"... The parish is the presence of the church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God's word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration. In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers. It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a center of constant missionary outreach."
- The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis, #28, 2013
Parishes are the places where the mission is put into action. The parish is where, for all Catholics, the rubber is meant to hit the road. This is where we come together to celebrate the source and the summit of our faith, the Eucharist. It is where we are to be nourished and supported to carry Jesus to the world, our world, of everyday interactions.
Parishes are meant to be welcoming communities, places of encounter, schools of stewardship, hubs of service, and the ground for identifying and raising up leaders, all leading from our connect to the Lord in Eucharist, and supported by a community of other sisters and brothers with whom we are called to share the journey.
