Sometimes it is easy for us as Catholics to retreat inward, to focus on our own community, church, and lives. The words “Those people” can sometimes be used to talk about people outside our faith, and since those words should never be used to describe anyone, regardless of race, creed, religion or nationality, it is important for us as Catholics to remain vigilant to include and welcome all those that grace our lives with their presence. One of the first things Pope Francis said when he began his papacy enforced this rule of inclusion:
The Lord created us in His image and likeness, and we are the image of the Lord, and He does good and all of us have this commandment at heart: do good and do not do evil. All of us. ‘But, Father, this is not Catholic! He cannot do good.’ Yes, he can. He must. Not can: must! Because he has this commandment within him. Instead, this ‘closing off’ that imagines that those outside, everyone, cannot do good is a wall that leads to war and also to what some people throughout history have conceived of: killing in the name of God. That we can kill in the name of God. And that, simply, is blasphemy. To say that you can kill in the name of God is blasphemy.
Instead, the Lord has created us in His image and likeness, and has given us this commandment in the depths of our heart: do good and do not do evil.
The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ: all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! ‘Father, the atheists?’ Even the atheists. Everyone! And this Blood makes us children of God of the first class! We are created children in the likeness of God and the Blood of Christ has redeemed us all! And we all have a duty to do good. And this commandment for everyone to do good, I think, is a beautiful path towards peace. If we, each doing our own part, if we do good to others, if we meet there, doing good, and we go slowly, gently, little by little, we will make that culture of encounter: we need that so much. We must meet one another doing good. ‘But I don’t believe, Father, I am an atheist!’ But do good: we will meet one another there.
– Pope Francis 5/22/2013 http://en.radiovaticana.va/storico/2013/05/22/pope_at_mass_culture_of_encounter_is_the_foundation_of_peace/en1-694445
How do we live this edict here at Saint John the Evangelist, in our own little corner of the world? First, we ensure any opportunity we have for service is open to the larger community. Last year, we had over 500 individuals support our CRS Helping Hands Food Packing event. This year, we want to double our efforts to 40,000 meals, and that will only happen with the help of local participants that feel the same call we do to do good. Online registration for this summer’s event, to be held at 5:30 PM on August 10, in our Ballroom, can be found at: http://helpinghands.crs.org/events/sjecc2017/
We also need to assist those around us that do not have a deep and lasting connection to their faith. Not everyone is as blessed as we are to be part of such a loving, active, and engaged faith community. They can be our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends from the clubhouse or schoolhouse. It is our responsibility to help them in their life journey. It takes all of us to go out and talk to these people. Some people use the term “evangelize”. I do not like that term at all. It has a connotation that we are trying to bend others to our beliefs. No. We are “accompanying” our friends on their path. We are not imparting our own viewpoints or talking at them. We are listening. We are supporting. We are journeying with them and being there to listen and encourage. Our faith will be seen in those actions, and they will naturally gravitate to it and want it for themselves.
This summer, we are releasing two tools for you in your journey of accompaniment with your friends: Alpha and Catholic Adult Organization (CAO). Alpha is a seminar that deals with the big questions of life: “Why am I here?” “What is my purpose?” It is an incredibly approachable program that builds an understanding of faith that empowers people in their lives, along with an open forum for safe discussion and, of course, delicious food and drinks to create a social atmosphere. We will have two information sessions this coming Wednesday, and then it will be every Wednesday evening over the summer. It is focused for people with little or no faith enrichment in their lives, so if you know someone that could use a fun and empowering program that will help them reach out for faith, please bring them.
CAO is kicking into full steam this summer. From Zumba for wellness to our adult music and art classes, we want to provide opportunities for our Parish Family and their friends to enrich their lives here on our campus. The biggest event we have is our premier CAO event: Saturday Night Fever! The biggest Bee Gee cover band in the world will be playing St. John one night only on August 19. The doors will open around 6 PM, with the band going on at 7 PM. We will turn our Ballroom into a Disco Club from the 70’s including a VIP Lounge in Rome. This amazing night of music and dancing will be the hottest ticket in SW Florida this summer, so tell your friends and get ready for the ticket sales coming soon!
Thank you all for living out our Holy Father’s message to include and welcome everyone in the community as part of our Parish Family!