A Dewy-Eyed Start

     I remember the first day of work in my parish.  Meeting with the pastor to talk about the requirements of the position and what he expected.  I was responsible for finances.  There was lofty talk of meeting regularly to review financial statements; of monthly meetings with the finance council; of ensuring that staff members stuck to their budgets; of serving God by being a steward of our parishioners' donations.
I felt as if i had been given an awesome, unexpected gift - wrapped in iridescent paper with a crinkly bow on top - and that it was big enough to share with everyone I knew.  I was working part-time so I could still contribute to our family's budget.  My office was across the parking lot from my children's school.  The boys could walk over after school and hang out in my office. And I was doing it all for the parish that I loved in service of my God.
    I was blessed to have lay co-workers who shared those feelings ~ that we were the proverbial workers in the vineyard.  They were actually responsible for creating and running all of the myriad of parish programs typically offered in a vibrant, active parish of 3000+ families.  From the youngest, newest members of our parish to the oldest, most infirm, these women (yes, they were all women) provided the means for every parishioner to deepen their faith.  They were the cogs that kept our parish running.  Because we are Catholic, they could not be ordained.   They could not be given "authority" as our faith only invests authority in the pastor.  But, they were the faces, the hard-working hands, and the hearts and souls of our parish.
    I felt awed that I was able to share my workday with them.

Not All It's Cracked Up to Be

I am a cradle Catholic (born & bred) woman who has led the same path as so many others of my generation.  Marched off to church every Sunday as a family while attending a Catholic grammar school.  Private, Catholic high school that supported my faith.  Liberal, Catholic University that allowed us to practice or not-practice.  I opted into the "not-practice" group after experimenting for a while in the Charismatic Renewal group!

I fell in love in college - with another member of the not-practice group.  We married.  Worked hard in the corporate environment.  Had two kids.  Found the church again.  Kept sloggin upward on the fast track. And promptly hit the brick wall question that I'll bet most toddlers/primary school children ask their fast-track parents:  "Mommy, why am I always the last one picked up at nursery school?"

"Well honey, Mommy works all these crazy hours so that you can wear designer jeans" somehow didn't work when it was a five year old asking.  After much soul-searching, and crunching of numbers, we took the dive off of the economic cliff into the world of stay at home Mom.  Thirty days later, a friend from our parish asked, "Are you interested in working part-time?"  And as quickly as it started, stay at home Mom ended and I re-entered the workforce.  This time, as a far-from-the-fast-track (so far that you can't even hear the track) part-time parish employee.  

I thought about all of the wonderful things that working for the church would mean.  Helping others.  No back-stabbing.  No office politics.  A compassionate, faith-filled boss.  Making just slightly over minimum wage while having significant levels of responsibility.  This blog is my effort to reconcile my faith with the faith I've experienced in (now two) parish offices.  It's been an interesting journey.  I hope you'll join me for the trip.