Preaching at a recent Saturday vigil Mass, Deacon Dave Smith invited the assembly at St. Julie Billiart Church to consider the following: "Who can conceive what the Lord intends? What is God asking of us?"

Drawing on the Book of Wisdom, he then drew parallels with the parish's Ministry Faire that weekend, where over 20 parish ministries were represented. Deacon Dave talked about all that had been done in the previous year as parishioners made trips to Mexico, provided for the homeless in the area and helped those who have lost a loved one and welcoming the stranger in the parish.

"God challenges us and keeps on challenging us," Deacon Dave said. "Putting God first will change us. With that grace we can make a difference."

Which is what St. Julie Billiart has done for many years in the west Conejo Valley, and beyond. There is constant activity in this family oriented, younger parish, says Msgr. Michael Bunny, pastor, with 75-80 baptisms a year, some 400 young people involved in youth ministry, a religious education program with 350 children, and many more in First Communion classes and confirmation.

The OWLS (Older, Wiser, Livelier Seniors) meet once a month in the parish hall for lunch and meetings to plan their activities. A new group, 80+, held its first meeting in September.

Those involved in peer ministry serve as Eucharistic ministers, altar servers, ushers, lectors, and in the parish's winter shelter and Saturday night meal program. Of the 178 parishioners who went with Amor Ministries to Baja, 120 were in youth ministry. The group just recently began its "Fun and Friendly Faith Fellowship" group. A number will be attending World Youth Day and regional youth day, and participate annually in the Good Friday Passion Play (35 last year).

Deacon Smith and his wife Deirdre have been among St. Julie's many actively-involved parishioners since 1985. Dave, who retired in 1999 as an LAPD captain after nearly 30 years on the force, is a former Grand Knight with the Knights of Columbus who helped get the Knights involved in outreach projects. Ordained to the diaconate last June along with fellow parishioner Barry Harper, Smith formerly was St. Julie's Director of Religious Education, and now serves as director of formation. "The Holy Spirit," he says, "works in such amazing ways."

A month after Msgr. Bunny arrived in the parish in 1996, parishioner Sally Kutcher approached him about her idea for a Helping Hands group. "Just go for it," he said, and they did. Today with 160 ministers from the parish, the group has expanded its services and provides whatever is needed in the parish --- from spending time with shut-ins and comforting those who have lost loved ones, to preparing meals and grocery shopping, and transporting those who are otherwise unable to get to important appointments.

"Helping hands has brought the parish closer together," says Sally Kutcher. "It has given the shut-ins a meaning for living and the minister receives in return. Those in need are our brothers and sisters, too."

Of his parishioners Msgr. Bunny says, "They are very generous and genuine people with generous hearts - financially for various causes, pitching in with projects."

That trust and confidence in turn is gratefully received. "Msgr. Bunny is so supportive of the youth ministry program," says Youth Minister Kevin Hilgert, noting that the pastor has driven as far as Yosemite to hear confessions at young people's retreats. "He wants to extend the idea of church beyond the grounds of St. Julie's - that youth feel affirmed in their own experience of Christ. They are equally important in those experiences."