Dear fellow parishioners,
 
Some of you may remember Art Linkletter’s portion of his program, “Kids say the darndest things!” Well, on Sunday morning at the front of the church before First Communion I asked the kids, “Hey, who wants to be an Altar Server?” One young man responds, “I want to be a pilot!” Pam informed him that Deacon Tom is a pilot. The expression on his face was priceless!
 
We all have hidden talents, and they need to be shared! How wonderful it is to see families involved in ministry together. Fathers and sons reading at Mass, a mother passing the basket with her child strapped to her back as the younger kids help with the collection. A whole family all involved with ministry at the same Mass is a great gift to our community.
 
Several families have joined our parish simply because they see our willingness to welcome everyone into ministry. The way we build community is by being involved in the parish. Involvement allows us in getting to know others as we share our gifts with each other. Involvement in ministry is one of the best ways to learn about our faith.
 
In the sacristy before Mass begins, there are some wonderful conversations that go on. As I listen, I hear words of encouragement, and people getting to know each other, some asking for prayers, assistance in pronunciation, laughter, and affirmation. I sometimes want to close the door because I know people are coming in to pray before Mass. However, some have mentioned how uplifting the “banter” in the sacristy is.
 
I love it when people going by the sacristy pop their heads in and ask if we need any help. Being comfortable in front of others helps us all grow and mature. Besides, when we serve within the context of a loving community of faith, it brings out the best in each other. Our favorite line, “Remember, no one knows what we are supposed to do, so don’t worry about making a mistake!” And of course, we all remember, “A mistake is not a sin!”
 
We all have hidden talents! Few know how graceful I am on the dance floor! As the invitation to ministry is extended, let’s encourage each other to share our gifts, even if you want to be a pilot!
                                                                 
                                                                        Happy Easter!
                                                                                   Fr. Bill