Dear Fellow Parishioners, As I mentioned before, I am taking the “Kick Start” course for pastors with Divine Renovation. This is a follow-up on the meeting seven of us attended in June at St. Mary’s in Uxbridge. This course is a real eyeopener for me. I keep wondering what is happening with parish life, why somepeople are reluctant to make commitments to parish life, why some parishes are struggling to keep parishes and parish life afloat, and the doors open. Why do we see some families for faith formation when their children are making sacraments and then they disappear after that? Why do so many have no intention or desire to keep holy the sabbath by gathering for weekend Mass? Why are sports, dance, and other activities seen as more important than planting the seeds of faith? I keep thinking this is a result of Covid-19 lockdown, but that is not true. This happened long before that. Maybe it is the clergy sexual abuse scandal? No, this change in thinking was taking place even before that! There is no doubt that our parish is in maintenance mode, and we need to be on mission. We say we have a mission. We have a mission statement, it is posted on our website: “Becoming and Making Disciples, Welcoming All to Follow Jesus Christ!” We are a very welcoming parish, but are we actually making disciples, faithful followers of Jesus Christ? In my course we were asked this question: “Do your parishioners see themselves as ‘guests’ or ‘hosts’ when they come to church?” We learned the difference between the two: “A guest naturally expects to be waited upon and looked after. A host on the other hand makes an effort to receive people and care for them. A host prepares and makes sacrifices (e.g., gives up their seats), a host welcomes guests and puts them at ease, and - most importantly - a host invites people to come to the celebration.” How do you see yourself as a “fellow parishioners?” Next weekend, November 11th and 12th, Rob Callahan will be inviting us to renew our stewardship commitments to the parish. For many this will not be a renewal, it will be a first-time commitment to share time, talent, and treasure. The bottom line is, are you committed to move from “guest” to “host?”