In the pastoral article for last weekend’s bulletin, I focused upon ways in which we might witness to our Faith in the Lord as individuals. Inasmuch as we belong to the Lord as members of the faith community that we call the Church, we are also called to witness to the Gospel as parish communities.
In a number of ways, our parish communities are already being proactive in witnessing to our Faith. Both officially and unofficially, persons serve as greeters to welcome individuals who come to Mass. The Mass celebrant normally extends a warm welcome to all who are present at the beginning of our liturgies. Offering fellowship over light refreshments after Masses encourages us to interact and to share with one another.
Almost every Catholic parish offers persons an opportunity to explore and/or deepen one’s understanding of the Catholic Faith. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) process offers a distinct opportunity to do just that. A number of non-Catholic participants in this process choose to enter the Catholic Church. No one is pressured to join the Catholic Church.
Those of us who prepare couples for marriage have a prime opportunity to evangelize or witness to our Faith, both in situations where one party is non-Catholic as well as in situations in which both persons are Catholic.
More recently, IGNITE gatherings serve as an effective tool for witnessing to distinctive aspects of the Catholic Faith. Many who attend IGNITE gatherings are introduced to and come to value the opportunity to pray and to worship in the Presence of our Lord in the exposed Blessed Sacrament. Other Christian traditions do not have access to Christ as He is present in this distinctive way. A number of Catholic persons who attend IGNITE gatherings witness to the Faith of the Church by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many have been spiritually enriched by the faith testimonies that have been shared as well as by music that has been selected for these occasions. St. Mary Parish plans to host an IGNITE gathering on Wed., October 14th, 2015. Resurrection Parish plans to host IGNITE on the evening of May 20th, 2016.
Vacation Bible School (VBS) offers a unique summer opportunity to evangelize or witness to our Faith. Persons of all ages are drawn to participate in our Vacation Bible Schools. A number of non-Catholic children come to our VBS sessions. Offering VBS testifies to the high regard that the Catholic Church has for the Scriptures, the inspired Word of God. In the manner in which VBS is conducted as well as in what is taught, a powerful opportunity to sow seeds for the Lord is offered. VBS is to be offered in our Parishes as follows: at Resurrection Parish from Tues., June 9th, through Thurs., June 11th; at St. Mary Parish from Mon., June 15th, through Fri., June 19th.
A more recent tool of evangelization that has been produced and distributed among the persons of both parishes is the directory of parish groups and ministries. The names of persons and contact information for reaching them are indicated under the various groups and ministries listed. Our directories invite both present and prospective parishioners to plug into the life and mission of our parish communities both to promote their own spiritual growth and to enrich others. A page at the back of the directories of both parishes offers persons an opportunity to suggest and/or to participate in new areas of ministry or groups in our respective parishes.
Let’s take to heart these and other ways in which as parish communities, we are already evangelizing or witnessing to the Faith of the Catholic Church. In next weekend’s pastoral article, suggestions will be offered as to what we might do to improve the effectiveness of our efforts to witness to the Gospel, both as individuals and as faith communities. Have a great day in our Lord!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Fr. Nelson Beaver – Pastor