Parish Ministries

Jesus said to his disciples: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and every one that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit…”

Time and again Jesus taught us that He expects us, his disciples, to serve, to bear fruit, to work, to help.  He doesn’t suggest it…He expects it!  Often the Lord speaks harshly against those who don’t.

Refer to just a few other parables the Lord gave, such as the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30) or the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9).

Even the homebound can serve Christ through prayer, penance, and offering their sufferings up like Christ and with Christ on the Cross for some specific intention, and God will use it to bear fruit in the world for His Church.  The homebound are privileged in that way inasmuch as they are able to pray more extensively and dedicatedly than others. You have a way to bear fruit, even if you only begin by praying for the Church, or limited to only being able to do such. You can at least do that.

Jesus says, “The Son of Man came to serve not to be served, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” A good question to ask yourself, would anyone know that your life is ransoming someone else? Whether it be an apostolate of prayer or ministry of teaching or hospitality, all persons are called to serve, not to be served.

Refer to the parish ministries and consider helping in one of these ways.  Pray about your apostolate or ways God calls you and sends you to serve in the world.

And pray our parish prayer!  Everyday!