After more than two weeks of rain in Arlington, the sun was
bright on Pentecost Sunday. To celebrate this day when the
Twelve Apostles and Mary were filled with the Holy Spirit,
St. Agnes Church in Arlington hosted “St. Agnes Time and
Talent Sunday” after the 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Masses. More
than a dozen tables covered with bright red tablecloths were
lined up outside the church. As parishioners left Mass they
were greeted by friendly and enthusiastic volunteers
representing 30 ministries and outreach programs.
The event was hosted by the St. Agnes Year of Mercy Group
with the goal of emphasizing Pope Francis’ call for tangible,
hands-on corporal and spiritual works of mercy during the
Jubilee Year of Mercy and beyond.
While the event is not new to the parish, this was the first
time the “Time and Talents” event was held in conjunction
with Pentecost Sunday.
“Pentecost was an ideal time to have this fair, as it gives
parishioners concrete ways to build up the Body of Christ, in
response to the charisms and gifts that they were given by
the Lord and Giver of Life,” said Father Frederick H.
Edlefsen, pastor. “Building community through participating
and contributing to the life, joy and mission of the parish
gives the Holy Spirit the raw material that He needs to touch
the lives of people who would otherwise not feel part of
Christ’s Body, the church.”
In the past, only ministries specific to St. Agnes were
included in the event. The group of volunteers would gather
inside the vestibule armed with smiles and clipboards. This
year the parish opened the event to ministries in both the
diocese and surrounding Arlington community. The volunteers
decorated their tables and many had handouts to accompany
their clipboards.
Another new aspect of the event was introduced a week earlier
when Father Edlefsen encouraged parishioners to complete a
“Spiritual Gifts and Natural Talents Inventory.” The
inventory was specifically designed for Catholics by author
Sherry Weddell to help parishioners reflect on how they could
best match their gifts with the needs of the parish.
After completing the inventory, parishioners attending the
event were hard pressed not to find at least one ministry
that could benefit from their gifts. The parish flower
ministry was happy to speak with anyone with a knack for
decorating. Opportunities to work with young people or help
the homeless were there via youth ministry and Catholic
Charities. Tables provided a plethora of opportunities for
the Sunday crowds – from young children to retirees.
“It is our prayer that many people who have not volunteered
before will realize the outward-facing attributes of
spiritual gifts bestowed at baptism and confirmation that
must be given away to be kept and to increase,” said Katylee
McInerney, a member of the Year of Mercy Group. Dozens of
people who haven’t volunteered with St. Agnes before stopped
at the tables and signed up for different ministries.
Interest was so high that there was a request for the event
to be offered after the noon Mass next year.
McInerney hopes the success of Sunday’s event will not only
help St. Agnes parishioners, but will encourage other
parishes in the diocese to host similar events.
“We are praying that, empowered by the Holy Spirit, our
efforts will enkindle the fire of love for neighbor so that
the pentecostal fire will spread in Arlington and around the
world,” said McInerney.
