OLMC’s monthly collection for Elizabeth’s House will be held on Aug. 28th & 29th after all Masses

We are just a week away from our 6th Annual People Raiser. (For those who are new, while other parishes have fundraisers we at Mt. Carmel have People Raiser’s. People are the most important capital and resource in any Parish.) This is how we give flesh to the Christian definition of success and happiness. We are the Body of Christ, not the Soul of Christ. Which is to imply that we are his hands, feet, voice and ears. The rubber has to hit the road. Action must flow from our worship lest it become an exercise in self-justification. The Eucharist is the place where mercy meets human need.

What we hope to accomplish is to have as many parishioners as possible participate in the various ministries here at Mt. Carmel. Why? Because we as disciples of Jesus take seriously his words “I came to serve not to be served.” By being obedient to the call to service we are setting ourselves up for greater share of joy and happiness.

The happiest and most fulfilled people I see are those who are consistent in their service. Not that they have to spend lots of time being involved in service but simply a disciplined steady commitment allows service to plant deep roots and bear much fruit. If you are saying to yourself, “I would really like to but I’m just too busy” then something is out of sync in your life. Be careful not to labor in vain, nor to build up for yourself treasure that will rust, become moth eaten or stolen. If your priorities are in order, God first, then acts of service will become a normal, regular course in your life. Besides we have so many ways, big and small for you to serve. No excuses accepted!

Our service to the Body of Christ is one of the non-negotiables of Christianity. We are each other’s responsibility, our brother’s keeper, if you will. In other words we have to take care of each other and beyond. I’ll say it again: we have to take care of each other. And consider that you have been given gifts, talents or resources with which only you can use to help another person.

The socio-economic progression of our culture has lead to an ever-increasing reliance on government to take care of us. This we already know is the least effective way of extending a societal safety net. Rather than families caring for families and community members looking after community members we have a bureaucratic maze that is almost impossible to navigate. The recent way that BP Oil chose to give the government the funds to help those affected by the Gulf oil spill rather than to private charities disconnects people from helping people and weakens the bonds of community. We can also use this as a way to let ourselves off the proverbial hook of responsibility. A large part of what we can give that a government bureaucracy cannot, is care and compassion. Specifically the kind of care and compassion that renews a person’s sense of dignity by reminding them that they are a child of God.

So while we have an adequate theological foundation for service and a clear community obligation it still requires an individual commitment from one and all. Now is the time to step up to the plate. Living life on the sidelines is, well, boring. Be a player not a spectator. See you at People Raiser 6!

Love, Fr. John B.

Fr. John Bonavitacola

PS You can watch all our previous People Raiser Videos on our web site. Just Click on the Media/Video Archives on the left hand menu.