A few weeks ago in my weekly column in our bulletin ( available here: www.catholicnewcastle.org ) I mentioned that one of the themes of my life has been gratitude. Another is education. From my earliest memories I recall the importance my parents placed on my brothers and me doing well in school. Mom and Dad were children of the Great Depression. Dad did graduate from high school, Mom was a 10th grade dropout. Both did not want their sons to work in the coal mine or steel mill as did Dad, or as a janitor, as did Mom. Education was their golden highway to success.
This may be an odd scene from my childhood, so bear with me. I have a vivid memory of one night taking a bath. I think I was in the 7th grade. As I was in the tub, Dad came into the bathroom, sat on the toilet seat, and began to tell me how important it was that I worked hard in grade school, succeed, and went on to high school and college. This vivid memory has stuck with me all these years, because (1) I was embarrassed by Dad coming in to see me; (2) Dad talked to me so long I started to shiver as the bathwater got cold; and (3) Dad was clearly pouring out his heart about something urgent to him, and so to me.
Mom and Dad's desire came true. All four of us finished college, three of us have graduate degrees. Education was and is meaningful to us. Further, as a priest I came to treasure teaching adults about the Catholic faith, in various parishes through the diocesan adult education program, at Duquesne University, in the diocese's permanent diaconate program and now at the Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh (where I am an adjunct professor of moral theology).
Why do I mention this? Somewhere in my education career the church taught me that learning was a lifetime endeavor. It was not enough to earn a degree. Faith formation, and growth in God's grace through the sacraments, was my responsibility to nurture and building on cradle to grave, assisted by the church.
This was the message Bishop Waltersheid tried to impart to our 77 young adults who received the sacrament of Confirmation last month. Confirmation was not the end of CCD. It is the beginning of a lifetime of learning Jesus, living Jesus, loving Jesus and sharing Jesus. And I dare to say it should be your witness too.
Our parishes have offered many classes and talks over the past several years, most successfully the 24 week bible study, with over 100 adult learners. A four-session explanation of the Mass begins in a week. The diocese continues to offer a number of interesting courses.
And, of course, anyone can pick up the bible to pray or read, or borrow or buy a book to read.
Next year the parishes of Lawrence County will be working together to offer growth in the Catholic faith through a program called Christlife. Our evangelization task force is considering other programs for leadership development and maturing in the Catholic faith for parishioners. On Mission for the Church Alive offers many avenues for ministering to others.
The message is the same, whether 13, 33, 63 or 93: All of us believers in Jesus Christ are responsible for growing in faith and knowledge. We can make use of the ordinary--and still very valuable--means of practicing one's faith. These include daily prayer, participating in Sunday Mass each and every week, receiving Holy Communion reverently and frequently, going to confession a couple times a year, reading and studying the bible, reading Catholic authors from ancient times and today, praying the rosary, spending quiet time before the Blessed Sacrament in our Adoration Chapel, and being willing to share our faith with our family and neighbors. Every Catholic learns differently, and each of us has to find out what works to grow in the love of God in our lives. All of us are in the "dynamic ongoing school of faith development." We can hope that the Holy Spirit, who taught his apostles and hungry crowds, and who bestowed the Holy Spirit on all his followers, guide our efforts to know, love and serve him better.
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