4 minute read
Parishioner Jennifer Miranda Finds Many Blessings In Parish Involvement
Church choirs have always been an important part of Jennifer Miranda’s life. She grew up watching her father sing at Mass each Sunday. As teenagers and young adults, Jennifer and her sisters joined their dad in the choir. Then in 1997, at St. Ann Catholic Church in Charlotte, Jennifer’s participation in the choir led to one of the greatest blessings of her life as she began to get to know a fellow choir member named Earl. When the director recognized a special spark between the two singers, he urged Earl to ask Jennifer out. And the rest, as they say, is history!
Jennifer and Earl have been married for 22 years and have three daughters — Shania, 14; Shay, 13; and Leah, 11. They have been parishioners at St. Philip Neri since a move brought them to the Fort Mill area in 2005. From the first Mass they attended here, the Mirandas immediately noticed the friendly and welcoming atmosphere — and, of course, the great music!
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Since their first years in the parish, Earl has served as a lector while Jennifer has served as a cantor. Jennifer truly enjoys being a part of our Music Ministry.
“Music is meant to enhance the liturgy,” she says. “The cantor’s job is to inspire people to participate. Festival Co-Chair of indoor I think that the liturgy is such an entertainment and director of important part of who we are as the Italian Idol event. When the Catholics, and everything that Mirandas adopted their three everybody does at Mass, all those daughters, Jennifer decided moving pieces, make our liturgy she wanted to be involved with what it is. And I’m just happy to be their activities as well, so she helpful in that.”
Thanks to a personal invitation from Roberta Whitaker — the very first person Jennifer and Earl met in our parish! — Jennifer became the Italian Festival Co-Chair of indoor entertainment and director of the Italian Idol event. When the Mirandas adopted their three daughters, Jennifer decided she wanted to be involved with their activities as well, so she began teaching faith formation and helping with Vacation Bible School.
By staying involved in parish life, Jennifer and Earl are both following the examples of an active faith life set for them by their own parents. They hope that the faith foundation they are now putting in place for their daughters will serve them well as they journey through their teenage years and into adulthood.
“As a parent, you know how hard it’s going to be when they’re out on their own and how hard it will be to make themselves go to Mass in college,” Jennifer says. “I think children do what their parents do, and if you foster the idea that being involved is the thing to do, that is something that will keep them connected. “The times I have been strongest in my faith is when I’ve been involved in the parish,” she continues. “When you become involved in serving, it gives you a greater reason to be there.”
Jennifer knows from experience how much more the faithful will feel invested in their parish family when they share the gifts of their time and talent to help keep things running. Our priest, deacons and staff can’t do everything on their own — but as Jennifer points out, if everyone takes care of just one small piece of the puzzle, all of those pieces can come together to create a vibrant and welcoming parish!
For all who serve our community in various ways, the rewards are truly priceless.
“I feel more fulfilled and happier, and I can’t imagine I would feel that way unless it was God nudging me in that direction,” Jennifer says. “For me, feeling part of the community makes me a stronger Catholic, and it makes my relationship with God stronger.”
Thankful for the many blessings she has found in a stewardship way of life, Jennifer hopes all parishioners will continue to find ways to connect more deeply with our faith community here at St. Philip Neri.
“I would encourage people to watch the bulletin, check out the Getting Involved section on the church website, and see what speaks to them,” she says. “There are so many things to do, even for ‘behind the scenes’ people. If you’re called to lector or be a Eucharistic Minister or altar server, those are all things you can do once a month, and all those things really do make a difference in our church. It’s just about seeing what is calling you.”
Jennifer and Earl Miranda with their daughters, (from left) Leah, Shay and Shania.
