Mission Centered Parishes Why does the Church exist? Why do we have Church buildings, priests, the Holy Mass and the Sacraments, the Bible, religious education classes? In 1975, Pope Saint Paul VI answered this question with a simple phrase: The Church exists to evangelize. He said: “Evangelizing is in fact the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelize, that is to say, in order to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace, to reconcile sinners with God, and to perpetuate Christ's sacrifice in the Mass, which is the memorial of His death and glorious resurrection” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). The Church is the place where sinners like us are made one with God, and where we are able to offer him fitting worship through his sacrificial death which is made present in every Mass. Of course, the Mass is the highest and the most important thing we do in our lives, since it is the place of true worship, but the Mass is not just for us. Jesus wants the whole world to be reconciled to him through his Church. Which is why Jesus so clearly commanded us at his ascension: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19-20). Evangelization is carrying out this command of Jesus, it is inviting others to discover new life in Jesus Christ and his Church. If this is true, then our parish does not exist only for those who regularly come to church, we exist for those who don’t yet come. Is this the way we view our parishes? Unfortunately, most of our parishes are operating in a maintenance mode. We are trying to maintain our parish communities, even as they gradually dwindle. Many people are beautifully trying to live their faith, but not many people see themselves as missionaries and their parish as a mission center.