Grateful Discipleship: What is my role as a disciple?

What is my role as a disciple for my parish – my family – my community – my ministry?

The more and more that I learn about Grateful Discipleship, the more I am convinced that this is the direction that we must go as Christ by the Sea Catholic Collaborative and me personally as a disciple of Jesus. Grateful Discipleship is a call for every parishioner of the Collaborative, whether you are 3 years old or 93 years old, whether you are a member of a family, a single person, a priest, a staff member, or a full-time Coordinator of Youth Ministry for almost 31 years. God has given all of us so much and I believe that we must show our thanks to God through the sharing of our time, talent, and treasure.

In my ministry with young people and families, I share the call of discipleship in faith formation classes, in Confirmation preparation sessions, on mission trips and Christian service projects, on retreats that I do here and in other parishes and on the committees that I serve. At the end of a talk, session, or meeting, I sometimes ask myself if I am only “talking the talking” but not “walking the walk” in my everyday life as a disciple. More often than not, I am not happy with my answer.

Many of us are blessed to have good jobs. I have a great job that just happens to be as a Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the Catholic Church. My job includes participating in Christian Service, teaching the Gospel message in word and deed in the programs that I coordinate, go to Mass, and try to be the best version of a disciple that I can be to the young people and the parishioners that I have the honor and blessing to minister with. But that is just my job!

I have been bringing the Grateful Discipleship to prayer for the last few weeks. I keep asking myself, what is my role as a disciple for my home parish, my family, my community and my ministry? How should I participate in the Grateful Discipleship Program in my entire life?

I am good about praying at a meeting, at a class or a session, or at the start of a Christian Service opportunity. When I am not the Coordinator of Youth Ministry, many times my prayer life is shallow. It is not consistent or very deep. Sometimes it feels like the only time I pray is when I need something, when I am asked to at a family holiday meal or when someone asks for prayers. Because of Grateful Discipleship, I need to deeply look where I can spend time in daily and weekly prayer and how can I better take advantage of the Sacraments.

I must ask myself, what kind of Christian Service am I doing outside of my job? I try to be kind to people that I pass by and meet. I work hard to be nice to cashiers, to company representatives on the phone and to waitstaffs even when I am frustrated. From time to time, I will donate to the local food or clothing pantry. Because I don’t carry cash, if someone asks me for money and I am near a store or restaurant, I will ask if I could get them something to eat or drink instead of just walking by. My son and I started a tradition quite a few years ago and restarted again this Christmas. We purchase $5.00 gift cards to either McDonalds or Seven Eleven and pass them out in the Boston Common and Downtown Crossing. I also have some charities and organizations that I give to on a regular basis. But if I am being honest, one of them is not my parish. Because of Grateful Discipleship, I will be taking to prayer what should I be giving to my Church, whether it is weekly, monthly, yearly, or even just at special collections.

I serve on several committees/boards. I am the Coordinator of Region One for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry, Clerk on the Board of Directors for the Olancho Aid Foundation in Honduras, directors’ team for the Church in Action Middle School Mission Trip Program, on the New England Youth Ministry and Faith Formation Leaders Committee and a town meeting member. I try my best to share my leadership ability and my youth ministry experience. I do not help at all in my home parish. Because of Grateful Discipleship, I must ask myself, can I offer to be a Lector or Eucharistic Minister? Do I serve on one of the boards for the parish or school? Should I volunteer to be a resource to the Confirmation Prep or Youth Ministry Programs

Why should we share our gifts of time, talent, and treasure with the Collaborative?

• God is inviting all of us to be part of Grateful Discipleship Program.
• It is our way to thank God for all that we have and for who we are!
• The Collaborative will be better for you sharing your gifts with us.
• Bringing your gifts to the table will help us go to the next level of professionalism with our present programs and events.
• The more that young people and adults step up – the more opportunities and new initiatives that we can offer our parishioners.
• We are sharing the Gospel Message.
• We will be a more vibrant collaborative.
• With additional resources – we will be able to put them into present and future programing to make them more vibrant and sustainable.
• It will make a positive impact in your journey.
• Gives an opportunity for new and old parishioners to be part of life of the parishes.
• It is the first time that you have felt invited to be part of a committee or ministry.
• You are a witness to your family, friends and community. People will want to follow you.
• We need all of you!
• St. Mary’s and St. Anthony’s are YOUR parishes.

These coming weeks – I will be taking all of this to prayer for myself and all the parishioners for the Christ by the Sea Catholic Collaborative. I ask that you do the same for yourself, for me and for our communities.