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| What Do Our Priests And Parishes Expect Of Us | |
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| Topic Started: Saturday, 14. June 2008, 15:41 (145 Views) | |
| denis | Saturday, 14. June 2008, 15:41 Post #1 |
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What do our Priests and Parishes expect of us, well that is the leading question. Do we live our parish life as we should. Do we support any activeties that the parish has arranged. Are we prepared to accept change that we may not agree with at the time. Have we joined any org within in the parish.e.g KSC, Legion of Mary, SVP,etc. Have we INCREASED our weekly contribution inline with INFLATION Do we think that we know more than the priest. Are we too critical of those who in their own way think that they are doing the right thing (although it narks us at times). In truth can we call ourselves good parishoners Edited by denis, Saturday, 14. June 2008, 15:43.
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| Rose of York | Saturday, 14. June 2008, 17:47 Post #2 |
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Much Catholic witness and loving of God and neighbour takes place off the parish premises. |
  Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Lilo | Sunday, 15. June 2008, 04:38 Post #3 |
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Support. Especially since we now have so many foreign clergy who find conditions here so very different, the personal support they receive from a handful of parishioners is greatly appreciated. |
The root problem in a lot of bad catechesis is ultimately not ignorance, but pride. ~ Mark Shea
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| PJD | Sunday, 15. June 2008, 08:05 Post #4 |
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The homily at the vigil Mass yesterday concentrated on the fact that priests need assistance, particularly nowadays, from the laity. PJD |
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| Rose of York | Sunday, 15. June 2008, 23:54 Post #5 |
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Denis, we have been through this before, in one of your previous threads, in September 1997. http://s10.zetaboards.com/Catholic_CyberForum/topic/105423/2/#new Allow me please to run through the points you raise this time. Are we obliged to accept changes we may not agree with at the time? We do need to submit to authority, but debate is healthy. I imagine our lords and masters might want to know how the laity feel. Have we joined any org within in the parish.e.g KSC, Legion of Mary, SVP,etc. From time to time members mention their activities in their parishes. We have on this forum at least two parish webmasters, a parish finance committee member, catechists, and one Legion of Mary member. We also have a few members who are in no position to offer much in the way of voluntary work, due to sickness or other family commitments. Some Catholics do not join parish organisations, but do voluntary work in other fields, and of course there are people who do the good neighbour bit in their own locality, doing the sort of thing SVP and Legion of Mary do, but not necessarily doing it through the Church. There are Catholics who do meals on wheels delivery, voluntary work in charity shops, admin for local charitable groups. My personal attitude is, we should not restrict our "good works" to the parish, we should be part of the local community as well. Have we INCREASED our weekly contribution inline with INFLATION I cannot comment, none of the members has owned up to increasing or decreasing. Do we think that we know more than the priest. I know more than my parish priest, in certain matters in which I was trained or have experience, but I take it for granted he knows more than I about roles which are rightly his and not mine, and I accept that he is the only person with authority to make parish decisions. Are we too critical of those who in their own way think that they are doing the right thing (although it narks us at times). I don't think our forum members are too critical, I have not seen complaints about people who quietly make their contribution. The complaints I read are about situations in which a few dominate, and exclude others who are willing to join in. In truth can we call ourselves good parishoners YES. I'm a star!  |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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| Fortunatus | Monday, 16. June 2008, 11:13 Post #6 |
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You're quite right, Rose, but there has always been an undercurrent throughout most of my life that people who prefer to do their good works elsewhere are somehow "betraying" their fellow-parishioners. Better to join the parish Over-60s than the local Probus Club. "Why do you support the rugby club and not the Legion of Mary?" I was a member of the Legion of Mary many years ago; I find I am doing more good coaching youth rugby. I was chairman of the PTA in the days when my children were at the local school; I was a reader until we got a PP who decided that my "style" was out of fashion. (I didn't emote enough, I suspect!). I suspect that the demand that we should all do our good deeds inside the parish stems from the days of persecution. Supporting the parish boys football team is OK; the local rugby club or amateur football club is not. KSC is fine; Rotary Club is a bit suspect. (It's full of Protestants, you know!) For Protestant, read English. Or Orange. For Catholic, read ... Sorry, but that's how it looks still in too many places. And I get into trouble (no, seriously!) for being a Hearts supporter! |
