THE JOURNEY TO CATHOLICISM
And I said, “Who are you Lord?”
This was the question St. Paul asked after his spectacular encounter with Jesus. And Jesus answered “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting… I have appeared to you for this purpose… to serve and to bear witness… to whom I send you, to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.” (Acts 26:15-18) This was the mission given by Christ to St. Paul – and it continues today for us.
As we have heard so often, bringing seekers to the Catholic Church, and nurturing them, is the mission of the whole Church community. However, to accomplish this mission, it takes a strong and dedicated community. In a statement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, entitled “Our Hearts Were Burning Within Us,” we read: “When various elements of parish life are weak or lacking, formal programs for adults typically do not flourish; when they are vibrant and strong, they create an overall climate of active participation and living faith that can only benefit the parish’s …formation efforts with adults.” The article stressed that while the parish may have adult formation programs, it is no less true that the parish is an adult formation program.
Submitted by Marguerite Mullins