Reflection #5 for our series: Is Our Church Still Relevant Today?
Anointed for Mission? Yes, I am!
Anointed for Mission? Yes, WE ARE!
What does it look like to have US act as a group together anointed for Mission?
What is the relevancy of being a member of a community for my own life, in our local communities, in our Church, and world?
The motto of our St. Patrick-St. Anthony parish: OPEN HEARTS ~~ OPEN MINDS ~~ OPEN DOORS provides an excellent framework for this reflection on Community.
Open Hearts are formed by the priestly office or role of our Baptism and in turn form us into a priestly people who then go on to develop a priestly community.
Open Minds are formed by the prophetic role of our Baptism and thus we become a prophetic community. Open Doors are formed by the kingly role of our Baptism and thus we become a servant-leader community.
Where and when have we witnessed the OPEN HEARTS of this SPSA “Priestly Community”? Our members desire intentional connection with other parishioners and engagement with our urban neighbors.
The 50 + volunteers in our Prayer Network take seriously the intentions called in to the network and they believe in the power of prayer in our lives. We can count on the network members to become the pray-ers for us, in place of us, when we are struggling with life and find it difficult to focus and pray for our own needs at a critical juncture.
There is an attentiveness, a spiritual maturity and caring, dwelling within our community. And, it extends beyond our boundaries to embrace the people we serve who struggle with daily needs, along with, the empathy extended for our sisters and brothers in war-torn villages far from us. In our Prayer for the Faithful each weekend, we capture the healing needed by so many and pour forth our desires on their behalf.
Our community members are quite generous whenever a need is made known. People make sacrifices of their time, talent and charitable contributions so that others can benefit. When House of Bread was looking for volunteers to help with English classes at Jubilee House, parishioners volunteered. When more snacks were needed for the Sandwich Ministry, families stepped up their donations.
And, thus, we grow in holiness, dwelling with, not apart from, others in the ordinary and extraordinary circumstances of life.
The light and compassion of Christ radiates within our community and then outward to all for the greater good. These hallmarks of our priesthood of the faithful share our OPEN HEARTS in relevant ways which impact our personal lives, enrich the communities surrounding us, and encourage us to be a balm this hurting world needs.
Where and when have we witnessed the OPEN MINDS of this SPSA “Prophetic Community”? For years, our Committee for Social Justice leads the way for us to have a community voice on important issues impacting the common good. For example, this ministry has offered education and opportunities for action regarding immigrant issues and support for new families in our area. This ministry studies climate change and the impactful choices we can make as individuals. Most recently, through our involvement with the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance we have been invited to share our voice in support of their actionable campaigns.
Parents preparing for the Baptism of their child have found their own prophetic voice. Many tell us, “We did research online to find the right faith community in which to bring up our daughter. SPSA has an LGBTQ ministry and it is very important to us that members of the gay community are welcome and belong. That is the kind of Church in which we want to raise our daughter.” These intentional decisions by parish members who accept and welcome all will bring about change in the Church.
Prophets are folks who challenge us to see the truth. Prophets inspire us to use our particular gifts and who encourage us to rejoice in who we are. Prophets help us to see the world the way God sees it.
This is how the Church becomes relevant and sustains relevancy as she grows.
Where and when have we witnessed the OPEN DOORS of this SPSA “Servant-leader Community”? With our Baptism comes the privilege and responsibility to build up the community, the Body of Christ, together. There is an important corporate dimension to the sacrament as we engage in responsive discipleship.
As author Stephen Wilbricht writes to understand this dimension of Baptism,
“…the Holy Spirit pours gifts upon us each day…the gifts of the Spirit are not necessarily static, meaning that we stand to be given new gifts at every turn in the road.”
This summer a variety of parishioners are sharing their understanding of and experience of “vocation” in their life journey. We have been blessed with multiple reflections giving witness to the movement of the Spirit and to the at times surprising paths upon which folks have been inspired to follow. I invite you to read the words of our own parishioners in the Vocations Reflections now stored on our parish website. See how Baptismal grace unfolds to bless the lives of individuals as they, in turn, bless the communities they serve.
In Anointed for Mission, we read, “Baptismal responsibility calls Christians to open their eyes daily to the realities of suffering and injustice that exist on the planet…To enact the priestly, prophetic, and kingly ministry of Christ is not to sit back and avoid getting involved; instead, Christians must be proactive in making the world that God created and called “good”, a place of right relationship.”
Since 2004, we have been a Sister Parish with St. Genevieve Church, in Haiti. We have been in a covenantal relationship with the children, women and men in the village of Z’Oranje in deeply meaningful ways. And, the havoc, violence, and lawlessness currently happening in Haiti has demanded even more from us corporately. At 10:00 a.m. every Sunday, both of our parish communities are at prayer, gathering at the same time around the Eucharistic table. Our corporate prayer joins with theirs for safety and that somehow peace may prevail. Raising funds for our ministerial commitments in Haiti is vital. Raising our hearts united in prayer and faith is essential for the well-being of both our communities.
From the Second Vatican document, Lumen Gentium, Light of the Nations, we read:
“… they are called by God to contribute to the sanctification of the world from within, like leaven, in the spirit of the Gospel, by fulfilling their own particular duties.”
What are YOUR particular duties… what are OUR particular duties?
As a student called to reach out to the student eating lunch alone in the cafeteria?
As an 85-year-old who was used to being a “do-er” in response to his baptismal call who can now only be a “pray-er” as he discovers fresh ways to be light for the community surrounding him?
As a parish who chooses to be involved with the Synod which Pope Francis initiated; can we serve as a leaven raising up new ideas and people to serve in response to the movements of the Spirit?
One of the formulas for dismissal at the end of Mass is “Go forth, glorifying the Lord by your life”. When we intentionally do this, as both individuals and as a faith-filled baptized community of believers, then we truly become LEAVEN and LIGHT wherever we are!
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors ~~ This IS OUR collective witness ~~ and it is powerful. We are creating a culture of witness and we are making a difference.
“Is our Church still relevant in our society today?” We propose this answer: The Church as the People of God, enlivened through our Baptism, is called to vibrant, relevant living based on Gospel values which speak words of hope and comfort to those afflicted, and words of truth and integrity to those who serve and lead.
Anointed for Mission? Yes, I am!
Anointed for Mission? Yes, WE ARE! These reflections are based upon the book Anointed for Mission by Stephen S. Wilbricht, CSC.
A prayer…
Holy Spirit, you give us wisdom, understanding, knowledge, right judgement, courage, reverence, and wonder and awe. We, your disciples, see the world the way God sees it.
Send us out for mission.
Guide us with audacious joy!
Amen.
These reflections are based upon the book Anointed for Mission by Stephen S. Wilbricht, CSC.