I have enjoyed the last few weeks of being able to submit a sheet full of data from the Archdiocese about priests, retirement ages, seminary formation, and the geographical density of parishes. But now comes the time when I must write my own material, and we must confront the possibilities that this data suggests. In the cold light of day, it looks like quite the challenge.

Let it be clearly stated from the very get-go that I have absolutely no idea what the results of Beacons of Light will be for our region. The internal report about parish families won’t start circulating internally in the Archdiocese for another month or two. It may be even longer before I can get my grubby little hands on it. By late summer we will probably receive news regarding whether our region will continue as is, or if I will be charged with the responsibility for more parishes, or if maybe I lose one and gain one or more. Truly, all of those things are on the table. Fortunately, I have become rather comfortable in recent years with having little or no idea what is happening.
 
So, in the absence of actual knowledge, now seems like a good time to continue the conversation that we started at the parish mission this year and encourage the good people of the region to prepare to take up their crosses and make sacrifices. Even before the Archdiocese possibly couples us with nearby parishes, we may find it beneficial to start examining how we can focus less on what is convenient and more on what furthers the mission of the Church. Are we, after some soul searching and mourning, willing to let some of the old ways die so that we can minister in the current circumstances, rather than the way things were in the 1970’s? I’d like to think so. Are we willing to travel an extra three minutes for a daily Mass rather than keep the schedule the way it is?
I hope so.

No one likes to talk about mergers or substantial changes to an institution that has played such a significant role in one’s life. But the time has come for us to recognize a few uncomfortable truths. First, we, as an institutional church, have failed in the task of handing on the Faith to the next generation. If we continue in maintenance mode, we will continue to fail. We have been blessed, and challenged, to welcome and incorporate the substantial Latino Catholic communities that have come to us. If we do not radically live out our call to share in the Great Commission, they will suffer the same fate that we have suffered in the United States, of seeing our children and grandchildren leave the Church. Third, we have neither the people nor the priests necessary to maintain the infrastructure we needed in the 1960’s and beyond. All told, these are monumental tasks, and it can be overwhelming if one allows it to be.
 
That said, on this Palm Sunday, when we participate in the Passion of Our Lord, we can place before our eyes the great sacrifice that Jesus made for us in His suffering and His death. He did everything for us, without counting the cost or stopping to ask whether or not it was “fair,” because our salvation was on the line. If He is willing to bear this burden for us, is there anything we should not be willing to bear for Him? Rather, should we not ask ourselves each and every morning how we can put our lives, our vocations, our families, and everything that we have at the disposal of bringing more souls to Christ?
 
As we draw to the end of Lent and prepare to celebrate the great solemnities of the Life of Christ, know of my prayers for each of you, and please keep praying for me, Fr. Jeff, the Deacons, and the staff. The mission we share is heavy, but if we continue to draw strength from Our Lord, there is no obstacle we cannot overcome.
 
Prayers always,
Fr. McC