Today, the Diocese of Raleigh consists of 80 parishes, 17 missions, and four center for campus ministry. We should be grateful and continue to strive for future parishes and catholic communities to prosper around North Carolina.
The variety of parishes around our area has also allowed us to consider which parishes may suit our needs better. Perhaps this parish may have a catholic school for the kids, perhaps that parish offers pre-marriage courses and programs, or this other parish is closer to our home. All of these are important things to consider; however, we need to watchout from falling into the idea that parishes are "ice cream flavors."
What do I mean by that? Well, we can examine this by reflecting on this question…
Why do I go to church?
Do I go to this church because the choir sounds amazing? (Chocolate)
Do I go to that church because the father’s homily is shorter? (Strawberry)
Do I go to that one over there because the people are friendlier? (Vanilla)
Or do I go to this other one because it looks much prettier? (Peacan)
Or…
Do I go to church for Christ?
Regardless of these or any “ice cream flavors” the real reason we should be going to church is to be present with Christ. We may not always realize this automatically, but we should occasionally stive to reflect on this question and examining one’s interior motives. Let’s leave the ice cream for the fridge and be fully present with Christ in the Mass.