The Times Are Changing

Shortly after his election Pope Francis said “the Church, therefore, must be attractive, wake up the world! Be witnesses of a different way of doing things, of acting, of living” – Pope Francis to Union of Superiors General, November 2013.

This idea invites so many questions:

· Where should our Catholic schools be directing their concern and energy, now and into the future?

· What is the attraction to send children to Catholic schools in our time, where all the teachers are committed lay people?

· What is the current attitude towards the Catholic parish, where we have fewer priests and many lay people in the various ministries?

· What form of Community do we have in the parishes, and to whom should we be ‘reaching-out?

· What kind of Catholic Church do we belong to, do we wish for, do we want it to be in our society?

· Where do our Catholic values place us in discussions about homelessness, poverty and greed?

· Are our lives too cluttered, too busy, overcome by worry or misfortune to leave no time for quiet reflection on life?

Jesus of Nazareth revealed in the scriptures is vulnerable, powerless, fully self-giving; a God of selfless loving - one who looks at humanity without judging. Jesus was constantly changing the way people saw and experienced life. He never came to give us a new religion. He came to tell us that life could be lived differently, that human values and human relationships could be different.

Our faith offers so many opportunities for community, participation, and mission. And so I encourage you to explore the words of John Dom Crossan: “We are waiting for God’s intervention, but God is waiting for our collaboration.”

- Br Bill Dowling cfc