The U.S. Catholic Bishops have issued a clear reminder to the Church of the essential element of service. In the 1993 statement, Communities of Salt and Light: Reflections on the Social Ministry of the Parish, they said: "The central message is simple: our faith is profoundly social. We cannot be truly Catholic unless we hear and heed the Church’s call to serve those in need and work for justice and peace. We see the parish dimension of social ministry not as an added burden, but as part of what keeps a parish alive and makes it truly Catholic. Effective social ministry helps the parish not only do more, but be more—more of a reflection of the Gospel, more of a worshipping and evangelizing people, more of a faithful community. It is an essential part of parish life."
