First and foremost, Catholic individuals receive their call to ministry by virtue of their being Catholic. Through Baptism and Confirmation, Catholics are joined in Christ with the Church and work the ministry of Christ in their own special ways. Outside of organized lay work, Catholics have ample opportunity to offer services in their own parishes. They can help a sick neighbor, organize a bake sale for their church or parish school, teach a children's class at Sunday School on a weekly basis, drive food baskets around at Christmas, assist the church with tithes or donations, or simply carry the offering plate during Mass. There are literally dozens of small ways to help out. These Catholic heroes may go unsung, but they are the pillars of the church, what Vatican II called “the salt of the earth.”