News - March 2013 RSS Feed

Lent is a trying time to be a Catholic. It is honestly like joining a gym just after New Year’s, where you find yourself easily amongst many who want to recommit themselves, however you can slip away just as easily. Ash Wednesday has the largest faithful attendance out of any celebration that is not a holy day of obligation, however how many hear the Gospel proclaimed the next Sunday? I think a part of it is that we want to display our ashes. Every Catholic wants to proclaim who they are without having to say anything out loud.

During the past month, a certain reality of the Christian identity has come up over and over again in my life. It was first discussed in our 2nd and 3rd grade religious education class and then I shared that part of the lesson with a friend. Next, one of our volunteers taught about it with joy and conviction during a presentation to the youth. Then it came up again in a new light a week later, talking about the kingdom of God during our Sunday and Wednesday middle school sessions.

Two weekends ago we had our first group of high school youth get Confirmed! It was so beautiful to see everything that they had been working towards and building up to come together.  They did a wonderful job in the various parts of the mass as ushers and readers. And then the moment of truth came: the Bishop began asking his question during the homily…And immediately three Confirmands answered beautifully. Crushed it.  Afterwards the Bishop remarked to several people how impressed he was with their answers and that he did not have to wait for someone to give an answer!