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The Young Adult Initiative held its spring gathering for partner parishes on April 26-28, where we focused our attention on community and hospitality in our parishes. Our facilitator for the weekend was our director, Cassie Schutzer. Below you will find PDF copies of presentations, parish resources, and insights from the weekend. 

Koinonia

This Greek word has no direct translation into English, but it can be understood as communion, fellowship, intimacy, solidarity, to share, and to act in common. In short, koinonia captures the reality of how we are meant to live with one another. Koinonia is what we are created for. 

Koinonia is vertical and horizontal.

Our communion with God (vertical) and our communion with others (horizontal). Put those elements together, and you have a cross-shaped life of discipleship. 

We are created for community.

The need for community is in our very nature. We were created in the image and likeness of a trinitarian God who is community.

“Then God said: Let us make human beings in our image, after our likeness.” Genesis 1:26

Because we are created for koinonia, we cannot “do life” on our own. Our dependence on others is not a weakness or a flaw, but an invitation into a deeper relationship – communion – with our brothers and sisters. Not only are we dependent on each other, but God calls us to be one as He is one with the Son and the Spirit. We journey as one through this pilgrim life in the pursuit of salvation. This is a corporate act; no one is saved alone. 

Why do we need the parish community?

We belong to different communities, many of which are healthy and good for us. So what makes the parish community different? What makes it necessary?

The answer is the Eucharist.

Our parish, where we gather to participate in the Eucharistic liturgy, is a foretaste of Heaven.  The communion that is experienced at Sunday Mass is the deepest and purest form of community we can enter into. It is the kind of communion we are created for. We are lifted up into the Son’s worship of the Father. As a community, we become part of the perfect sacrifice in order to be restored and redeemed together, with all of creation at the end of time. In the liturgy, God is perfectly glorified and we are sanctified. This is a model and a source for all other community in our lives. As the Body of Christ here on earth, what we do at Mass should order our lives.

In summary, participation in the sacraments and parish community sanctifies us, transforms us, brings unity, orders relationships, and prepares us for heaven. 

Participating in Koinonia

Okay, so how do we bring about the ideal Christian community described above and in Acts 2:42? What is our response and responsibility in building koinonia in our parishes? 

Here are some ways to deepen a sense of community in the parish. For a reflection and ideas on hospitality, please read our blog post on "The Importance of Practicing Hospitality." 

• Recognize the dignity in each person and our call to love them. We must not forget that Christ made each of us a temple of His spirit, and no one is undeserving of our love and our attention. This understanding should move us to encounter each person as if Christ Himself stands before us. If our ministry model is to simply love the person in front of us – to will their good – that would be a great starting point.
• Promote unity and pursue a common goal. In a world that seems to be constantly divided, angry, and polarized, what if we decided not to feed into disunity? What if instead, we practice patience with one another, assume the best intentions of each other, listen to each other when we disagree, apologize when we hurt one another, engage in self-reflection to discover our own weaknesses, and take responsibility for our part in perpetuating disunity? We can contribute to healthy community if we value unity and build one another up with mutual affection. (See Ephesians 4:25-32)
• Be present and participate. We cannot be a true, Eucharistic community if we do not show up. Show up physically: make space in your pew, stick around for a few minutes after Mass, attend parish events, use your gifts to build up the community. Show up mentally and emotionally: be attentive to the people around you, be open to encounter, allow others to “interrupt” your routine, listen to them and seek to understand where they are coming from.

For more established parishioners, being present means reaching out to new people, making them feel comfortable, and making space for their presence and ideas.

To young adults, we say this: being present in a community means putting down roots. If you find yourself church-hopping or just showing up for Mass (which is great and important!) – stop. Stay awhile. Try to put down one, small root in the community and see what grows from there.

Community does not just happen. It requires effort and participation on the part of every person involved. It means that we have to move from being consumers – seeing community as transactional or acting as individuals receiving a service ­– to being disciples.

 Click Here to download the PDF slides of the presentation on Koinonia