St. Mary Magdalen Church Expansion March 28, 2004 BUILDING
GOD’S HOUSE IN OUR TIME PARISHES
CENTER
OF CATHOLIC FAITH By
Cardinal Justin Rigali The Second Vatican Council, in its decree on Bishops in the Church teaches that, as a specific community of the faithful, parishes are established on a stable basis within a particular Church, whose pastoral care is entrusted to a parish priest as its own shepherd under the authority of the diocesan bishop. The parish is a local expression of the life of the diocese as well as the universal Church. As such, each parish ensures that authentic Catholic doctrine is taught clearly, that the Eucharistic liturgy and sacraments are reverently celebrated, and that the poor and ill are cared for with Christian compassion. All of these actions are performed, under the guidance of the parish priest in union with the diocesan bishop, as a sign of the communion which we share as a local Church and with the Apostolic See. The parish appropriately is seen as the location of the celebration of life’s most significant events. Whether we mark the beginning of life in Christ (Baptism), the reception of the gift of the Holy Spirit (Confirmation), the nourishing and strengthening of our Christian bond (Eucharist), the cleansing of our soul and our healing and uplifting (Penance and Anointing of the Sick) or the lived response to God’s call (Marriage), the parish is that place where these sacred moments are performed. Further, the parish has the obligation to provide for the religious education and formation, not only of children, but also of adults, as well as the duty to care for the poor in a spirit of social justice. The parish also stands ready to open its arms to provide those sacred rites of Christian burial at life’s end, as well as to minister to the bereaved. For all of these reasons, the parish is truly the center of the daily, active expression of our Catholic faith. The history of our Archdiocese shows that, through the years, parishes have grown and flourished, while others have declined. Growth and decline are indicative of the demographics of a particular area. In some cases, parishes are bursting with members and it becomes necessary to create a new parish to accommodate the rapidly growing number of Catholics.
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