As we approach the end of another year, it is time to evaluate our parish Synod which may or may not continue into 2023. The stated purpose of the program was to get former members of the parish who no longer attend Mass to come back. If one were to measure the results based solely on that goal, we get an F. However, the meetings were designed to help current members to reach out to separated Catholics in a manner to draw them back, so results are still pending. Now it is time to go forth and make disciples.
It remains to be seen how many participants will actually make the effort. The monthly meetings were fairly well attended, usually around 18 to 20 parishioners. Presenters did a good job relying on a mixture of instructional videos and personal stories. Many of them stressed apologetics and how to dialog with people constructively. Those in attendance should have an advantage when sharing the faith given the opportunity.
One of the Synod committee members wasted no time in her evangelical effort. She invited a Lutheran friend to come to the Synod presentations. In fact, she brought that friend to every session, and I believe the woman is giving serious consideration to Catholicism. Her biggest stumbling block at this time seems to be purgatory, a common obstacle for many to overcome.
On the downside, a few members of the synod organizing committee dropped out after the first couple of sessions. One of them left the parish altogether over personality conflicts with our pastor and several parishioners. Such issues can crop up any time a team is assembled. Drawing people back to a parish can be especially difficult when the pastor is perceived as unlikable, but some conditions are beyond our control. Let us hope the new year draws us all closer together and closer to Our Lord.
I was reminded this evening how much we miss our parish school that closed in 1970. My youngest grandson is enrolled in a pre-kindergarten class at a local Lutheran school since we have no Catholic counterpart in our area. My wife and I attended the children’s Christmas program which was actually a prayer service held in the Lutheran church. The 5 and 6 year-old children sang about the Lamb of God and prayed the Lord’s prayer led by the Lutheran pastor. So evident was the importance of exposing kids to Jesus at a very early age, something we are lacking in our own Catholic parish. This indoctrination of the young is a pro-active approach to catechesis in contrast to the reactive approach in which we Catholics find ourselves needing Synods to draw the lost sheep back.
