Pastor's Corner, February 23, 2014

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

The parish plays a critical role in the new evangelization. Pope Francis defines a parish as “the presence of the Church in a given territory” (“The Joy of the Gospel,” 28). He assures us that “a parish is not an outdated institution” (28) but, precisely because of the way it can be in touch with the homes and lives of people, it can be a great place for people to encounter Christ and His saving Gospel.

In order for our parish to be an instrument of the new evangelization, it must be a place where the activities of the parish help train its members to be evangelizers. Through the homily, catechetical outreach (Catholic school, PREP, RCIA, adult education, etc.), social gatherings, charitable works for the poor, and the beauty of the liturgy, parishioners are trained and formed into apostles. As the Holy Father says, “In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers” (28).

The Pope goes on to explain that many other movements, organizations and institutions outside the parish can enrich the Church in her mission to evangelize but “it will prove beneficial for them not to lose contact with the rich reality of the local parish and to participate readily in the overall pastoral activity of the particular Church” (29).

In Christ,

Msgr. Baker