3 minute read
OUR PARISH COUNCIL: Fostering a Spirit of Unity throughout Our Entire Faith Community
Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, with our unique talents that can be put to use to glorify the Lord and serve His church. We all need to take the time to pray and ask the Lord the words of the church hymn, “Servant Song,” “What do you want of me, Lord?”
Greg Daniels asked the Lord that question, and he felt called to the Parish Council, where he has served for about three years. A member of St. Monica for 27 years, Greg serves as Chair of the Parish Council, alongside seven other members.
Advertisement
“If you open yourself up to God, He will show you where to go,” Greg says. “The time is never going to be perfect for taking on a ministry or getting involved with a new ministry. You need to go out on faith and ask for God’s guidance to serve our community with your gifts.”
Greg enjoys being involved in the Parish Council. He looks forward to working with Fr. John McCaslin to lead a Parish Council project to set up five commissions to oversee the parish ministries. The commissions are worship and prayer; stewardship and engagement; Catholic education; youth and family life; and social justice and evangelization.
“The project’s goal is to work collaboratively with the commissions to help align parish ministries,” Greg says. “This will help us better bring people together and enrich diversity.”
The main goal of the Parish Council is to unify St. Monica, no matter a person’s race or what Mass they attend. We want to all be united as one family of St. Monica parishioners. Fr. John values this goal and that makes Greg proud to be a member here.
“We are known for our diversity, and Fr. John is passionate about bringing that to life,” Greg says.
In particular, Greg appreciates that the Parish Council members are also diverse and that its members are committed to productive meetings. It’s a dedicated group that works well together.
Greg has always felt so welcome at St. Monica. He wants to make sure everyone who enters the doors of our parish feels that way. Having been raised Catholic in the Atlanta area, local priests often came to his childhood home for meals and other events.
“The priests were like our family,” Greg says. “I have the same feeling here at St. Monica.”
The Parish Council meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. They are open to adding members.
“We want to leave St. Monica a better place for those who join in the future,” Greg says.
