Belonging to a Parish Community
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Parishes are the home
of our Christian community;
they are the heart
of our church
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For most Catholics, the parish is where the mission of Christ continues. The parish is first of all a people who have been called together by God. It takes shape in the context of faith and prayer and is essential to the life of the church. It is within the parish that the most intimate concerns of the individuals and the broadest reaches of the Church's mission come together.
The Christian faithful, incorporated in Christ through baptism, are the "People of God." Each parish community has its own unique identity, since it is composed of the people who constitute it. Parishes are part of the larger church because of their connection to a Diocese.
Active membership in a parish provides people the opportunity to enrich their faith life through worship within a community. Parishioners may join the parish leadership to help carry out the parish mission. Parish social activities provide the community the opportunity to put their faith into action. Not only is a person's faith life enhanced by active involvement within a parish, but the community is enhanced as a whole as well.
The Catholic bishops of the United States, in Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Mission of the Parish (1993), describe the parish in this way:
"The parish is where the church lives. Parishes are communities of faith, of action, and of hope. They are where the Gospel is proclaimed and celebrated, where believers are formed and sent to renew the earth. Parishes are the home of the Christian community; they are the heart of our church. Parishes are the place where God's people meet Jesus in word and sacrament and come in touch with the source of the church's life."
Commit. Belong. Live your faith in Jesus Christ within a community of believers. Call or stop by the Parish Office, or pick up a registration card at the doors of the church.