On Keeping Faith Alive in Our Parishes

In recent weeks, we have been reflecting on the lives of the early Christians during our weekday and Sunday readings. Despite facing persecution, their numbers continued to grow. None of these hardships deterred them from preaching the Gospel. In fact, the more they were persecuted, the stronger they became in their faith. Why was this? It was due to the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives, which provided them with the courage, strength, and wisdom needed to navigate the challenges of their missionary efforts.

Moreover, they were united, working collaboratively to support their mission. For instance, in this Sunday’s First Reading, we learn how they received wisdom from the Holy Spirit to appoint worthy fellow believers to tend to the needs of the poor while the apostles focused on preaching the Gospel to various communities. The Twelve summoned the community of disciples and declared, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve at tables. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task; whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

We have much to learn from the early Christians, especially in today’s context, as we face challenges in sustaining and strengthening our ministries due to factors such as a lack of volunteers and economic difficulties. We must adopt a spirit of generosity in supporting our parishes with our time, talents, and treasures. Furthermore, we must trust our clergy, who are working diligently to spread the Gospel and bring faith to our communities.

Fortunately, we are witnessing a growing interest among our young people in returning to the Church, driven by their hunger for God, meaning, and connection. For example, at St. Joseph Church in New York City, young people are flocking to Sunday Masses. In a recent interview, a young man expressed how secular society had misled them by removing God from their lives. Now, they realize the need for a “higher Source” to rely on in today’s troubled world. This is an inspiring and encouraging sentiment from a young person.

So, friends, let us not be discouraged as we share our faith in Jesus. Let’s believe in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us. Let us engage more actively in the Church’s efforts to increase participation in our Masses and ministries.

At Incarnation Church, the staff and members of the parish and finance councils have been meeting regularly to evaluate the vitality of our liturgies and ministries. There have been honest and fruitful dialogues, allowing us to consider everyone’s suggestions and insights. We hope to continue these candid and courageous conversations, and we encourage parishioners to share their thoughts in respectful and constructive ways.