The example of St. Joseph as father and protector of the Holy Family reminds us that the purpose of the parish is to be a refuge and safe place for the People of God to come to in the midst of the crosses, sorrows and joys of life. The parish is just one part of the larger Church. While nurturing the souls of the faithful members, the parish as a whole must be ready to respond to the broader needs of the Diocese as well as the Universal Church. The parish must also have a sense of serving the needs of all the faithful throughout the world and of building up the Kingdom of God here and now.
What is a Parish?
The word parish comes from the Greek work, paroikia, which means ‘a dwelling in a strange land’ or a sojourner. In Genesis, the sojourners denoted the Israelites living in exile in Egypt and in the Infancy narratives of the Gospel, the sojourners were the Holy Family seeking refuge as they traveled first to Bethlehem and later to Egypt..
How is St. Joseph our dwelling place in a strange land?
As Christians, we know that although we live in this world we do not belong to this world; rather, we belong to the Kingdom of God. St. Peter reminded the early Church, "Conduct yourselves reverently during your sojourn in a strange land" (1Pt 1:17), highlighting the idea that we are a pilgrim people journeying towards heaven. For the pilgrim people of God, our parish is our dwelling place while living on earth.
Why should we register at a Parish?
Parish registration is good for two reasons:
Parish Registration Forms can be found in the foyer of the church or at the Parish Office during office hours. For your convenience you may also download the form online.