St. Andrew Parish and Catholic School in Riverton shared an update on Sept. 20.

Rev. Joseph Delka wrote that he recently read an article entitled, “Keep our Parishes Weird” by Christopher Carstens. 

“He opens the article discussing the meaning of the word 'parochial.' That’s where we get the word ‘parish.’ An assistant priest is called a 'parochial vicar.' A member of a parish is a ‘parishioner.’ These are common words among Catholics, but what do they really mean?” Delka wrote. 

In fact, if we dig a little deeper, we will come to the understanding that parish is a place of shelter for a parishioner, who is best viewed as a stranger who is on a journey through this life. 

We have heard of the idea of Christians being pilgrims, but that idea leaves us to question of where we are journeying. 

While we are citizens of this life, this is not our final resting place and the ultimate goal of our life on this earth is to be united to God when we die. 

“Every aspect of the Christian life (prayer, the sacraments, moral  teaching, etc.) is geared toward growing in our love of God here on Earth so as to prepare for union with Him in the world to come,” Delka wrote.

It follows, then, that if the parish is only to be a place of temporary shelter from a harsh world and that we are ultimately heading toward unity with God, that the Church should remain a place where we do not shy away from the fact that the Christian life is one that is very much at odds with the world as a whole and the secular ideals of happiness and fulfillment. 

“It should be a place of the unconditional love of neighbor. In a culture that is increasingly distant from God, the parish is a weird place. Let’s keep St. Andrew’s weird,” Delka wrote.