REFLECTION:

In the early Church, as we hear in Acts of the Apostles 6:1–7, everything seemed to be going well—people were coming to believe, the community was growing, and the apostles were preaching with power. But growth brought a challenge. Some members of the community were being overlooked. Needs were not being met. And so, the Church had to respond.

What is striking is this: the apostles did not say, “Let’s just pray about it and hope it works out.” Prayer remained essential—but they also recognized that the work had to be done.

So they called upon others. They invited members of the community to step forward, to serve, to take responsibility. In doing so, they showed us something fundamental about the life of the Church: we are not just a people who pray—we are a people who serve.

As a parish, this is our reality as well. Yes, we gather for Mass. Yes, we pray, we worship, we listen to the Word of God. But the Gospel does not end when Mass ends. The mission continues. The needs are real. And the work must be done.

This is why we call upon people to help minister at God’s table—not only in liturgical ministries like lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, and music—but also beyond the sanctuary:

• in social ministry, reaching out to those in need
• in the Legion of Mary, bringing Christ to others through prayer and visitation
• in caring for the homebound, ensuring they are not forgotten
• in the many quiet, unseen ways people serve every day

Even our school is a ministry—not just an institution, but a living expression of the Gospel. It is a place where the Word of God is not only taught but lived, where young people are formed not just academically, but spiritually, to know Christ and make Him known.

Acts 6 reminds us that the Church grows not just because of good preaching, but because people say “yes” to serving.

So I want to encourage you: you have a role in this mission.

Maybe you have been thinking about getting involved. Maybe you feel you don’t have enough time, or you’re not sure what you can offer. But the truth is, the Church is not built by a few—it is built by all of us, each offering what we can.

When you step forward to serve, you are not just filling a need—you are participating in the mission of Christ. You are helping the Word of God spread. You are helping someone encounter the love of God in a real and tangible way.

Let us be a parish that not only prays together, but works together. Let us be a people who not only hear the Word, but live it. And like the early Church, may our faith in action lead others to Christ.