The future of ministry at SJTW.

With the advent of this virus last spring we have been doing ministry in new ways.  As we have a discussion with the Parish Council trustees and staff we are asking what ministry will look like in the future and how we might address that in our activity.  Although we are getting nice groups of folks at our Masses on weekends it is a far cry from what we had before this virus.  We ask how many will be coming back once we all get vaccinated?  Several adults have told me how much they enjoy watching Mass when it is convenient, with coffee in hand and pausing the video when something interferes.  When we get back to a bigger crowd we are still not going to allow folks to bring their coffee into the church with the wooden floors.  Many of our children have been on Zoom for nearly a full year.  It is tough on them.  They need community and seeing other kids as well as their teacher.  I believe we all need that. The computer and the recordings of Mass are nice but they don’t suffice when we need connection with people.  As the Body of Christ we don’t have a finger here, a toe there, an organ in another corner.  Our body is all together.  We are certainly missing that as a faith community, a faith body.  I bring this up because as we continue to move ahead the question for us as a staff is how do we do ministry?  How do we pay for new things and new people?  We have been able to get by so far, but if we change anything what will we do?  That is why your participation in Commitment to Parish Life is so critical.  So I ask you to talk about your giving pattern within your family.  Pray about your giving back to God in gratitude for what He has first given to you.  Then make a thoughtful decision about your contributions to St. Joseph the Worker.  You have done great so far and I am grateful for you.  But as we go into a new style of ministry, will we have enough to provide that new ministry?  Fr. Mike