Dear People of St. Theresa’s Parish,

  Last week I wrote about religious education and the transmission of faith from an older generation to the youngest of our members in the Church. I asked people to volunteer to fill some critical positions in the religious education program so that the process of catechesis will continue at Saint Theresa’s Parish for another generation.

  This week I write about the volunteers who make Saint Theresa’s Parish work. Many people in the parish work together and enjoy the gift of faith from God. The religious education teachers, administrators and helpers do precisely that whenever they engage students. Whether in or out of the classrooms, religious educators inspire students to live the faith transmitted through sacred scripture and church tradition. Liturgical ministers take roles at mass and at other celebrations to serve the faithful. Others fill packages for service members and mail them. Others bring and distribute food for people who do not have enough to eat. Others provide the social fabric that brings people together in community to share joy and love among the people of Saint Theresa’s Parish. Some serve on committees to administer the parish.

  Bishop McManus wrote about such people in his Pastoral Letter and cited such people to be the ones who keep parishes alive and vibrant. Recent workshops about stewardship in parishes highlight such individuals. They are people who seriously care about the gospel and want it to become alive. Their commitment enables them to share their “time, talent and treasure” so that the gospel becomes alive in the hearts and spirits of the people who worship with them at mass.

  Think about it this way: It is more fun to play in the game than to sit on the bench; it is more important to play than to be a spectator. While the fans at Fenway Park are very important, the players in the uniforms with bats and gloves have the greatest influence on the scoreboard. If you are not already a player at Saint Theresa’s Parish, think and pray about becoming one. When a bulletin announcement asks for people to volunteer stand up and make yourself known. When you see a need, fill it.

  Some might say that they are too busy with other things. Others wait to be asked personally. Courage is a gift of the Holy Spirit that enables the Christian to do what God wants him or her to do. Pray for that gift and a gift of a generous heart to produce thirty, sixty, or a hundredfold in the vineyard of the Lord.

  Within a couple of months I will advertise for volunteers to come to training sessions to fill positions at the parish. I would be a foolish pastor if I failed to train people to carry out a task. Come to the training with a desire to live the gospel in service of God. I tell all new young altar servers that they will be altar servers not to serve the priest, not to show off to their family and friends, but only to serve God.

   Fr Paul Bomba