As a matter of faith and, therefore part of divine revelation, the laity is the largest group of Christ’s faithful. It is God’s revealed message to the world that the lay faithful are expected to be involved in the life of Christ through their parish.
Want to become an active member of the Good Shepherd Parish? Come and be a part of one or more of the many ministries such as volunteering in a parish or outreach ministry, faith formation of our students, or participating in community events by sharing your time, talents and your joy. To serve the Lord is easy! Come share in the beauty of our Catholic faith as we love God with all that we have and love each other as ourselves.
A parish should be ‘a ministering community and a community of ministers.’
–Gerard Egan in The Parish in Community and Ministry.
It is the noble duty of pastors to recognize the services and charismatic gifts of the laity. Pastors were not meant by Christ to shoulder alone the entire saving mission of the Church toward the world. (“Lumen Gentium” #30)
As sharers in the role of Christ as priest, prophet, and king, the laity have their work cut out for them in the life and activity of the Church. Their activity is so necessary within the Church communities that without it the apostolate of the pastors is often unable to achieve its full effectiveness. In the manner of the men and women who helped Paul in spreading the Gospel (cf. Acts 18:18, 26; Rom. 16:3) the laity with the right apostolic attitude supply what is lacking to their brethren and refresh the spirit of pastors and of the rest of the faithful (cf. 1 Cor. 16:17-18). (“Apostolate/Laity” #10)
“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone.” — 1 Corinthians 12:4-6