Testify!
“We need saints without cassocks, without veils – we need saints with jeans and tennis shoes. We need saints that go to the movies that listen to music, that hang out with their friends. We need saints that place God in first place ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints that look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints – saints for the 21st century with a spirituality appropriate to our new time. We need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social change. We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world and to not be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca-Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports, theater. We need saints that are open sociable normal happy companions. we need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. We need saints.”
Someone attributed this to Pope Francis and later found out it was a poem that appears anonymously. But it was put up in honor of World Youth Day 2013. Whoever said it was spot on.
I will be taking a job as the Faith Formation Coordinator at my parish. I believe that this is where we are suppose to meet these kids. IN their life not recreating what our life was. The formula has changed and has also remained the same. Assume the child before you is a saint, because we are all called to be saints and we all carry God within us. We are all made in that image and likeness.
Annette, prayers for you as you begin your new position as Faith Formation Coordinator. I am certain that the Lord will use you in an amazing way as you influence the lives of the children with whom you interact. God bless.
I pray that the Catholic church takes a lesson from the Non-dom’s playbook – Show people how God and their church family is relevant in their daily life – that the Bible is a How to manual rather than a family book gathering dust on a shelf. I’m always amazed that once we show people how fun, productive, healthy etc following a life of Christ is – its no issue getting them to church. I guess we’ll always be a “What’s in it for me” society.