Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us at St Teresa of Avila, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!

We have all heard that the Chinese use the same word to describe the concepts of crisis and opportunity. What they mean to say is that in every crisis lies an opportunity, depending on how it is looked at.

The word crisis comes from the Greek "to separate, to sift" which means to pass judgement, to keep only what is worthwhile. There is an opportunity in every crisis and the deeper the crisis, the better the opportunity can be. But some people are not capable of seeing it. That can also be true for us, people of faith.

I’m sure that today many people will be reflecting on how they have been adapting to the coronavirus pandemic, and I hope rolled into that reflection is a pondering also on the topic of gratitude from the perspective of a person of faith.

Thanksgiving provides the perfect chance for us to explore and (strive to) articulate exactly why we are grateful to be a Catholic Christian, particularly during a time of crisis. The most obvious source of gratitude is that our Catholic faith, in addition to providing us with the guidance, provides us with the strength and perspective we all need to carry forward amidst times of intense difficulty. Jesus also provides us the Eucharist – the ultimate act of giving thanks.

While guidance to seek happiness in the happiness of others, to serve others, and to care for others are important, and this outward focus can truly get us through trying times, we first have to pause and be thankful for who we are and all we have in Christ.

The last few months have been testing, to say the least. I don’t believe anybody has been immune to the impact of the coronavirus and we have all been affected by its wrath either directly or indirectly.

Lives are still being lost, people are increasingly unsure of where to turn for solace and guidance, communities have been forced into isolation, and feelings of despair are rife even here within our community. But, the Chinese are right, with every crisis there comes an opportunity, but it is reserved only for those who can see it – that is for those who look with the eyes of faith.

It is hard to tell how long we will be suffering through this crisis. Surely there are signs of hope – the vaccine – the lowering number of deaths – the knowledge that has been gained over the last months. And there are those for whom this is already too late ... It’s in times like these that I think we can learn so much from the faith and our Scriptures. Luke says:

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,

and on earth nations will be in dismay,

perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will die of fright

in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

But the passage ends with …

And then they will see the Son of Man

coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

So, on this Thanksgiving, despite all that’s going on around us and perhaps even within us, with gratitude let’s take the words of the Scriptures to heart and live like we really believe them:

But when these signs begin to happen,

stand erect and raise your heads

because your redemption is at hand.

Let’s take a moment today also to pray for and thank those essential workers, from every walk of life, who have served us and carried us through these months, that they will also receive the reward of their labors.

May the food on our tables and the smell of our homes, and the bubbles in our glasses remind us to give thanks happily, today and always!

Blessings!

RSM

Looking Out For Our Youth in the Darkest of Days

Dear Friends:

It's hard to believe that November is almost over. If we look carefully, in the autumn foliage we can see our own mortality: a beauty with a sadness never far away. During our All Souls' Day services, many of us were a bit melancholy, especially as we remembered those we loved who have passed on. Those memories, coupled with the falling of the leaves, the cooling of the air, and the darker days, creates a sort of sadness which is not entirely unwelcome; a sort of somber, slowing-down of the spirit, leaving us much needed time for reflection. In November, each morning, I usually take time to remember and pray for all those we have buried in the past year. Death is never easy nor welcome, but in the days of COVID and all of its restrictions, the depth of loss, in so many cases, is like no other.

At every funeral or memorial service, we try with great tenderness to support families and reinforce the message of hope in the Lord's resurrection. Every gathering that celebrates life is also a reminder to all of us, that we too, one day will join them. This year I am particularly praying for our young people because new studies indicate that many of them are really struggling with anxiety and depression from COVID and the "new normal" that we all face - even to the point of suicide. No community is immune from this reality. Tragically, it has even touched us here in Summit. Psychology Today reported in its September edition that there isn't, but needs to be, an urgency to confronting teen suicide. "The race to find a cure to the COVID-19 pandemic certainly is front and center, but that same sense of urgency does not seem to be evident for the unsettling rise in teen suicide."

The article also notes that new CDC data reveals that almost one in five teens across the nation have seriously considered attempting suicide. Picture a typical high school classroom of 25 students. About five of those students could be thinking about suicide. These numbers are screaming for our attention and response!

Quoting Dr Richard Friedman's New York Times piece, “Why Are Young Americans Killing Themselves?" the article offers some assistance by suggesting the following actions:

• Prevent. Create a physically and emotionally safe environment for your teens so that thoughts and behaviors about suicide are less likely to happen in the first place. When teens and those around them have the necessary skills to regulate their emotions, and have opportunities to practice these skills and connect with others through positive relationships, we create a safer environment. Through suicide prevention efforts, we can reduce risk and promote resilience and coping.

• Recognize. Be aware of the warning signs of youth suicide. Learning the signs and taking part in mental health awareness campaigns is important, as it ensures that teens have open channels for talking about their emotions. Actions such as these will help us recognize when something is off, while reducing any stigma around seeking help for mental health issues. Every young person needs someone to confide in about their thoughts and feelings.

• Respond. Learn to be comfortable supporting those who appear emotionally distressed. #BeThe1To offers five action steps for communicating with someone who may be considering suicide: (1) ask in a non-judgmental and supportive way; (2) be there so they feel connected; (3) keep them safe; (4) help them connect to supports; and (5) follow up to see how they are doing. The Respond step is also about putting additional strategies in place, such as increased regular mental health check-ins, during times of increased stress and reduced coping.

