PRAY FOR THE CHURCH LADIES
by Kristen West McGuire
Working for the Catholic Church can be wonderful…and challenging. A dear friend was convinced that Jesus loved her much more as a volunteer rather than a “tithe-collector.” She would lean in and intone to me, “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24).
Very few people become parish or diocesan employees for the money. If they do join for the cashflow, they will leave quickly. Yet, some special and amazing people are called to serve Jesus in His Church.
Sometimes fellow Catholics (both staff and parish members) can create serious roadblocks to charity and peace. Sometimes their behavior is less than Christ-like. And certainly we all fall short of the glory of God. But because of Jesus, we can find the strength to rise up and know better, and do better.
So here is your Lenten suggestion:
- Pray for the wonderful people who work in your parish office, most especially our clergy.
- Stay after an event to clean up.
- Bring a treat on a holy day of obligation.
- Ask how you can be helpful.
FOCUS does not just do college ministry anymore. Your parish can have a FOCUS missionary, too!
The Mark 5:19 Projectinspires thriving, apostolic parishes. Visit their website for resources, including a new Mission Ignite toolkit available this fall.
The National Association of Church Personnel Administrators is the human resources association for parish and diocesan staff. There is a job board at their website, just in case the Lord is calling you to serve Him. NACPA.org
Lord, We Pray:
• that women who work for the Church would enjoy the calm clarity that God is the source of their worth;
• for parishes that lack financial resources, that their members would increase their financial gifts;
• for parish priests and bishops, that they would shepherd and invest in the staff who work for them;
• for women in leadership roles in the Church, that they would be respected;
• that God would send a spirit of healing and repentance when a parish or diocese experiences disunity;
• for women who feel forgotten and misunderstood in a parish, that they would discover Christ’s love in surprising ways; and
• for perseverance in ministry.
Amen.
