AND NOW IT IS YOUR TURN

Waiting for a delayed flight at Charles de Gaulle airport late on a Sunday evening had its compensations: A Cabaret! Well, of a fashion. The artistes were 5 and 4 respectively and their repertoire was every known nursery rhyme under the sun. At the end of each performance by the 5 year old, she told her little brother, ‘Now it's your turn.' And dutifully he copied her, so we got everything twice over. What a long evening that was!

But those words are something that I want to say to some of you: Now it is your turn. But what do I mean? Well, I've been looking round the parish at some of those who exercise a ministry (readers, communion, greeters etc), those who clean the church or are involved in this way and that; and I have noticed (or rather been told by the folk concerned) that the age profile is [I have to be delicate here!] of a senior nature. As one woman put it, ‘We're past our sell by date!'

That is why I would like to augment with newer blood the ministries and duties undertaken in the parish. So: it is your turn. If you are not engaged in a ministry or some parish activity, will you please consider it? Don't consider why you CAN'T do it, but rather consider how you CAN do something. I would love people to volunteer to create welcoming teams at each Mass. I would love people to volunteer to be on the readers' rota or to be a minister of communion, to do some church cleaning, help with the Children's' Liturgy, give a bit of time in the sacristy getting things ready for Mass. I would love to form a bereavement support group. This sort of action builds community; it is one way of belonging, of ‘owing' the parish. So please volunteer; write down your name a details and hand them to one of the priests. At the very least, be ready to say ‘yes' when you are asked to play your part.