One final thought - the LGBTQ+ teen. In recent years we’ve seen a tragic number of gay teens, ending their own lives after enduring anti-gay bullying. It is reported that suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents, and gay teens are four times more likely than straight teens to attempt suicide. I know that many parents find it difficult for many reasons to discuss sexuality with their teenagers, but discussion is crucial if we want our children to develop healthy self-esteem, embrace their own differences, and understand what is different in others.

This month and beyond, I'm praying that you and all of our teens will always know of God's love for them. I'm praying more that our Church will always be a place where all God's people feel safe and loved, even as we endure our own personal struggles and challenges.

Finally, I pray that this community and all of us who bear the name Catholic Christian will truly be messengers of Christ's Good News, because clearly lives are depending on it!

Blessings! RSM

Building a Mentoring Culture

Friends:

Over the last six weeks we have been thinking through how to revitalize our parish.  At the time of this writing I’m happy that we have reopened, albeit with some spacing and other considerable restrictions. It’s nice to have you all back - physically and virtually.

Who would ever have imagined how the world would change over the last four months?  While there have been “predictions of pandemics” and perhaps even some scientific warnings over the years, I’m guessing that many of us could never have believed that the whole world would literally be put on hold - and we are not out of the woods yet!

These days have given us a chance to think and pray about what really matters in our lives.  For me, for sure, being isolated from my elderly parents and worrying about their safety and wellbeing has made me much more attuned to checking in on them with more regularity. Others have shared similar stories with me about their families too.

And although I was able to celebrate Mass regularly, clearly without any of you present, it's just not the same.  It's not what it's supposed to be either. Churches are about people.  Parishes are about clusters of folks celebrating life together.  St Teresa of Avila is a family of faith-seeking followers of Christ, all on the journey to get to know him better as we prepare one day to meet him face to face.  And despite the spiritual work that we each have to do as individuals, worshipping together, in church, is incredibly important for our faith.  The restrictions keeping us apart in these weeks have also made me keenly aware of how important we are to one another intergenerationally.

This brings us to the final segment of our series - Building a Mentoring Culture.  In the general sense, a mentor is an experienced and trusted adviser. In the spiritual sense, all adults are called to be mentors, or spiritual guides to those who follow after us.  In many generations this has been presumed ... grandparents raised parents, who in turn raised their children in the Catholic faith.  But, that’s not the case today.  More and more studies show that the younger generations are turning, and in some cases even running away from the regular practice of faith and from religion altogether.  Believe it or not, this is not a new phenomenon.

The Bible’s Book of Judges, written about 550 BC, contains stories that follow a consistent pattern: the people are unfaithful to God, and he delivers them into the hands of his enemies; the people repent and ask for mercy and God sends them a leader to welcome them back.  The following passage contains the sentiments clearly:

“After a while the people of Joshua’s generation died, and the next generation did not know the Lord or any of the things he had done for Israel.  The Lord had brought their ancestors out of Egypt, and they had worshipped him.  But now the Israelites stopped worshipping the Lord and worshipped the idols of Baal and Astarte, as well as the idols of other gods from nearby nations.  The Lord was so angry.”  Judges 2:10-13

Lee Kricher, in his book, For a New Generation: A Practical Guide for Revitalizing Your Church, writes, “We cannot control what will happen to the next generation when we are gone, but we can do everything possible to pave the way for them.”  Kricher’s challenge begs two questions, “How do we model paving the way?” and “What does the next generation look like today?”  Let's consider them in reverse order.

At the Pew Research Center, studies tracking America’s religious landscape found that although religious beliefs and practice have been declining at a rapid pace for people of all ages, the drop-off has been most pronounced among people ages 23 to 38. In 2019, roughly two-thirds attend worship services “a few times a year” or less, and 4 in 10 say they seldom or never go. A decade ago, it was more than half and only 3 in 10, respectively.

Washington Post columnist Christine Emba, in an article entitled Why millennials are skipping church and not going back, writes that religious and other civic organizations will atrophy — and not just from lack of funds. Faith and practice can’t persevere through our generation without attendance, and neither can the hope they tend to bring. And while that may not seem like a problem now, it will soon. 

Many millennials have given in to convenient, low-commitment substitutes for faith and fellowship such as astrology, the easy “spiritualism” of yoga and self-care, posting away on Twitter and playing more games. [Yes, games!] She adds, 

"Here’s what really worries me: Few of these activities are as geared toward building deep relationships and communal support as the religious traditions the millennials are leaving behind. Actively participating in a congregation means embedding oneself in a community. This involves you in the lives of others and the other way around — their joys and sadnesses, connections and expectations. By leaving religion, we’re shrugging off the ties that bind, not just loosening them temporarily."

As to the question, how do we model paving the way for the next generation, the answer seems to be simple in theory:  in community and in family units.  For faith to survive, it must be practiced together, in families.  Our tradition calls this dynamic the domestic Church.  On worship days, Sundays and sacramental days, the domestic Church joins with others to worship in their spiritual home, the parish Church, and in a mysterious way joins with the Church universal.  

This may not really be that hard to imagine, because as we have been closed down for many weeks, so many gathered with their families, to pray, to read the Scriptures, to zoom in and participate in worship via livestream in the safety of their own homes.  The practical challenge is getting people together who want to participate.

This phenomenon does beg the question then as to how do these domestic Churches support the parish Church - apostolically to minister to those in need?; educationally to grow in knowledge?; socially to celebrate life's accomplishments?; and even financially to pay the bills?

Only time will tell how it will all shake out and what St Teresa of Avila Parish and our Catholic Church will look like tomorrow.  One thing is abundantly clear though - the time to plan is now - today.  

Sadly, I have no doubt that going forward many parish Churches will close, for a whole host of reasons.  Will ours? The answer depends on us!

Blessings!

RSM