Sing a New Song…

Wendy Kachermeyer

The New Evangelization has really started to take hold here in western New York in the diocese of Buffalo. It’s a very good time to lift evangelization off the drawing board and into the parish!!!

We are suffering great losses of our people. Yes, some move away searching for work, some have passed on to greater glory with Christ but a lot of our Catholic brothers/sisters are just aren’t seeking God. The reasons are many and to me is just another excuse for saying “Whatever”.

The “Whatever” generation grieves me. I have great pity and anguish for them. Maybe the reason I feel so, is because my whole family brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews, sons and most of their friends, husband and most of my in-laws do not practice their faith. Most of them do not practice any kind of religion at all. This is just a few of my family now count your family and anyone you see at Mass they are going through the same thing, maybe less maybe more but we are suffering with each other a kind of death. I feel sorrow because I feel such joy in the interior of who I am with Christ. They have chosen to forget. We are not here to make money or have a lavish house or a job where you travel around the word, not that any of that is bad if you remember where it all came from. We are here for Christ, to bring the good news to the whole world.

As time goes on, if we don’t try to do anything about this frightening situation, I hate to think about what is happening here but we need to think, pray and act because some of our parishes have had to merge or have been eliminated completely and some of our Catholic schools have closed because of the lack of practicing Catholics. Even with all of this going on there is still hope!!!

Through the new evangelization, if we all at least try to do our best, our lost brothers and sisters will remember Christ and that they belong to him and to the one true church started by God himself.

Reflection:

Sit still and recall minding who you learned your faith from. Who was the good example for you? What did they do that impressed on you the importance of resting in Jesus’ heart? What is it that keeps you coming into Christ’ presence? Recall all of your family and friends who have stopped practicing their faith and those who have joined another faith tradition…pray for them to see the truth.

Thank God for your faith!! Praise God that he has given you strength to hold on to him in this time of great indifference. Give Christ your love as you meet the task of evangelization (sing a new song). Amen.

Final thought:

If you happen to strike up a conversation with someone who has something to say about Christ and the Catholic Church…listen carefully, don’t rush their thoughts and be wholly regretful if they were hurt by someone within the Church. Don’t make excuses for anyone and be humble and loving as Christ is humble and loving. Peace be with you!!

 Wendy Kachermeyer is Director of Religious Education and R.C.I.A (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Dunkirk, NY , email comments to Wendy at reledseas@yahoo.com