Most recently I met with a young couple who were presenting their child for Baptism. They had both been raised Catholic, had attended Catholic school, received the Sacraments but, they admitted, had not been to church in sometime. They wanted to pass on the faith to their child, but they stated, “we don’t know it”. I was touched by their honesty, but also saddened by the reality which they were presenting - “we don’t know it”. We all know people like the young couple. In spite of the genuine and sometimes heroic efforts on the part of parents, teachers and parish religious education programs, we all have to admit that sometimes the first time around, the message simply isn’t heard.
Today, however, there are many opportunities for people to hear again, this time for the first time, who Jesus is, what He accomplished for us and how in the Sacraments of His Church, He is present to us.
Pope Benedict XVI has introduced for us what we call the New Evangelization. It is all about retelling the story, this time awakening a sense of meeting Jesus. Pope Benedict used the word “repropose” to describe the New Evangelization. Somehow in what we do and how we express our faith, we have to be able to repropose our belief in Christ and His Gospel for a hearing among those who are convinced that they already know the faith and it holds no interest for them. We have to invite them to hear it all over again, this time for the first time and see how it is connected to them and to their life.
In 2011, our parish family will be embarking upon a number of efforts toward this New Evangelization. These will build upon the efforts of the past four years to make our Family of Faith a home with “something for everyone” and our recent building efforts to ensure “a place for everyone.” How will we do this ?
First, for each of us personally, our personal prayer life becomes the font of living waters from which we drink as we set out to walk with the Lord in sowing the seeds of the Gospel message. The call to discipleship involves us welcoming Jesus into our everyday lives. We can do this by beginning and ending our days in prayer, by reading Scripture each day and reflecting on how to make it a part of our life and by considering some time in Eucharistic Adoration. We always draw closer to Jesus by faithfully attending Mass each Lord’s Day, and receiving our Lord in the Eucharist - nothing can replace this. We also come closer to Him by accepting His love and mercy regularly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Second, the New Evangelization should overflow into the very society in which we live. Together, our parochial commitment will spread and extend the immense pastoral fruitfulness of the Gospel. Together, as faithful citizens, we must be strong enough to adjust even the cultural climate in our society so that the temperature is right for the new Springtime of which Pope John Paul II spoke so often. Groups in our parish will be asked this year to consider personal outreach efforts which will build upon our current community outreach activities such as Service Saturday, Red Stocking and Blanket Brigade Campaigns. These will help the transformation of culture and help others to see the application of the message of Jesus to serve the common good of humanity.
Third, we have to ensure that “we do know it”.... Recently, while standing in the lobby of a hotel, I was approached by a person whom I had not seen in years. This person chatted me up for a while and then indicated that they had left the Catholic faith. I was saddened to hear of it, and wondered why. They proceeded to tell me about their interpretation of one of the teachings of the Church. As I listened intently I asked them “where did you get that understanding?” - they told me from a family member. Well, I said respectfully, “they were wrong - the Catholic faith has never taught that”. This person seemed shocked when I told them what the actual Church teaching was, and concerned that they had made a life decision without knowing all the facts.
Over the next year, through homiletic efforts, special speakers, a rich Lenten Mission, bulletin inserts and various publications which will be made available, we will try and ensure that “we do know it - our Catholic Faith - for there are many misconceptions, misunderstandings and mistakes which can at times hinder people discovering the powerful message of Jesus found within His Church.
It means looking at all we do through a new lens, it means reaching out in new ways, such as a redesigned website to better engage people with the Church, a new weekly email newsletter to reach parishioners directly, expanded parish blogs and Facebook links, a “Come Home” effort this Lent, and consideration of every program we offer in the parish through the lens of the New Evangelization.
Finally, our new evangelization will become a lived reality if we go back to the root of what we are about as a parish family - the Visitation.
The Visitation is the encounter of the Virgin Mary and Elizabeth as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:39-56. Mary, having heard at the Annunciation that Elizabeth was six months pregnant, left her home to visit her. Elizabeth and John the Baptist were inspired by the Holy Spirit at her arrival; and Elizabeth, seeing Mary’s faithfulness, cared for her, giving her the opportunity to nourish the gift of life, Jesus, within her. Mary, surrounded by Elizabeth’s love, pronounced the "Magnificat". It is the second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary, with the Spiritual Fruit of a Love of Neighbour.
Thus as a parish community dedicated to Mary, under the title of Our Lady of the Visitation, this Feast reminds us of our call to love our neighbour, to be welcoming and to provide a place for others to grow, nourishing the Lord within them.
As a parish family we will make significant efforts this year toward hospitality, welcoming new members and telling others about our parish family. These will be seen in simple gestures such as “Bring a Friend Sunday”, and also thru your weekly effort to simply welcome visitors and others, making them feel at home (something we already do so very well as a parish family).
Many of those who have fallen away come to have their children baptized, attend meetings for sacramental preparation. They may come to Mass on Christmas and Easter, or on the anniversary of the death of a loved one. I see them on my pastoral rounds. These are moments to invite not to scold. These are times which are, by the power of the Holy Spirit, already made new and contain a summons for us tirelessly to invite and cheerfully to welcome, in a personal and caring way, the return of someone we have missed for a long time so that they may willingly recommit to the Lord. In this way we become an instrument of His presence and action in the world.
The New Evangelization is not a program. It is an outlook on life and a personal invitation to rediscover Christ and His message. In 2011 let us reflect together on how we can renew the Gospel message and Christ’s love, first in our own hearts and then, having grown in our faith, by inviting others to hear once again, maybe all over again for the first time, the exciting invitation of Jesus: “Come, follow me.”This can start with something as simple as participating more in the Sacraments, a direct conversation about Catholicism, offering to pray for someone or inviting a friend to Mass.
How will we accomplish all this ? Well simply put - by God’s grace ! The leaven of all we do always comes from the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. Strengthened by the Eucharist, every sacrifice we make participates directly in the Cross of Jesus. Sacrifice is the path to newness. It is the Eucharist that brings newness to human life. The Eucharist strengthens our unity and draws our personal commitment to the Faith. From the Eucharist we gain the strength and readiness to approach inactive Catholics with friendly persistence.
This is a fresh moment for our Family of Faith because it is a new moment in our world. In an increasingly secular and materialistic society, what gives true and lasting meaning and joy is Christ and His message. From the renewal of faith by individual Catholics to their invitation to others to share in the joy and excitement of Christ and His Church comes the possibility of a world transformed.
May Our Lady of the Visitation continue to be our inspiration, model and guide.
Together in the Lord’s Service:
Father F. Freitas,
Pastor