students. As a catechist, you can’t be too proud to say, “I don’t know,” but we have never been alone in the process. Our parish offers ongoing catechist training opportunities along with the support of the staff and other catechists. Through that process we believe we have become better catechists, better parents, and better Catholics.

A Glimpse of Heaven

Our parish is a special place. It is often a glimpse of heaven, the Kingdom of God here on earth.  The pews are filled with a wide diversity of age and stage of life, of ethnic dress, skin tone, and native language; and yet aren’t our internal gifts just as multi-hued? Diversity in and of itself is nice, but it is the UNITY in that diversity that makes us Catholics and Christians. We find that unity of purpose in the Eucharist, having been called together by Jesus to “do this in memory” of Him, then sent out empowered to “make disciples of all nations.” Each of us is gifted and called in our own unique way to serve God and one another. In the words of St. Catherine of Siena, “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

Where Are You Called to Serve?

Are you called to be a catechist? In most parishes you don’t have to dive right in, as you can volunteer to be an aide or help with Children’s Liturgy or nursery programs. In our parish if English is not your most comfortable language, there are opportunities to teach or help in the Spanish and French programs as well.  Don’t feel qualified? That’s okay too. The Apostle Peter tells us that where love abounds there is room for imperfection:

“Above all hold unfailing love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins. Practice hospitality ungrudgingly. As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God’s grace” (1 Peter 4:8-10).

And even if you are not called to be a catechist, you are just as surely called. Whether it is as apostle, prophet, teacher, worker of miracles, healer, helper, administrator, or speaker of tongues – if you haven’t done so already then step out! Light a spark. Set the world on fire!