I recently moved into a new neighborhood. On my first evening I went grocery shopping and could not find my usual favorite Greek yogurt. Strangely, my heart started to race. All the losses of my previous life hit me. So many of my old friends, habits, comforts, and predictable experiences had fallen away. There I stood, a grown man, crying like a little boy whose world was falling apart in the dairy aisle.

Every Sunday, as Catholics, we gather for Mass to remember and live out what Jesus instituted at the Last Supper. Did you know that Jesus' command, “Do this in remembrance of me,” has been continuously honored for almost two thousand years? Each time we celebrate Mass, we fulfill His directive, allowing Jesus to be truly present among us.

As Mass begins, our gathering takes the shape of a united community (General Instruction of the Roman Missal). When the priest and ministers process in, the assembly is complete, and we become the people of God, with Christ present in our midst.

On November 7, St. John Paul the Great Parish held a productive town hall meeting to discuss the results of a recent parish survey and to set goals for the future. Parishioners who attended provided valuable input on the direction they hope our community will take over the next six years. Based on survey feedback, five key areas for improvement emerged:

1. Youth and Family Involvement
Many parishioners expressed a strong desire for greater engagement with young families, children and teens. Suggestions included activities like a youth-focused Mass, a children’s choir, and more youth and family gatherings. Parishioners believe that focusing on youth and family will help bring younger generations back to church and strengthen their connection to faith.

Once at an evening Mass as a poor college student, the collection basket was fast approaching, and I only had a ten-dollar bill. I was planning on using that to buy my favorite Chipotle burrito that night for dinner. Should I keep the money? Who would know if I did? If I gave it away, what would I eat? Would I be okay? I kissed my future burrito goodbye, dropped the money in the basket, and winced. But strangely, the rest of the Mass I felt more engaged than usual. I had skin in the game. I left the Mass excited to see how God would take care of me. And he did, in amazing ways.

Americans have long been fascinated with public debates. Farmers stood in muddy fields for hours to hear Lincoln and Douglas dispute each other in the 1860 presidential run-up. The televised debate between Kennedy and Nixon in 1960 fascinated the nation. These days, cable news outlets and social media parse every word spoken by candidates. We still love seeing public, rational disputes in the service of our nation.