Fr. Simon's Letter - September 10, 2023

Come to me all you who labor and are burdened. (Matthew 11:28)

This scripture quotation from St. Matthew is the theme for Catechetical Sunday this year. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the third Sunday in September as Catechetical Sunday. However, since we have our ‘Mass on the Field’ next Sunday, we will observe and celebrate the gift of our faith and our mission to share the Good News this weekend.

While Catechetical Sunday focuses on those in the community who have dedicated themselves to the primary mission of the Church - to evangelize - we must remember that all of us are called to hand on the faith, no matter how young or old, no matter how healthy or sick, no matter how educated or uneducated, whether we possess many talents or just a few. This call and mandate to witness and hand on the faith is given to us at our baptism and confirmation.

The truth that ‘parents are the primary teachers of the children in the ways of the faith’ is part of the blessing invoked on the fathers of children in the Rite of Baptism. This responsibility is more than just teaching them the prayers and truths about the faith. It also involves the formation of their hearts and consciences with moral values and values of faith. As daunting as this responsibility can be, it is further compounded by the issues that have affected the Church in this millennium, namely the clergy sex abuse crises and the continuing increase in numbers of those who call themselves ‘nones,’ those with no religious affiliation to the mainline religious groups. 

Today about 25% of the U.S. adult population states that they are not affiliated to any of the mainstream religious groups – most of them are young adults. Many of these disaffiliated were Christians and they have a bevy of reasons for their current status. Some have left the Church because they dissent with church teachings, some have simply drifted away and some are hurt and wounded. But in most cases the flame of faith is still alive in their hearts. 

On this Catechetical Sunday, allow me to offer four suggestions to help us live the mandate of handing on the faith. First, let the celebration of the Eucharist be central to the practice of the faith. Attend Mass with your children regularly. These are challenging times to be physically present every Sunday at the parish Masses. One of the big challenges the Church faces today is our belief in the ‘Real Presence’ of Christ in the Eucharist. During this year and the next two, the U.S. bishops have called for Eucharistic Revival in the country. To help us in our understanding Christ’s presence in the sacred host and precious blood, we will have limited copies of Bishop Barron’s book, ‘This is my Body’ available in the rectory beginning September 18. I encourage you to get a copy and read it – it is a quick read. After all, the Eucharist is the ‘source and summit’ of our Christian life. 

Second, get involved in any of the many ministries of the parish. Volunteer to be an usher, lector, Eucharistic minister or a catechist. When we are committed and invest time and energy in the liturgy, it helps us deepen our faith. 

Third, learn about the faith. For most of us, our faith formation perhaps ended with our days in Catholic high school or grammar school. These days we encounter people of different faiths, at work or in the neighborhood, who may want to know more or question us about our faith. Our Women’s Spiritual Spa group offers adult faith conversation opportunities; the Men’s Club prayer group and retreat is another avenue to participate and learn about our faith; and the upcoming Bible study of the Book of Ruth begins shortly. We have plans to have adult faith formation sessions in the near future to help us stay current with our faith and the teachings of the Church. 

Finally, we must have honest conversations about the reality of the Church today. We cannot shrug our shoulders and avoid the burning issues that have plagued the Church, especially in the last fifty or so years. We may not have all the answers or get all the answers we want, but a dialogue about these burning issues may help us move forward in embracing an imperfect Church that is making every effort to be true to the Gospel and the teachings of Christ and the apostles. 

As pastor of this wonderful community, my primary responsibility is the spiritual welfare of the flock entrusted to me – to teach and preach the Word. I am grateful to the pastoral staff of the parish, our Director of Faith Formation, Erika Tate, our Director of Religious Education, Jenna Kaszycki, our principal Emily Carlson, and the many catechists and volunteers who help me fulfill this sacred duty. The Faith Formation Program at Queen of All Saints depends on the stewardship of dozens of catechists and volunteers - men, women and older teens - throughout the year. Although the role of catechist may take on many forms at various times, catechists are, first and most importantly, a model for children, teens, and adults of all ages of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. By agreeing to be a catechist, they join a long line of dedicated women and men who have answered God’s call to share their faith with others. As important as that role is though, it is not the most important one in the faith formation of their young learners. That role is reserved for their parents, and our role is to support parents to the best of our ability.

Blessings!!