I wish to thank everyone who e-mailed, or spoke to me after the Masses regarding my letter in the bulletin or in the briefs and/or my homily for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary time. Getting that feedback helps me to know that I am being heard and that I am reaching areas of concern in the lives of the members of our Catholic Community. It is so important to hear from you in order to be able to speak to the issues that touch our hearts as a community of faith. Considering my need for feedback I realize that we all need to have encouragement on the faith journey; for following Christ is never a solo journey - it is a journey in community. Therefore, I am encouraging all of us to join a small faith sharing group that begins this week for the Season of Lent. Why join?
Life is short; how lonely it is when lived alone. I know how much my even brief visits to the hospital and Countryside are so very much appreciated by those I see. Fr. Charlie Heon so looks forward to my monthly visits and my phone calls. Small groups provide a real community. That is why after making a six-week commitment during Lent or a four-week commitment during Advent many groups decide to make the journey life-long.
We all need to grow and change. Like me, we all have hateful, hurtful, immature or even dangerous behaviors we need to change. Small groups give us the encouragement we need to change and grow. How wonderful it is when the wisdom and life experience of older members puts the struggles of life in perspective for younger members of the group.
Just as Jesus and his disciples were a small faith-sharing group, able to ask questions and learn from each other and encourage each other on the faith journey, so can we. Sharing our personal struggles with people who care, helps to lighten the load, handle the crisis and the pressures of life and even help us to unwind.
Joining a small group helps take what we hear on Sunday to a deeper level, forms deeper friendships, provides real community beyond the large group present on Sunday when we all face one direction and not each other. No one can grow spiritually in isolation. Our Catholic lives focus on “Communion” our common-union one with another. The small groups begin this first week of Lent. I encourage us all to make a commitment to pray and discuss the Word of God together in our small groups. You will be glad you did!
You can sign up for small groups on the sheets in the vestibule of the church, or on our
website.