A different ‘call’

By Ronaldo Farrell

Parishioner, St Dominic’s RC Church, Penal

For as long as I can remember, I found myself sitting near the back of my parish church every Sunday. I listened to the readings, knew all the responses, took part in the sacraments, then went home. However, something was missing and it only took one person’s invitation for me to see what it was.

One Sunday after Mass in 2018, my family and I were greeted by our then parish priest, Fr Robert Christo. He invited my 11-year-old introverted self and my younger brother to join the altar server ministry.

We were reluctant at first due to fear, but our mother encouraged us to join so we accepted the invitation. Little did I know that saying, ‘Yes’ to that invitation would change my faith for the better.

When I became a commissioned altar server during Holy Week of 2019, I began to experience the Mass in a more transformative way. We learnt about the Eucharist, liturgical seasons, the structure of the Mass, sacred objects and many more aspects of our faith in First Communion and Confirmation classes. My time as an altar server allowed me to experience these teachings firsthand.

Serving each Sunday helped me appreciate the beauty and reverence of the liturgy and the Blessed Sacrament in a way I never had before. What once felt like routine gradually became meaningful as I began to understand not only what we do during Mass, but why we do it.

Gradually, I developed a desire for a deeper connection with God, so I became more intentional about prayer, service and participating in the life of the Church. From that initial invitation and ‘yes’, my family and I began offering our time and talents in other ministries within our parish. What started as altar serving eventually became a desire to serve God wherever He called.

Over the past seven years in ministry, I’ve come to learn that serving the Church is about serving God and His people.

Looking back, it amazes me how saying, ‘yes’ to that call impacted my life so much. It gave me a place to belong, a community to grow with and a deeper relationship with Christ.

Sometimes I wonder, ‘What if he had not asked?’ or ‘What if he did but I answered no?’

Every community has someone who may not have been to church in a while; you should invite them back.

Every community has someone who feels lost; you should invite them to rediscover hope through Christ.

Every parish has someone who is searching for a place to belong; you should invite them to become part of the Church family.

Every parish has a youth in the back pew; you should invite them to join a ministry.

From my story, it is clear that a simple invitation can spark someone’s lifelong journey of faith. God called me closer to Him through one priest’s invitation. I hope you and I can be that invitation for someone else.

Even more importantly, I hope we all have the courage to say, ‘yes’ when God calls us through the invitation of others.