A Parishioner's Prayer

A Parishioner's Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Help me to understand that my parish
is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.

It will be friendly, if I am.
It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes,
if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship,
if I invite and bring them in.
It will be a place of loyalty and love,
of fearlessness and faith,
of compassion, charity, and mercy,
if I, who help make it what it is,
am filled with these same things.

Therefore, I beg you,
Jesus, for the grace I need to dedicate myself
to the task of being all
the things that I want my parish to be.
Amen