Why community matters.

Late yesterday I traveled to my Father’s home town of Patton, Pennsylvania to visit with extended family members and attend Mass officiated by our cousin Bishop David Choby of the Diocese of Nashville, Tennesse. The Mass was a celebration for all members of the Choby Family who where able to attend and a memorial for deceased family members.  The Queen of Peace Parish graciously hosted us in their beautifully renovated sanctuary and welcoming Parish Hall.

During his homily, Bishop Choby emphasized the meaning of family and the community of faith to which we belong.

Across town, other community members were gathering for the traditional Cambria County Homecoming Ceremony and football game.

Today we all returned to our home communities and stepped back into other communities of which we are part.

Community matters because it gives us a sense of purpose, a feeling of belonging, and provides for us a core set of values that guide our daily living and decision-making. Community allows us to live out our values.

Whether in Church or in the football stands, community matters.