Pope Francis Reaffirms Our Responsibility To Transmit Our Faith
Three years ago, in October 2012, another Synod of Bishops gathered in Rome to discuss “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.” The gathering bishops agreed that the transmission of the faith is the responsibility for all Christians and not just the work of priests and religious as may have been previously thought (See “Evangelii Gaudium,” paragraph 14).
They pointed out three major areas where this faith transmission takes place: 1) in ordinary pastoral ministry; 2) among “the baptized…who lack a meaningful relationship to the church…” and, 3) when the Gospel is preached to those who do not know Jesus or who have rejected him (E.G., paragraph 14).
Ordinary pastoral ministry involves inflaming “the hearts of the faithful who regularly take part in community worship and gather on the Lord’s Day to be nourished by his word and by the bread of eternal life” (E.G., paragraph 14). Catholics “who have a deep and sincere faith, expressing it in different ways, but seldom take part in worship” (E.G., paragraph 14) are also a collective focus of this parish ministry. Pastors, parish ministers and parishioners “help believers grow spiritually so that they can respond to God’s love ever more fully in their lives” (E.G., paragraph 14). This faith transmission occurs through the celebration of the sacraments, spiritual/educational programs, ministry to the homebound, care for the needy, parish missions and other parish activities.
The second area of concern is for those baptized, who lack any relationship to the church. Pope Francis urges parishes to “help them experience a conversion which will restore the joy of faith to their hearts and inspire a commitment to the Gospel” (E.G., paragraph 14). The Catholic Church in the U.S. needs to explore creative ways of working with parents, no longer active in the Church’s life, yet who want their infants baptized. Do they have that “sufficient faith” expected of them when making the promise to raise their children in the practice of the faith when they themselves do not take their own faith practice seriously?
Never should a pastor or parish slam the door on inactive parents. We must, however, work with them to find out why they no longer participate in Sunday worship and how we can help reconnect them to the parish community. Failing to give adequate spiritual guidance to parents at this important moment may make it more difficult for openness on their part when future opportunities arise such as First Communion and Confirmation, when they bring their children to these sacraments simply because they have reached a particular age or grade level in school. The U.S. Catholic Church may well benefit by developing a ritual of initiation for inactive parents similar to the RCIA.
Preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or have rejected him is the third concern of the Church’s handing on its faith. Pope Francis writes, “Many of these are quietly seeking God … even in countries of ancient Christian tradition. They all have a right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone.… It is not by proselytizing that the Church grows, but ‘by attraction’” (E.G., paragraph 14). We probably all know people in our neighborhoods or workplaces who are “un-churched.” Have we ever thought of inviting them to attend Mass with us? They may just be waiting for an invitation from us to come to Jesus.
However, most Catholics usually wait until people come to us asking about the Church. We “cannot passively and calmly wait in our church buildings;” we need to move “from a pastoral ministry of mere conservation to a decidedly missionary pastoral ministry” (E.G., paragraph 15). This will definitely move us out of our “comfort zones.” This remains the great commission Jesus gives to his Church: “Go and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mathew 28:19-20).
