Getting Involved
There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same. There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all. The Spirit reveals his presence in each one with a gift which is also a service.
—First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians, 12:4-6
Our community at St. Brendan is blessed with many members, each with special gifts and talents they place at the service of others.
You can learn about our many existing ministries on this site. We hope you will take the initiative to join one of these ministries. Has God given you an exceptional voice? Then use it to sing his praises. Has God given you compassion? Then extend it to the homeless, or the imprisoned, or the homebound. Are you a good baker? Then bake bread for the liturgy. Any talent you have can be put at the service of the parish community and the poor and outcast among us.
If you have a particular gift you which to put at the service of others, but do not see an outlet for it among our existing ministries, perhaps you are being called to help set up a new ministry. Talk to the pastor to discern how your gifts may best be utilized.
The old days when Catholics were expected only to "pay, pray and obey" are over. This is the era of the laity, when strong communities unite together to help build the City of God in our midst.
If God is calling you to service, will you respond, "Here I am, Lord?"
The Judgment
How will you respond to this account of the Last Judgment?
Jesus said,
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all
the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he
will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates
the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who
are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world.
For I was hungry and you gave
me food, I was thirsty and
you gave me drink,
a stranger and you welcomed
me,
naked and you clothed me, ill and
you cared for me, in prison
and you visited me.'
Then the righteous will answer him and say,
'Lord, when
did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty
and give you drink?
When did we see you a stranger
and welcome you, or naked
and clothe you?
When did we see you ill or in
prison, and visit you?'
And the king will say to them in reply,
'Amen, I say to you,
whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you
did for me.'
Then he will say to those on his left,
'Depart from me,
you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil
and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave
me no food, I was thirsty
and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me
no welcome, naked and you
gave me no clothing,
ill and in
prison, and you did not care for me.'
Then they will answer and say,
'Lord, when did we see you
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison,
and not minister to your needs?'
He will answer them,
'Amen, I say to you, what you did not
do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous
to eternal life."
—Matthew 25: 31-46
