A parish's vocation can be defined only according to the Church's sacramental structure. It is here that Christ's presence in the paschal mystery is visibly signified. The Lord associates the sacrifices of his brothers and sisters with his own sacrifice. He gathers us in his Holy Spirit, he strengthens our faith and our charity, he listens to our petitions to the Father to extend reconciliation, salvation and peace to the whole world and unites us with the saints of every age as we wait for full communion in his kingdom. It is true that many of the faithful suffer from the fact that Mass can no longer be celebrated near their homes nor as often as formerly.
Priests are less numerous and further away.
For this reason it is all the more important that we give the Eucharist its full value. A community is impoverished if it does not fervently discover this vital link with the Lord, the source of all Christian life and every apostolate. The Eucharistic gathering is the place where this fundamental reality of the faith is tangibly recognized. No effort should be spared to make available the principal gifts, which are the sacraments, at every stage of our life. At the heart of the Christian communities' mission preparation for the sacraments is obviously of primary importance.