The Gift of Parish Ministry
“Impelled by the gospel and outraged by the injustices of our day, we seek truth, make peace and reverence life!” (Adrian Dominican Sisters’ Vision Statement, 2004 General Chapter)
At St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Brighton, Michigan, we promote lay leadership. In 1994, I was presented with a gift. This gift was not wrapped with beautiful paper and a large bow; no, it was the gift of being asked to be the director of religious education at the then-known parish of the New Catholic Community of Brighton. Since then, I have been unwrapping the gift. What a blessing it has been to me and, hopefully, to the new St. Mary Magdalen Parish!
The parish of St. Mary Magdalen began in 1993. It was an awesome experience. About 300 families began the parish at Farms Middle School in Brighton. The parish had gatherings and prayed; new leadership evolved and community gatherings happened. I was blessed to be part of this wonderful experience. St. Mary Magdalen grew and centered itself on liturgy and prayer. Children who grew up in this parish community now take on adult leadership roles. Parish involvement continues to thrive!
One of my goals has been to assist women in their prayer life. When we first began, maybe one or two women participated. As time has gone on, many, many women have chosen to broaden their prayer life and to find God in new and exciting ways. The parish offers a retreat for women every year. These retreats usually take place at Weber Center in Adrian. During the remainder of the year, I invite the women to my home. We meet, share our stories, and listen to the Word—using journaling as a way to study scripture, reflect on it in our lives, and then draw an artistic response. We exchange journals and share our responses; we share our experience as Women Called. These gatherings have resulted in much community bonding among the women.
Our parishioners have challenged me to find the Lord with new eyes, new intensity and new love. The truth is that I am willing to grow in my own prayer life. Over the past years, my prayer life has grown, changed, been challenged, exploded and come back to reality. What is the truth I am impelled to preach? How do I grow in my prayer life or discover new ways to pray with different media? Am I open to see the Lord in new and exciting ways and to realize that others are also open to grow in their prayer life?
I preach by doing, ministering and witnessing in our parish. I preach by example and by challenging myself to grow more than I imagined. Each year, as I continue to unwrap this gift of ministry,I realize how exciting, challenging and wonderful a gift it is. Each year that I am here at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, I realize more and more this awesome opportunity for me to minister with this parish community. Thanks be to God, Amen! ALLELUIA!