Catechetical Ministries in Motion
St. Joseph Church, Avenal
Last week I had the opportunity to visit the parish of St. Joseph in Avenal. I want to thank Fr. Oscar Anaya for the invitation to share a talk with potential extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion regarding the ministry and service itself and how it connects us in a more intimate manner with the celebration of the Liturgy. I also wanted to thank those that attended and the hospitality I received on their behalf.
Even though the parish of St. Joseph in Avenal is a small community, the attentiveness and enthusiasm of those present was a pleasure in the evening we shared. Aside from being able to provide elements of instruction and general guidance as to the role and service of the extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, I also wanted to convey the connectedness this ministry entails regarding our lives in general, the life outside the church walls.
The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (CSL), the first document promulgated by the Second Vatican Council, reaffirms that Christ is always present in his Church, especially in his liturgy celebrations. Christ is present when the Church prays and sings, in the proclamation of the word, and in the person of the minister. Finally, the Council emphasized that Christ is present above all under the Eucharistic species (CSL, no.7).
And it was in the person of the minister and those that partake in this service that I wanted to emphasize the importance of the presence of Christ wherever they find themselves. That our actions of reverence and devotion do not only apply within the setting of the Liturgy service but that it should also extend throughout the life we live in testimony of the faith we proclaim throughout our communities. A testimony in an ever-expanding presence of Christ through the ministry to those we serve and every capacity of which is required of us.
Article by Roman Flores, Catechetical Ministry Coordinator
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