Volunteer Appreciation
Sunday offerings are not the only gift that fuels the mission of the Church, though of course these are gratefully received and used to the best of our abilities. But volunteers are also essential to the life of the parish. At Sunday Mass, most of the people who make it happen are volunteer altar servers (and parents!), choristers, Communion ministers, readers, sacristans, ushers, and more. Volunteers also drive our social outreach and most of our catechetical programs. Still others assist me and the other clergy in the governance of the parishes.
In recognition of this important work, I am happy to host a volunteer appreciation event on March 3. (If you’re a volunteer, please mark your calendars!) Invitations are going out via various ministry and organization coordinators. But given the hundreds of volunteers we enjoy, invitations are a herculean task, and I’m sure to miss someone. If you’re a parish volunteer and you don’t get an invitation by February 16, please alert your parish receptionist and we’ll try to correct the failure. Thank you for your support of the mission of Christ and his Church!
If you’re not a parish volunteer, please consider becoming one. The first step is always to complete the Safe Environment program. In addition to the diligent background checks, the SE program also trains volunteers to recognize best practices and unacceptable risks in the protection of children and youth. These include how doors are locked or unlocked, how meetings and events are arranged, and how certain types of activities might blur the lines between wholesome and abusive contact. Our hope is that if every volunteer knows the best practices, then we can eliminate the conditions under which the young might be at risk.
Although the memorial of St. Blase is this year displaced by Sunday, the clergy of RocKenRo will be blessing throats after Masses on February 3.
Bp. Zubik will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to the youth and other candidates from RocKenRo on Thursday, March 14. In order to prepare, the youth of Holy Trinity are on retreat this coming Saturday. Please pray for them!
—Fr. Dave
