Pastor's Weekly Mutterings. About six years ago, St. Barnabas adopted a model of parish leadership which continues today. Our ministries, organizations, services, and worship are represented by five commissions: Spiritual Life, Education, Human Concerns, Administration, and Parish Life. Members of these commissions and the parish staff form our Parish Council, which closely advises the pastor on issues of parish life and practice. It has proven to be a very successful and beneficial model for St. Barnabas Parish.

But the very life of our parish depends upon new people willing to accept the invitation to serve, offer their talents, join a ministry or organization, become part of a commission, and get involved in the life of our parish. Today is an opportunity for each of us to consider how we are obliged to contribute our leadership to this parish community. Our Talent Drive begins today, and will culminate on Pentecost Sunday, when you will be invited to volunteer your God-given gifts in the service of our parish family. This weekend, we will focus on the needs of the Education/Adult Formation Commission. Members will be in the lobby of the Church after all the Masses to talk about their needs, and answer your questions.

At the end of every Mass we hear the command to “Go and bring the peace of Christ” into our parish, our neighborhood, our schools, into all the world. Go and be light where there is darkness, and hope where there is fear. That's not easy to do. It's not easy to be a leader. It's much easier to sit back and complain. But Christ has given each of us gifts no one else has to offer, and the invitation – the command – to use them.

In the name of St. Barnabas Parish, and all the people who would benefit, I ask you to give yourself up, and give your gifts away!