Being part of the parish community

BY SAMUEL FRANCIS ISM

An African proverb states that man is nothing without man; he is born in his hand and dies in his arms. In traditional Africa, people live together in the harmony of a village, as members of a large family. In this family a person does count not so much as an individual but as a member of the community. Thus a human being is defined by his relationship with others because from the very beginning right up to the end of his life, he is with them and depends on them.

“The parish congregation contains a network of relationships—close, loose and anonymous—that form its human texture.” (CNS photo/Nancy Phelan Wiechec)

In such a society it is the community which gives meaning to a person’s existence as far as it gives a sense of belonging, of identity and security. Outside the community, a person loses his identity because he no longer belongs to it.

Human beings are God’s friends not because they were born at the same time or because they belong to the same clan but because they have been walking together for a long time. We go to God and experience God together as a community of believers.

It is no coincidence that in our liturgy we use mostly plural pronouns: “we”, “our” and “us”. We who are related to God in and through our faith in God are ourselves related to each other as fellow believers. God calls each one of us into a personal relationship with him, but at the same time God’s call is a call to a community. We are called personally, but we are also called into a community.

But how much do we feel part of our parish communities?

So often we treat our parishes as petrol stations rather than as genuine communities where we should feel a strong sense of belonging. Like motorists dashing to a petrol station to fill their tanks, we pop in for a quick Mass instead of gathering around the altar as the people of God; and we only come back when in need of other services.

Our parishes are not always the beautiful communities they ought to be. In these communities, sometimes the presence of certain people makes life difficult for others and that is so unfortunate.

Most people would rank the parish community far down on their list of the places where they belong and where they feel most at home, below places like football clubs and other recreational sites, the children’s schools, places of employment, and so on. No wonder many people would rather arrive just in time for the celebration and dash out as soon as the priest leaves the altar.

Christians who don’t feel much part of the parish community become restless when the celebrations take long and sometimes even walk away because they want to get back to the comfort of their homes and other recreational places.

It is interesting to note how many of us find it easy to adhere to the rules and regulations in all other places except in our parishes. We uphold and promote the ideals of our political parties, defend the constitutions of our various groups, but we overlook the teachings and requirements of our Christian faith.

We throw parties for our families and friends, contribute heavily towards the agendas of our political parties or other organisations — but we tighten the purse strings when it comes to matters pertaining to our parish communities.

Our parish communities offer us an opportunity to interact with others in diverse ways. The parish congregation contains a network of relationships – close, loose and anonymous – that form its human texture. Our celebrations form part of a sacramental graced economy where things divine and human act together.

Jesus did offer the sacrament of community, the sign of the kingdom that was to come, as a gift in its own good time. Let us enjoy the gift of our parish community when we have the time to do so.

It is ironic that when we imagine our lifeless bodies being brought into church for our funeral, we hope that our casket will stay long enough there for people to view our body and pray over it, to let the choir and congregation sing, and comprehensive eulogies be delivered before our ashes are placed in the parish wall of remembrance. But when we are alive, we might make no time for the same church.

In a parish community, just like in every human society, things will not always be done the way we would like them to – but that should not be an excuse to let us be passive in our community activities.

Let us support and accommodate one another in the parish community, since we are all children of the same God.