What is a parishioner?
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What does it mean to be a parishioner of Saint William? If asked, what would you say? Our initial response might simply be that a parishioner is an individual or family who is registered at the parish or lives within the parish geographical boundary assigned by the diocese. As a pastor, for example, I am responsible for serving every soul within this boundary, Catholic and non-Catholic alike. It is a beautiful gift and responsibility each pastor is granted.
Others of us may identify as parishioners of Saint William after receiving a Sacrament from our parish. Perhaps it was at Saint William where your children (or you) were baptized, received First Holy Communion, or were confirmed or married. A parish is a place where we gather as family and worshp the One True God. We serve one another in ministry, gathering in small community to grow in prayer, service, and in understanding of our faith. Our parish is where we encounter Christ at the banquet table of the altar and in other forms as well.
As we grow in faith, what are we called to do?
In many of my homilies I preach about how we are called to go out into the world to build up God’s Kingdom. Saint Paul in his letter to the Romans states:How are men to call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!
Saint William is our family, our home. After we exit the doors of the church, we are sent out to live the Beatitudes the Lord offered in last week’s Gospel of Matthew 5:1-12a. It is through our commitment to our parish that we grow as one family to live out the Gospel.
As one family, we must work together for God’s glory and the success of our parish.
As we mature in faith, we mature in membership. Being a parishioner is not forced upon us, but instead comes from a deeper place—within each of us. Let us reflect on that for a moment. I will share one example that comes to mind for me:On one late afternoon, I pause at the threshold of our sanctuary, glancing at the windows as the rays of sunlight catch the vibrant colors of the stained glass. As I stand there in silence, I am reminded of the joy I experienced during our Unity Rosary a few months ago, listening to one language, then another, and then another—19 voices representing 19 languages of our parish coming together in prayer within our church walls.
This is just one moment of many I hold close that makes me feel honored to be a parishioner of Saint William. As we think about what it means to be a parishioner, I invite you to reflect on what some of these moments, or encounters, might be for you.
As your Pastor, and parishioner of Saint William, you can count on me to continue serving our parish to the best of my ability and invite you to do the same. I pray you will stand up with me and say, “You can count on me!” That is, that we will not be invisible Christians, but instead, live our faith fervently with intentionality and in such a way that fosters a place of encounter within our parish community and beyond—in docility and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
I invite you to stand up with me and say, “Here I am Lord, you can count on me!”
May God bless you!
Fr. Francisco Rodriguez III
Pastor
