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| Pew ministry - a partial job description for parishioners |
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Staff members have job descriptions, leaders and ministers have defined tasks that spell out what is expected of them. The rank and file parishioners, however, usually have nothing by which to know their role and function in the parish. What follows is a partial list of what they are called to do.
Sign up: Become a member, be counted, belong, choose to stand up and be part of the parish. This may appear obvious but there are many who stay on the margins and never make a commitment. It usually takes a personal invitation, a gentle nudge to entice them to take this step. One example is a yearly registration card in the pews. This is a simple form in the pews throughout the month of March or October (the two months with the highest church attendance) on which people can update their census information, including new email addresses, cell phone numbers and whether children who are no longer living at home are to be included as members of the parish. Those who do not hand in a registration card are called and asked whether they wish to remain a member of the parish. Those who have not registered are urged to fill out a card and put it in the collection basket. Attend: Being a member means showing up. This may not happen every weekend, but at least ask that they come a few times a month. Help people find the liturgy that suits them. For instance, some might like the quiet Mass on Sunday morning that has no singing, only instrumental music to set the tone. It includes shorter homilies, more time for reflection, fewer announcements or "extras." For others there is a family Mass for children and parents together, or a more formal liturgy with choir and special rituals, or a Sunday night Mass with contemporary music where the youth are the liturgical ministers. Others may gravitate to a Mass in Spanish, Vietnamese or some other language. Whatever their preference, people are encouraged to come worship as part of the parish community. Join In: When people do attend they need to be invited and encouraged to take an active part. If they are sitting at the end of the pew, help them become welcomers to those who come looking for a seat. It takes some reminding to invite people to this ministry of hospitality. One priest asked people to do an S.O.S. when there were people standing in the back and along the aisles. "Slide Over Sweetie," was his plea. Amazingly it work; there was plenty of room for everyone. At another parish, a person not only got up and allowed someone to get into the pew beside him, but when there was no more room, he volunteered to leave his seat so a mother with a small child could sit down. Joining in also means picking up a songbook when the hymn is announced. Even if the person doesn't sing, at least there is a show of interest. It means connecting with people for the greeting of peace, making a genuine gesture of openness. Those attending Mass during the week are usually a good example of connecting during this greeting, whether waving to someone they know or making a special effort to reach out to others close by. Contribute: Giving of one's time and livelihood are the hallmarks of belonging. People need reminders of what they are expected to contribute, both time and money. Bottom line: everyone needs to work on at least one project, join one committee or serve in one ministry in a given year. Also, each parishioner, whether working, retired or in school, needs to give back to God a portion of what they have received as income. All or part of this contribution goes to the parish as an indication that they belong to the faith community and want to see it succeed. Tom Sweetser, SJ & Peg Bishop, OSF This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (www.pepparish.org) Parish Newsletter - April 2007 A Service of the Parish Evaluation Project Milwaukee, Wisconsin Reproduced on the OPRFM website with permission |
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