This the the first of a series of podcasts that are all about how lay people can create a Christian community that nourishes the spiritual lives of those within it, draws others to it from outside and can be the wellspring for the evangelization of the culture.

It is my contention that you don’t need to go anywhere to do this. It will work in an urban or suburban environment even in this age in which the secular culture predominates.

This week Charlie Deist and I discuss the basic principles as they can be applied in the parish. All of us are meant to be part of a community in the church and for most of us, that is the parish. As with all things, the answer is for my to stop blaming others - my priest, my bishop, secular forces, Hollywood - and to start looking at myself. This is good news. It means that even the most sterile parish life can be enlivened if change my approach to it.

As someone once said to me, only slightly tongue in cheek - if you don’t think your parish is the best, then please don’t come to ours. We don’t want you messing up our parish too.