Parish Ministries

"As I Have Done for You," comes from the Gospel of John. After washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus tells them: "As I have done for you, you should do also" (John 13:15). It expresses the conviction that all ministry in the Church, ordained and nonordained, is rooted in Christ the Servant.

While the number of priests is declining and their average age rising, the number of Catholics is increasing. The gifts of the lay faithful have been flourishing in unprecedented numbers and in wondrous ways. As the priests continue to explore different understandings and models of ministry, there is a deepening awareness that even as we are faced with a shortage of priestly and religious vocations, we are being invited to a deeper understanding of the nature of the Christian vocation. We all are gaining a fuller appreciation of ministry, both ordained and nonordained. The Holy Spirit is leading us toward new horizons.

Adapted from Cardinal Roger Mahony's
Pastoral Letter on Ministry