Pirates recently seized St. Raymond Church in Downey and urged parishioners --- young and old --- to discover God's eternal treasure.

"Yo, ho, yo, ho! A repentant life for me!" bellowed the "lead pirate" from the church podium immediately following Mass. As parishioners listened amusedly and some pulled out cell phones to take photos, the fully-costumed pirate (a.k.a. Warren Kunkel, parish manager) recounted his conversion story that began when a Franciscan friar told him there was treasure more precious than gold coins --- the treasure of eternal life.

"Yes, I gave up pirating and looting and rum," said the scruffy-voiced, one-eyed pirate. He then invited parishioners to follow him to the parish treasure cove --- the parish ministry fair --- to help him discover the final clues to finding "the treasure that lasts forever."

Inside the parish hall, musicians played pirate ditties and other pirate-parishioners abounded about tables representing a couple dozen parish ministries. Among them were parishioners involved with educational, liturgical, youth, prayer, community outreach and health ministries.

Involvement in the life of the parish, said parishioners, had helped them to discover the treasure --- the gifts and talents inside of themselves --- which God was asking them to use to serve their community.

"God just keeps putting me in front of teenagers," said Diana Moser, confirmation coordinator. "It's where I keep ending up. Obviously I belong here."

A "rough" teenage life that included her parents divorcing, said Moser, prepared her to work with teenagers. "I understand where they are coming from. I understand the pitfalls," she said.

For Chris Estrada, 17, involvement in the parish's Life Teen group makes him want to pass it forward.

"The community gives so much to me that I want to give back," said Estrada, who was volunteering with the children's puppet show. "God is asking me to share my time and the wisdom I've gotten from people here."

For some parishioners like Hector Lopez, a talent in music enabled them to get more involved in the parish.

"I've always played but not in church. I felt the need to get closer to God," said Lopez, who began playing the guitar in the Spanish Mass choir about a year ago. "I do this because I enjoy music and I believe a lot in God."

Dionisio Vera said he enjoyed singing in the choir. "God talked to me through my wife who nudged me," laughed Vera. "She said, 'you can do this' and then she got involved in the choir, too."

Arturo Romero has been involved with the hospitality committee for 10 years. A charismatic retreat in 1985 brought him back into the faith.

"Everything changed for me," said Romero. "God has put a lot of love in my heart to love my neighbor."

Several parish ministries are devoted to reaching out to those in need in the wider community, like making sandwiches for the homeless or reaching out to young people with parents in prison.

Irma Landesfeind participates in the ministry to orphans in Tijuana. Every couple of months parishioners deliver food, clothing or toys to the orphanage as well as raise money for student scholarships.

"I was very hungry as a child," said Landesfeind, a native of Germany. "I know how it feels when someone brings you food." She thought that her inner gifts of compassion and respect were being called forth in this ministry.

Adrian and Susana Gamino walked through the parish expo with their two daughters visiting each table and learning about numerous service opportunities. They carried a treasure hunt map they would later turn in for the chance to win prizes.

"I discovered ministries I didn't know we had," said Susana.

Adrian said he was thinking about getting involved in Eucharistic ministry. Years ago he used to take Communion to the sick. Parishioners would tell him they received relief and strength in facing their illnesses through the Eucharist.

Indeed, oversized renditions of the Eucharist and the chalice were in the center of the room --- the treasure which lasts forever.

"From the presence of Christ in the Eucharist flow all the ministries and everything else here," said Father John Higgins, pastor.

As a result of the stewardship ministry fair which took place after each Mass Oct. 21, some 850 parishioners filled out the treasure hunt forms filled with stickers of the parish ministries they had stopped by to visit --- both to see how they might get involved and to find out about ministries which could assist them with a need.

"If we get 50 to 100 people interested in ministry, that's good," said Father Higgins.

Charlene Drobeck said the parish had organized previous ministry fair days, but this one was more innovative. "It's the first time we made it a family fun day," she said.

St. Raymond Church is one of 18 parishes involved in the Growing Stewards initiative throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. This fall each parish has been hosting stewardship ministry fairs with different themes.

The fairs are part of a month of prayer and discernment in which parishioners have been reflecting with gratitude for the gifts and talents received from God. They've listened to other parishioners share testimonies of how they got involved and engaged with their church and what it's meant to them. And they've been discerning how God is asking each person to share faithfully and --- with love and justice --- their talents and gifts with their parish community. The effort is part of implementing the pastoral priorities of the Synod.

"The Growing Stewards program really emphasizes not just coming in and doing something," said Father Higgins. "We ask parishioners to think about it, pray about it, reflect, and then think about where the Lord is calling you."

Even as a "pirate"?

Kunkel expressed delight in playing the repentant pirate. A father to three pre-adolescent sons, his boys helped him with the details of his costume and make-up to get an authentic pirate look. They trained him to be more aggressive with his voice to get that rough scruffy edge.

Often they have felt their dad's involvement with church activities was boring. "This is the first time they said, 'Wow, Dad. That's cool," laughed Kunkel.

A teacher at heart, Kunkel added, "I'll put on any role to convey a Gospel message."

Editor's note: For more information about the archdiocesan Growing Stewards initiative, contact Art Ledesma at the Office of Synod Implementation and Stewardship, (213) 637-7532.