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| Derekap | Monday, 16. June 2008, 15:05 Post #7 |
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I agree with Rose and Fortunatis (for once yes! Don't let this go to your head!). To some extents my efforts have been caused by someone not turning up. I was never a full-time Altar Server, but one day a priest begged someone to volunteer. Fortunately my friend (who was a regular) had taught me the ropes and pronounciation so I nervously went forward. There were plenty of such occasions since though I had to retire about five years ago. One Sunday morning (and some occasions afterwards) I was asked to pump the organ. The regular player was reasonably gentle, but the Choirmaster's son (both non-Catholic) played when he was on leave from the forces and it was was a wonder the organ didn't explode and leave me absolutely exhausted. Naturally I could look down from Heaven on the congregation. This led to taking the collection and on special occasions finding the few spaces for people coming in. I was supposed to be the very first lay reader in the parish but I was so petrified I'm afraid I left the curate puzzled. Sometime later we had a new parish priest and one Sunday morning he noticed there was no reader, he looked at me and signalled me "Come on!" with his head. So out I went and in no time I was on the list and a stand in when needed. The then parish priest (another) invited me to become a Special Minister, as the title was then. This led to one weekday morning when due to a misunderstanding between the parish priest and his curate neither turned-up nor were available. The church had been opened and the necessary keys were available. So a colleague and I made an announcement and provided for our first time what is now called a "Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion". When I 'phoned the pp tentatively later he said wonderful - so I was relieved. This will no doubt horrify certain readers. Though I tried to avoid it I was on a handful of occasions, Altar Server, Reader and EMHC. I have visited St Peter's, Vatican City, twice but fortunately for The Church the Pope was available! |
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| DeniseLawson | Tuesday, 17. June 2008, 09:16 Post #8 |
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I found the comment about the undercurrent that seems to imply that volunteer work outside the parish somehow betrays the parish or is second class to volunteer work within the parish interesting. The truth is, the local community needs those volunteers in both places, and what we may be be suited for at the time can depend on a number of factors but is best answered by prayer and seeking guidance - where does God want us to focus our energies in order to best serve him? Over the years I've been an EHMC, lector, cantor, in the choir, pianist for the church, and catechist, and I just recently let the pastor convince me into putting my name on the ballot for the parish council elections later this month. I've also gone for several periods of time in which I have not been an active volunteer. What I have done depended and continues to depends on what the parish needs and my own spiritual needs at the time - both of which will change over time. Anyways - just my two cents... |
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| Bob Crowley | Tuesday, 17. June 2008, 13:26 Post #9 |
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I'm inclined to the view that we should support both parish and community when it is within our power to do so. In a country where Catholics / Christians are persecuted this may not be possible. The opposite error is it get involved in too many things. I'm finding that now - in the Parish joining in with music (guitar player who is hard of hearing, so I need the music in front of me), reading (although I haven't read for a while since a particiular mass was dropped), and doing visits with St. Vincent de Paul. Outside the Parish, Toastmasters, a local ambulance committee (don't do much there), and a couple of other things. With two part time obs, I get tired. Yet the things God seems to want me to do are to get a job in administration dealing with the disabled, and to do some writing. I think I may have raised on another topic that one day I was whinging in my mind about lack of career prospects, when a voice cut right across my mind "Bob, what's wrong with being a writer!?" I relayed this event to my Catholic psychiatrist (for depression) who then told me of his own experience where he was sitting in his office when a voice simply said "Go to Maclean". A couple of months later at a family healing mass an aboriginal woman came up to him and said, "... I seem to be getting told you ought to go to Maclean". Always useful when your psychiatrist shares the same experiences. The psychiatrist's opinion is that I've been "nobbled" in my career prospects so that I'll write, being an observer by nature. Personally I'd prefer the career and let someone else be "nobbled". It's a bone of contention I often pick with God. The point is that sometimes we get so involved in doing things that God is not even expecting of us, whilst not doing those things he does expect us to do. |
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| Rose of York | Tuesday, 17. June 2008, 14:29 Post #10 |
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That is a good point, Bob. Doing too many things is not good for self, parish or community. |
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Catholic and proud of it! Talk to God before Mass. Talk to each other afterwards | |
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