May 14, 2010
Reflection
The common language of faith
By ZOE CANNON (Vincennes)
Hard to believe, but May is here! I would guess it is one of the busiest months on the calendar for nearly everyone. We are involved people. With First Communions, graduations, proms, weddings, Mother’s Day, Kentucky Derby, the Indianapolis 500 Race, a few baseball practices and games, throw in some birthday’s, the excitement of the end of the school year, the start of a summer season with vacation planning, whew . . . we are active people!
Come to think of it, April was pretty eventful as well. I took advantage of several opportunities to spend time with great people of our diocese this last month. My husband and I attended the Convocation for Marriage and Family, sponsored by Catholic Charities. We are sponsor couples in our parish and the presentations were very helpful as we prepare to guide young couples who are getting ready for this important step in their lives. Then on Saturday, April 17, about thirty people gathered to energize the Teens Encounter Christ Movement (TEC). We met for two hours at Blessed Sacrament Church in Oakland City. As a parent of four unmarried adult “kids,” I feel very encouraged about the future of our Church as I witness the dedication of the people involved with the Youth and Young Adult Ministry in our diocese. Please note that all these great plans benefit from your gracious contribution to the CPC, Catholic Parishes Campaign. These programs not only inform and strengthen our faithful; they are bringing young people to our Church. Ministering to this age group of teenagers, young adults, en-gaged couples, and young families is important, because they are the citadel of our Catholic faith community. We are so blessed. I have witnessed firsthand that the people providing these programs are incredible people of faith.
Just as St. Paul, in his many letters, regarded himself as responsible for the churches of his faith communities, we must also be accountable for the spiritual growth of our faithful. Imagine a time period during which, except for the military postal service, people had to rely on other people going in the direction of their letters to correspond with others. In a nanosecond we can connect our information around the world through cyber space. No excuse for missing any information these days! Regardless of the method in spreading the word, the common language of St. Paul about ministry and serving one another is still the same important message for our church today. I cannot speak about the friends St. Paul made in the cities of Ephesus or Corinth, but the friends I’ve made in our Evansville diocese are not just faithful; they are a lot of fun to be with.
The mission of keeping young adults involved in the Church is paramount to the success of all vocations. Whether called to be married or single, priesthood, or religious life, without proper formation how can young people understand what it is they are involved in? To accomplish this we must be concerned about these future leaders of our Church by providing more than the fundamentals. Beyond the great start of the early Sac-raments there must be practice and more practice of all the gifts provided by our Church. Much like the athletic programs we so faithfully fit into our busy lives, there must be time for God in our routine. Everything we profess about our faith is called upon at a Teens Encounter Christ Retreat. It is an opportunity to provide our young people with a strong foundation for their busy adult lives ahead. As they go away to college and out into the working world this understanding of faith practice will be immeasurable.
Our next Core Team Meeting for the TEC Movement will be held once again on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at Blessed Sacra-ment in Oakland City. The next TEC retreat is the weekend of July 24-26. Please check the website at www.switec.org for an application and information. As you look around your parish at the young people, please remember them in prayer. The significance of their faith formation will be a determining factor in the success of all that we believe. Supporting the programs which provide all these faith based opportunities can make a tremendous difference in all of our busy lives. Pray as well for the many folks who take the time to plan and organize these very important weekend encounters. We have be-come accustomed to a very busy schedule in our lives. Being active in the Church is a gift which continues to give back, generation after generation. The benefits not only affect your own family but everyone you meet. The common language of faith is something we can all understand and obtain, if we practice and practice as active, involved people.