One event that I especially enjoy each year is the Bishop’s Award Mass and reception at which we honor lay men and women for their volunteer work in our parishes and agencies with the Bishop’s Award for Service to the Church. On Saturday about 150 awardees and their families gathered at the Cathedral for a wonderful celebration of being Church.
It occurs to me that these are the people who are the Church. They are the readers, the parish council members, the ministers to the sick, the bazaar workers, the Eucharistic Ministers, the catechists, the scout leaders, the room mothers, the ushers, the marriage ministers the ones who clean up and wash dishes after parish events…the people who make up the Body of Christ.
Pastors sometimes tell me that it is difficult to select only two to receive the Bishop’s Award because there are so many parishioners who deserve recognition. I assure them that is the sign of a vibrant and successful parish and that there will be the opportunity to recognize others in the future.
As is always the case, the Mass and reception Saturday were joyful family events, a wonderful liturgy, good food, lots of picture taking and visiting, just a general good time. I noticed that people didn’t seem in a hurry to leave.
As a matter of fact, neither was I.