LIMA — While Lima’s St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Parish would like to clarify its membership records, a program they are taking on in April is as much about reaching out to their members as it is about record keeping.
“We are making a connection with households,” the Rev. Kent Kaufman said. “That’s what is most important about this venture. We want to hear from our folks and see if we are serving them in the best way.”
During the month of April, volunteer parish ambassadors will visit all registered parishioners in order to update the church census records and to listen to their ideas for the parish. During the month’s first three weekends, the ambassadors will visit homes between the hours of 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. The information collected from parishioners will help complete and clarify the records of the parish and also offer an opportunity for individual members and their families to have direct input into the continuing efforts of the church.
Kaufman, the new pastor at St. Charles, said he began developing the effort several months ago after suggestions from lay leadership.
“They feel it fits perfectly with St. Charles’ mission statement: Believing with faith, welcoming with love, serving with Christ. St. Charles wants to welcome with love and serve with Christ by serving all parishioners and their needs,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman said it is important to remember that the parish goes well beyond the corner of South Cable Road and West Elm Street.
“Our doors extend right to their homes,” Kaufman said.
Kaufman said that a recent quotation from Pope Francis explained the outreach well, quoting him as saying; “The parish is the presence in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.”
Kaufman said while the census is secondary, it is important to keep accurate records.
“We are a large parish,” Kaufman said. “When it is a larger parish there needs to be more updating.”
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