Father Jim’s homily begins with an analogy to barn raising in American farming communities, where everyone comes together to build a barn for a neighbor in need. He draws a parallel to St. George’s Maronite Church in Thornleigh, where the parishioners contributed their skills—many being bricklayers and concreters—to construct the church nearly free of labor costs. This example highlights the power of community collaboration and shared responsibility in building something lasting. However, Father Jim reflects on the current situation in his own parishes, OLHC Epping and St. Gerard’s Carlingford, acknowledging that while they may not have the physical skills to build a church, they possess spiritual gifts that are just as vital in strengthening the Church, the Body of Christ.
Drawing from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Father Jim emphasizes that the Holy Spirit equips each person with unique gifts for the good of the Church. He introduces five key parish teams that exemplify this: the liturgy teams, responsible for planning meaningful worship experiences; the social justice team, which engages in projects supporting refugees, environmental care, and women and children at risk; the adult faith formation team, fostering ongoing spiritual learning through programs like Alpha and Lenten studies; the devotions team, which encourages personal and communal prayer practices like the Rosary and Eucharistic Adoration; and the catechist ministry, which educates children in state schools about the faith. Each of these ministries represents the diverse talents within the parish and the importance of using one’s gifts for the mission of the Church.
Father Jim concludes by encouraging the congregation to recognize and embrace their spiritual gifts. He reminds them that often, people discover their talents only when they take a step of faith and commit to serving in ministry. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, every member has the capacity to contribute to the growth of the Church and make a meaningful impact beyond their immediate community. He urges the parishioners to open their hearts to God’s calling, trusting that through collective faith and action, they can accomplish great things in their parish and beyond.
