Lay Life in a Year

52 Reflections on JPII's vision for the Laity

Week 34: Overlooked at the Parish?

Do you ever feel like your dedication to the parish is taken for granted?

As we get involved at our local Church, we find disregard more frequently than appreciation as we give our time, talent, and treasure.  After pouring in our heart and soul, we are left unnoticed.

St. John Paul II doesn’t gloss over this experience of neglect. Instead of sweeping it under the rug, he took a bold step and reaffirmed the necessary and unique role of laity. He declared that our activity within the Church, “is so necessary that without it,” the priest’s own vocation falls apart. Without our engagement, the very structure of a parish grinds to a halt.

As parishioners , it is essential to engage and lend our talents so that the Church may grow. Without us, the Church is left dead and barren.

It’s our calling to build a vibrant, welcoming community—a “village fountain”—where everyone can quench their thirst for fellowship and faith.

How does this sense of community help our own individual holiness? Next week, St. John Paul II breaks down our own personal calling!

Lay Life in a Year Overview

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Week 36 – An Unexpected Discovery from 1979

When I was a kid, my dad was obsessed with one particular VHS tape—it was like some secret treasure from the past. He held it out with a grin and said, “Now I’ll show you what basketball is supposed to look like.”  It was the 1979 NCAA championship game—Larry Bird vs....

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Week 35: Answering God’s Call—Even in the Small Things

It was a regular Wednesday—sun shining, birds chirping—and there I was: 15 years old, grumbling as I stood over the lawnmower. Mom had asked me to mow the lawn, and like most teenagers, I dragged my feet. The job seemed pointless and hot, and honestly, I’d rather be...

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Week 33: From Cranberry Cookies to the Eucharistic Family

We often hear phrases like "family of God" and "a welcoming home." But what do these truly look like in our daily lives? What is their deeper meaning? My grandma ‘s cookies were an acquired taste–cranberries, pecans, and unusual spices. Initially, I didn’t like them...

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